TonyOldSchool

Any suggestions on checking oil level in rear diff on 86 5K TQ? I can see two drain plugs but no refill. I'm concerned because it's quite wet and the level is perhaps low. I believe it holds perhaps only a quart. I have a spare diff and you have to fill from the top, but the gas tank is there. I was thinking of cutting out an inspection hole but w/ the tank there! Drop subframe? I could drain both chambers and rig up a filling fitting from the bottom fittings but would be messy. There is a wine which sounds like tire tread noise which comes evident over 35MPH from the rear. Jacked up rear and spun and no noise, though a little resistance to spin. Noise is more pronounced if I slightly turn to the left. Also removed the drive shaft but no change. No one said the car wouldn't move unless the center dif was locked!!! Any one ???

fusilier

Definately cheaper to replace the entire rear diff rather than rebuild it with new bearing. Bearings are probably 100 each and you need a few with new seals too.

urq20vt

Hint, remove the fill plug (17mm hex) BEFORE you drain it, or you may be forced to remove the diff, which is NOT a fun job. FWIW, I drove one of these for five years and 150k miles.

Sounds to me like you might have a bad wheel bearing. I have never seen or heard of a bad rear diff in a 5ktq.

BTW, in the future, you might want to try the 5k, 200, etc. forum and it is generally considered poor etiquette to use all caps in the subject line.

urq20vt

It is _not_ a fun job, even with a lift.

TonyOldSchool

Thanks for the advice, being new I'm still learning the procedure! But to follow up, I removed the skid pan and easily took out the plug, no oil! Added almost two qts. Still wines so it is either a bearing (no roughness when jacked up) or the tires.

urq20vt

Well, they are dirt cheap, so I would replace it instead of repairing.