Changing rear axle /diff oil
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Middleburg PA
Changing rear axle /diff oil
Here is a response from a question last week -
My 06 did the same as yours at about 10K miles. Changing the lubricant took care of the problem and I have had no clunking, creaking, banging etc ever since. I am now just about at 30K miles. If you are interested in doing the change yourself, there is an exellent DIY by senior member Vet. Do a search of FAQ under "DIY - rear axle/differential oil change, with pics" and it should come up.
I cannot seem to locate this post about changing the oil - any help will be appreciated.
Mike
My 06 did the same as yours at about 10K miles. Changing the lubricant took care of the problem and I have had no clunking, creaking, banging etc ever since. I am now just about at 30K miles. If you are interested in doing the change yourself, there is an exellent DIY by senior member Vet. Do a search of FAQ under "DIY - rear axle/differential oil change, with pics" and it should come up.
I cannot seem to locate this post about changing the oil - any help will be appreciated.
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
It's easy. Jack the car up level so you can get underneath it and drain the oil out of it. Replace the drain plug and just pump new fluid into the fill hole until a little bit starts to run out the bottom of the fill hole. The car needs to be level to make sure you are not over or under filling it though.
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
Here is a response from a question last week -
My 06 did the same as yours at about 10K miles. Changing the lubricant took care of the problem and I have had no clunking, creaking, banging etc ever since. I am now just about at 30K miles. If you are interested in doing the change yourself, there is an exellent DIY by senior member Vet. Do a search of FAQ under "DIY - rear axle/differential oil change, with pics" and it should come up.
I cannot seem to locate this post about changing the oil - any help will be appreciated.
Mike
My 06 did the same as yours at about 10K miles. Changing the lubricant took care of the problem and I have had no clunking, creaking, banging etc ever since. I am now just about at 30K miles. If you are interested in doing the change yourself, there is an exellent DIY by senior member Vet. Do a search of FAQ under "DIY - rear axle/differential oil change, with pics" and it should come up.
I cannot seem to locate this post about changing the oil - any help will be appreciated.
Mike
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 633
Likes: 13
From: Hurley New York
Used one of these to fill Axle. Drawing fluid direct from bottle with it wasn't working to well so I unscrewed one end of gun and filled it with Amsoil. Worked like a charm.
$10 or so at local Auto parts.
Last edited by ALS 08; Jul 11, 2010 at 06:42 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Loosen the fill plug before you remove the drain plug. The last thing you want to do is drain the oil and then find out you can't get the fill plug out. I originally replaced my transmission fluid in my 09 Z06 with RP and it made the nibbles/grinds in the 1-2 & 2-3 shifts worse, so I dumped the RP and replaced with Mobil1 ATF III. At first, I couldn't see any improvement, but now at 9,000 miles, while it's still nibbles/grinds when its cold, it's really smooth shifting when hot(very hot). I didn't change out the rear end oil as I've never experienced any clunking, etc.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 17
From: Virginia
I just pulled it in the garage , tossed cardboard down and spun out the top then bottom plug- drained- then pumped new oil in via a pump from autozone that spins right onto the oil bottle. No ramps, jacks, lifts- nada. Sure, a lift woulda made it VERY easy though...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 17
From: Virginia
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,139
Likes: 1,910
From: Missouri City, TX
If you have a Z06, ZR1 or a vette model that shares that diff cooler and circ pump arrangement, the diff housing is actually drained by removing the circ pump suction line from the bottom of the diff housing. There is a easy disconnect fitting that is held together by a wire type preformed spring clip. I understand that it is the same clip part number used commonly elsewhere on transmission/hydraulic oil lines on the vettes as well as other GM cars. Ignore this if your diff housing doesn't have a circ pump and cooler.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 17
From: Virginia
If you have a Z06, ZR1 or a vette model that shares that diff cooler and circ pump arrangement, the diff housing is actually drained by removing the circ pump suction line from the bottom of the diff housing. There is a easy disconnect fitting that is held together by a wire type preformed spring clip. I understand that it is the same clip part number used commonly elsewhere on transmission/hydraulic oil lines on the vettes as well as other GM cars. Ignore this if your diff housing doesn't have a circ pump and cooler.
