... for me, at least. I'm taking a day off work to get KJ prepped for a trip to Smoky Mountains at the end of March. Things to do:

Rotate tires (free @ Tire Barn, it's been 5,000 miles)
Replace front differential's pinion seal (dealer = $100 warranty deductible)
Change oil & filter (dealer)
Check belts & hoses (dealer)

How hard is it to drain and fill both F and R axles? Dealership wants $399 for them, plus T-case using BG Synthetics. I just did the T-case in December. Cost me all of $9 for ATF+4, and $15 for the vacuum pump to inject the fluid. Can I drain the axles without jacking up the KJ?

I'll also be shopping for a rooftop luggage carrier. (Cargo area will be filled with baby playpen, booster seat, sleeping bags, toys -- if you've traveled with young kids, you know the deal.) Because we don't take road trips often, I'll probably just get a cheap nylon carrier. As much as I love the look of a basket, they invite theft by revealing everything you're carrying. They're good for trips into the woods, but I don't see them as being helpful in town.


T.J.

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

The front axle has a drain plug and fill plug. On the rear, you can use a pump to pump the fluid out if you like, but I like to take the cover off and inspect everything. More so since since I have a locker.

It does make is alot easier to lift up the rear of the jeep and put jackstands under the frame so that the axle droops. That makes it easier to get to the fill plug on the rear diff.

For $400, you can buy jack stands, a jack, and some new tires for the heck of it. You would probably still have enough left over to buy a sweet looking cargo bag for the roof.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

Your dealer charges you that much to change the diffs and t-case???
Wow my dealer must be an alright one then, for 199.95 I can get the tranny (oil and filters), t-case, diffs, and oil all changed.....plus a check of the brake system, power steering, and coolant...

hmmmm.....

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Had 2005 KJ Rocky Mnt. Edition (destroyed)
Had 2006 KJ Sport 4x4
Have 2007 JK 4-dr Sahara 4x4 (tow package so stock 4.10s!!)
AEV 3.5" RS Lift; Schrockworks FR bumper and Warn 9.5ti winch; Cobra 75 CB; Rigid 50" LED light bar; Adventure Trailers (AT Overland) JK Kitchen setup in the cargo area.
Southern L.O.S.T. # 236487

199 is still a big chunk of change when you can do it yourself in an hour or so. Not that hard to do.
Video Guy if you were closer I could make you a deal on a roof bag, but Wal Mart has them or did for pretty cheap

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

your front lube should get changed if they replace the Pinion seal properly

technically you should get a new Crush Sleeve after the yoke is removed, and to do that you have to remove the Pinion gear, which means you have to tear everything apart.....

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2003 Liberty Freedom Edition
1988 Suzuki Samurai

You wana go run a trail or two at the Badlands on Saturday after you get it all done and ready???

I seriously may be down in that area to go get some parts from a buddy down there and I was thinking about the badlands...It'd be nice to get a couple people together, even though its last minute. I'm freaking DYING to do some wheeling....it'd be muddy but fun!! If you're considering it, let me know.

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02' Frankenlifted White Sport on 31" TrXus M/Ts

89' 2 Dr. Khaki XJ- Waggy 44's, 4.88s, 35's, 3-link on 5.5" coils.

I like the hitch-haul I have. Easy to use, and You can add one of the soft rooftop carriers to it to keep stuff hidden. $50 at Wally-World.

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My opinions & advice are taken at your own risk.
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2002 Patriot Blue KJ - Coming soon!
2006 Black LJ (Wrangler Unlimited), auto, custom skids, 3.5" Rubicon Express, Aussie D30, Rocker Guards & Cooper AT3 235x85r16
2009 Patriot Blue D2500, 5.7L Hemi, 4x4, Quad Cab
1967 Alberg 37' Masthead rigged Sloop

Thanks, everybody. Sounds like the front fluid will be changed out when the stealership replaces the pinion seal. That just leaves the back. I'll look into borrowing my neighbor's 3-ton jack and stands and do that job myself. I'll have to check the manual for fluid type and quantity. I bottle up the old oil and have the PFM store by my office recycle/dispose of it. They didn't charge me for the dirty ATF+4 from the t-case.

FastTRX, they're forecasting heavy rain Saturday and Sunday. Combined with snow melt, there could be significant flooding. I don't mind mud, but wheeling in a cold rain isn't my idea of fun. I'd rather have it 30 degrees and snowing that 40 degrees and raining. I'm weird that way. We'll hook up eventually. I want to get at least one more Badlands run in before I go wheeling at Coal Creek OHV Area with my brother.

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

well ask them how they change it, Some dealers might just mark the pinion, pull the pinion off then replace the seal and re-install the pinion nut.


I don't know what Jeep Recommends for this.

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2003 Liberty Freedom Edition
1988 Suzuki Samurai

Well, Jeep Day turned in to Jeep and Mazda Day. Got the KJ halfway done and then got my wife's Mazda6 serviced and replaced it's air filter (15K miles). Jeep Dealership was good to work with today. Warranty work was no problem, no hidden charges.

I'm about to drain and fill the KJ axles but want to make sure I bought the right gear oil. I have both SAE 75W-140 and SAE 75W-90. I have the "8.25" 3.73:1 open differential. Is this the same as the 8.25 Corporate mentioned in the owners manual? Owners manual says to use 140 in the front and 90 in the rear, unless you tow a trailer (then use 140 in the rear too). Although I don't tow anything, would there be any harm done in using 75W-140 in the rear?

T.J.

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

Nope. That's what I put in mine. Better protection from heat I think.

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2006 Sport CRD

Could the Aztecs have known, that in 2012 after a 4 year experiment, our country would cease to exist?

Just patting myself on the back. I've never done this kind of work before.

Draining the rear axle was a PITA. Hardest part was popping the diff cover seal to let the old oil drain out. After using a rubber mallet and screwdriver, the thing that worked best was the claw of a hammer. I used the bottom edge of the pumpkin for leverage while rocking the hammer to pry the cover away from the housing. Anyway, I'm glad it's done. I stuck with Mobil 1 synthetic 75W-90 for the rear, since that's what I had on hand. The RTV seems to have formed a nice seal, even in my 35-degree garage. I haven't detected any leakage. The money I saved was definitely worth the effort. I spent only $38 on gear oil and RTV sealant.

As much as I want to get the front done, I might wait for warmer weather -- unless my neighbor needs his 3-ton jack and stands back.

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16