Rear end fluid
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Stanley Virginia
Rear end fluid
Looking through the owners manual I could find nothing about changing the rear end fluid only imformation about how to check the level.How often should this be done? Or is it a waste of money?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
It depends on how hard you use your car. It's good to change it out and go with a quality synth gear lube.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 4
Although the manual doesn't call for replacing this stuff, I think its a good idea to do so. I did mine at first at around 3K miles and then went to an annual schedule. As C5~Missle said, use a good quality synthetic fluid. Most folks find they need at least one, sometimes two doses of the friction modifier, even with a synthetic gear oil to avoid the dreaded rear end chatter.
Its a little tricky getting the fill plug loose; make sure you can get that one free before you remove the drain plug! A short ball-end Allen socket is best for this, although a Bondhus - type ball-end L wrench will work.
A transfer pump works fine, but if your gear lube comes in the squeeze bottles you can also just use a foot or so of 1/4 inch tube on the bottles, then hold them up between the mufflers and squeeze. Let the mufflers cool first!
Its a little tricky getting the fill plug loose; make sure you can get that one free before you remove the drain plug! A short ball-end Allen socket is best for this, although a Bondhus - type ball-end L wrench will work.
A transfer pump works fine, but if your gear lube comes in the squeeze bottles you can also just use a foot or so of 1/4 inch tube on the bottles, then hold them up between the mufflers and squeeze. Let the mufflers cool first!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1497063
Some feel it may be a good idea to change the differential fluid early to possibly reduce the chances of relatively early chatter. Others feel you may as well just wait until you start hearing chatter before changing... which may happen any time before 20k miles... (most commonly).
If you have nothing else to do and feel like tinkering, you can't really hurt anything by changing the diff fluid early... as long as you do it correctly and use the correct fluid and additive, correct amounts, etc. Most folks will probably tell you to just leave it alone though unless it's chattering.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 129
From: Providence Forge, VA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I guess I'm still stuck in a time warp from the old days, but on new cars I always have the oil, transmission, and differential fluid changed around the first 1,000 miles just to flush out any remnants from break-in, machining, etc. After that, I go on the recommended schedule. I'm sure some may think its either not needed, a waste of money, or both. However, its my money and its worth it to me. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
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CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
Here's a post from the forum FAQ... full instructions on HOW to change the differential fluid, plus other notes regarding the common "axle chatter" problem. Be sure to check the first 3 posts of this the thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1497063
Some feel it may be a good idea to change the differential fluid early to possibly reduce the chances of relatively early chatter. Others feel you may as well just wait until you start hearing chatter before changing... which may happen any time before 20k miles... (most commonly).
If you have nothing else to do and feel like tinkering, you can't really hurt anything by changing the diff fluid early... as long as you do it correctly and use the correct fluid and additive, correct amounts, etc. Most folks will probably tell you to just leave it alone though unless it's chattering.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1497063
Some feel it may be a good idea to change the differential fluid early to possibly reduce the chances of relatively early chatter. Others feel you may as well just wait until you start hearing chatter before changing... which may happen any time before 20k miles... (most commonly).
If you have nothing else to do and feel like tinkering, you can't really hurt anything by changing the diff fluid early... as long as you do it correctly and use the correct fluid and additive, correct amounts, etc. Most folks will probably tell you to just leave it alone though unless it's chattering.
I've never had any problems with my transmission or differential but I recently changed my transmission fluid to Royal Purple. I was all set to change the differential fluid to Royal Purple but I decided to wait a while. With the 'rear end chatter' problems I read about so frequently, I figured if it isn't broke...don't fix it. I will, however, change it next month.Do check the C6 FAQs page...it's a tremendous resource.
