fill plug for differential

Discussion in '1998 - 2011 Ford Ranger' started by sgull, Jun 25, 2012.

  1. sgull

    sgull Member

    What's a good tool to use to remove/replace the differential fluid fill plug. You know, it's got the square recess in which you need to insert a square rod or whatever to turn it. My vehicle is a 2WD '98 Ranger. Some of the pictures I've seen of people doing it seems to show them using a ratchet minus the socket, unless I'm seeing it wrong, but anyway I tried sticking a 3/8" as well as a 1/2" ratchet in. That can't be right, one is too big, and the other too small. I suppose there might be some specialty professional bit/tool to do this job, but I don't have such.

    thanks
     
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  3. I have used a 1/2" extension with a ratchet, clean it up good get all the junk and old grease away from it too
     
  4. OP
    sgull

    sgull Member

    Hmm. Could have sworn when I tried to check if a 1/2" extension on a ratchet would fit, that it was too big. guess I'll crawl under there again and double check, see if the problem is just too much rust/crud buildup in the recess. thanks.
     
  5. OP
    sgull

    sgull Member

    Nope, 1/2" ratchet extension is definitely way too big to fit in the recess. I tried again also with a 3/8" ratchet extension, and that fits in pretty close, but too loose/sloppy, just too small it seems. Axle code (from sticker on door jamb) is shown as 84 for this vehicle, if that can help.
     
  6. SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    yea its supposed to fit a 3/8" ratchet or extension in there. theyre pretty shallow which makes it a pain. the best thing i found was get a 3/8" impact reducer from a 1/2" drive and used a big 1/2" ratchet and that did the trick. the impact ones seem alot tighter. also spray it down with a penetrating lube and that should help
     
  7. OP
    sgull

    sgull Member

    Yeah what you describe sounds like a good way to go. Too bad I don't have any impact reducer as you mention. The regular 3/8" ratchet or extension seems like it's rather loose in there as I mentioned, and with the shallow recess like that it's not even deep enough to insert the ratchet/extension to the ball/spring catch. I do plan on using some PB Blaster penetrating oil beforehand. I'll just have to watch it and be careful it doesn't want to cooperate (with my regular ratchet method ) so I don't start stripping plug recess. thanks
    Also, I was wondering if i'ts likely there's thread locker (loc-tight or whatever) on the plug threads, and if it's probably recommended that I use some when I re-install the plug back in. Or is that not really necessary?
     
  8. Muscleford

    Muscleford Drives "the Fridge"

    I have never run into thread locker on a fill plug.
     
  9. I was thinking of my larger truck I had , it used the 1/2" ext. sorry bout that
     
  10. SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    i just put some teflon white thread tape on there is all. wasnt anything on there that i could remember when i took it out, no reason it would need lock tite or anything
     
  11. Hooligan

    Hooligan Rangerholic!!

    Yes, 3/8 ratchet with a small extension will do. It may seem a little loose from wear, or you may just need to tap it in a little bit for it to sink in, so use an old extension and crank away. It should come out, then get a new plug.
     
  12. OP
    sgull

    sgull Member

    Okay. Thanks everyone for the helpful replies here. :thumbsup:
     
  13. Hooligan

    Hooligan Rangerholic!!

    Anytime man. I gotta say, the avatar seems a bit creepy man lol
     
  14. maranger

    maranger New Member

    try a openend metric?
     
  15. OP
    sgull

    sgull Member

    Well, no, because the plug has the square recess in which the tool such as a ratchet extension fits into. An open end wrench would do no good for this type of plug.
     

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