FW: Diff Seals

[Livolsi, Stephane]

> >
> >I haven't had a chance to jack up the car and look underneath yet but
> where=
> > are the filler and drain plugs located?  I assume that I can loosen both
> u=
> >sing a hex wrench.  Any other special tools required?
> >
> >thanks
> >
> >mohammed
> >88 80q
> >
>
>
> Make absolutely sure you are able to find and get the *filler* plug out
> BEFORE you find the drain plug and drain the diff.
>
>
> "Let's see, we drained the diff, all the old oil is out, but we can't
> break
> loose the filler so now, the only way to fill the diff, since we can't run
> it without oil, is to turn the car upside down and fill it from the bottom
> which is now the top."
>
Which brings us to....

WTF do you do when you can't get the fill plug out because it is
...."rounded off, and stuck and absolutely nothing that you do - heat,
BFhammer, etc will get it out"?

Fortunately for me, my 86 5ktq is fine (except for the leaking diff seals),
but unfortunately for Tihol, we can't get the fill plug out of his 88 90Q.
We were thinking of removing the output shaft and the diff cover plate on
that side (the fill plug is on the cover plate) then getting it drilled or
cut out on the workbench, and putting a new plug in.  Anybody have btdt's or
advice on removing that cover plate? good idea or bad idea?


PS, there is a downside to topping up your diff - the 'top up' fluid will
promptly leak out the leaky seals until you get them fixed.....you KNOW how
I know this  :)

PPS, Kris at VM Autohaus tells me the replacement plugs are no longer 17mm -
they are now 16mm hex.  I surmise this was done to make a thicker sidewall
for the plug, and less chance of rounding or breaking it.