14-bolt fill plug

[Mastiff]

The fill plug seems really low to me. Am I missing something? Depending on the pinion angle, it could be below axle tube level, which would starve the outer bearings. My CUCV has an aftermarket cover with a plug in it, and it seems a little higher.

 

[bp71k5]

The pinion would have to be pointed downward pretty far for the fill plug to be below the tubes. Most people point them up which makes them tend to get overfilled unless you are careful.

 

[sweetk30]

14ff holds about 5qt if I recall

 

[diesel4me]

The lube will slosh all over when your cornering and the ring gear and diff sling it everywhere as well,so you'd have to run a diff almost empty before anything starved for lube inside it...not enough lube will it and the parts get too hot and possibly do some harm though...

 

[Mastiff]

Okay, I guess it just looked low with the axle on jackstands. Once the pinion is up higher it'll probably seem right. I seem to remember when filling my CUCV rear, people were recommending jacking up one side and stuff to get more fluid in.

 

[rebelgregory]

^ I do this. But don't jack up the pass side and fill until it overflows. I put between 4.5 and 5 qts in it. Mainly because pinion is pointed up and I've read that you can starve the pinion bearings this way. I also figure a little extra would help keep fluid on the hub bearings during drives on the highway where there's no turning to slosh it down the tube.

Can't say I've scientifically tested it. But it works for me.

.

 

[bp71k5]

If you overfill and it heats up and foams, it can (and does) blow out of the vent tube. Makes a big mess on the highway.