22 Gladiator Rubicon Front & Rear differential Maintenance

[GRIDLCK]

I currently own a 22 gladiator rubicon and im looking to do my front & rear diff change im just shy of 60k miles. Ive done one before on my wifes older JL and both front and rear had drain and fill plugs. I noticed that my 22 doesn't have drain plugs.

Im assuming this would require me to remove the covers to drain?
Does anyone have a step by step on how to complete this maintenance? Would be greatly appreciated. Dealership is asking for the deed to my house and title of my truck lmfao.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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[Gvsukids]

I currently own a 22 gladiator rubicon and im looking to do my front & rear diff change im just shy of 60k miles. Ive done one before on my wifes older JL and both front and rear had drain and fill plugs. I noticed that my 22 doesn't have drain plugs.

Im assuming this would require me to remove the covers to drain?
Does anyone have a step by step on how to complete this maintenance? Would be greatly appreciated. Dealership is asking for the deed to my house and title of my truck lmfao.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

What's it say in the manual?

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Im assuming this would require me to remove the covers to drain?
Does anyone have a step by step on how to complete this maintenance? Would be greatly appreciated. Dealership is asking for the deed to my house and title of my truck lmfao.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Yep. Remove cover, clean off any surfaces. I don't know if the factory uses gaskets or not, if they do, and they're the reusable kind then great! If not, then make sure you scrape off all the old gasket. Put a bead of RTV/silicone all around the cover (or on the pumpkin, whichever your preference), bolt the cover back on and tighten properly. Remove the fill plug and fill with the right fluid to the proper height (basically right up to the fill plug). Put your plug back in and you're done.

 

[GRIDLCK]

Thank you for this

 

[GRIDLCK]

What's it say in the manual?

manual doesn't state anything hence why im asking on the forums

 

[KWin]

just a word of caution remove the fill plug before the cover. if the fill plug is stuck for some reason it's better to know when you can drive to get more tools vs when you need to fill up

 

[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

There are some pretty good videos on the Tube of You that will show you exactly how to preform the service in great detail. I recently did my rear diff, super easy. The squeeze bottles of diff fluid make it very easy when refilling. When you loosen the bolts on the diff cover, loosen them all, leave a couple at the top still partially threaded in so that you can crack open the bottom of the diff cover to control the flow of the fluid draining, helps you control the flow into you catch pan. I used brake cleaner to clean the mating surfaces and bolts before putting everything back together. Oh yea, remove the fill plug first lol just in case.... the gasket is reusable

 

[GRIDLCK]

just a word of caution remove the fill plug before the cover. if the fill plug is stuck for some reason it's better to know when you can drive to get more tools vs when you need to fill up

Appreciate the caution

 

[GRIDLCK]

There are some pretty good videos on the Tube of You that will show you exactly how to preform the service in great detail. I recently did my rear diff, super easy. The squeeze bottles of diff fluid make it very easy when refilling. When you loosen the bolts on the diff cover, loosen them all, leave a couple at the top still partially threaded in so that you can crack open the bottom of the diff cover to control the flow of the fluid draining, helps you control the flow into you catch pan. I used brake cleaner to clean the mating surfaces and bolts before putting everything back together. Oh yea, remove the fill plug first lol just in case.... the gasket is reusable

thanks for the feedback been watching a few just confused now on which oil for the rear bc i have the tow package i believe it requires a different fluid to the front 75w 90 everyone uses. Just not 100% if thats true or if i can use the same. I keep finding different responses

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

thanks for the feedback been watching a few just confused now on which oil for the rear bc i have the tow package i believe it requires a different fluid to the front 75w 90 everyone uses. Just not 100% if thats true or if i can use the same. I keep finding different responses

This should actually be in the manual, I do believe there is an oil with a friction additive for the trucks with a limited slip rear (like you’re describing).

At least every other vehicle I’ve driven with an LSD has required that

 

[SoK66]

If you’re doing any towing or regular wheeling I’d do them at 30k.

I think the ones after Jeep deleted the drain plugs have a reusable gasket. That sounds a bit sketchy to me, I’d most likely either get new ones or lose the gaskets and seal it up with RTV, providing there’s clearance between the ring gear and cover.

 

[biodiesel]

I think the ARB front and rear differential covers came with a magnetic drain plug. For that reason, I'm planning to replace the factory covers with ARB.

 

[biodiesel]

This should actually be in the manual, I do believe there is an oil with a friction additive for the trucks with a limited slip rear (like you’re describing).

At least every other vehicle I’ve driven with an LSD has required that

Some lube manufacturers have combined the additive with the differential fluid so that you don't need to buy a separate friction additive.

 

[biodiesel]

If you’re doing any towing or regular wheeling I’d do them at 30k.

I agree. I do a lot of towing with my Ram 1500 and the differential fluid looked horrible at 25,516 miles. I'm now servicing the rear differential every 20,000 miles. The quality control coming out of the factory also seems to be hit and miss.

If the fluid looks good, then you can extend the interval out. I pull gear oil samples at every interval just to monitor the condition of the rear axle.

 

[BearFootSam]

I currently own a 22 gladiator rubicon and im looking to do my front & rear diff change im just shy of 60k miles. Ive done one before on my wifes older JL and both front and rear had drain and fill plugs. I noticed that my 22 doesn't have drain plugs.

Im assuming this would require me to remove the covers to drain?
Does anyone have a step by step on how to complete this maintenance? Would be greatly appreciated. Dealership is asking for the deed to my house and title of my truck lmfao.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I printed a copy of the tech manual from somewhere to note the sequence and torque values.

Honestly it’s a stone simple job, aren’t solid axles grand? Crack the fill port, crack your cover nuts to drain, remove cover, clean it all up, replace cover, fill to spec.

You need a torque wrench and be mindful of the tightening sequence for the cover bolts.

check your work after a few miles.

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