Best way to change front differential oil

[donnyeagle]

What is the best way to change the oil in the front differential on an 85 eagle?
Is it possible to just drop the drivers side after disconnecting both half shafts (and the 2 bolts on the engine mount, 1 bolt on the diff)?
Then realigning it would be easier.
Or do you have to drop the entire differential in order to be able to get to the cover bolts?
Also I have heard that some use brake cleaner to clean out the inside before closing it up and adding new fluid.

[lapoltba]

I don't have a good answer, but I can tell you how I am going to try it....   I am going to try to suck the oil out of the fill port using a piece of 1/4" tubing and my Vacuum bleeder.  I'll probably fill it with a small hand pump I have.  The only other way I have seen to do it is to drop the front cross member out of the way.

[donnyeagle]

You can refill it through the breather tube on the drivers side of the engine bay.

[TLC87Eagle]

The siphon method may work for if you don't have the equipment to drop the front diff. Though the service manual even says to drop the front diff, and that's the way I've always done it. It's not a very hard job actually, just disconnect the half shaft and a few bolts, and the whole thing can be lowered down on a floor jack. Admit, it's some work just to change the fluid, but it helps to see what's going inside the diff and be sure all the old oil is out of it.

[donnyeagle]

Do you have to remove the bolt that hold the differential on the passenger side or can you just drop down the drivers side?

[carnuck]

I used a floor jack, undid the bolts from the diff and set the axle onto axle stands (3 to keep it level) without dropping driveshaft or axles. Gave me just enough room to access the fill hole and loosening the cover got the oil out. Slightly tipping the pinion up got the most oil out and silicone to reseal it. (I had a spare cover cleaned up to swap out with the fill plug already loosened)