Chevy & GMC Vans

Yep, now with the warmer weather I can remove the diff covers on my 2003 AWD and clean out the fluid the correct way.

Thanks to everyone for the good advice. My AWD has 3.42 gears. I kinda wish it had 3.73 but I guess for now I will leave the ratios as is.



Astrophysics

Heres a tip (Dean told me about) when you've removed the diff cover and want to get all the old gasket material off,use a grinder with a wire brush,it does a great job in very little time.

astrozam wrote:Heres a tip (Dean told me about) when you've removed the diff cover and want to get all the old gasket material off,use a grinder with a wire brush,it does a great job in very little time.

That sure would make short work of it! I, however, didn't have to worry too much about that as the person that changed the fluid last time, must have thought that a gasket was not necessary! It had just silicone to seal it. I did use some of this:
And it worked well to get all the stubborn hardened silicon off. I just used some shop towels and it wiped clean off. It's supposed to work on the paper gaskets as well, but I couldn't test it out though. Gotta be careful with it though, it's some caustic stuff! In my opinion worse than the aerosol paint removers.

From my experience doing my diffs - make sure the 3/8" extension is truly a square drive - not one of those with rounded edges for cosmetic, slight motion on the socket. that and a little 36" breaker bar action - not to mention some squirrel piss (WD40) - and she came out like nothing

I never have used a gasket unless it was a rubber one. Lynne's 2005 TrailBlazer uses one on the rear diff and we installed a Lubelocker rubber gasket on the front Dana 30 diff in her Jeep YJ. I always use RTV silicone.