2003 FX35 AWD Front and Rear Differential Location

D

durak2000

Member
Hey guys,

I have searched this to death, but can not seem to find a location of a front differential on my 2003 FX35 AWD. Now, finding a rear differential is not a problem, but front one is a ghost. It's not even in the FSM. I searched all relevant sections and could not find it.

I think I have pinpointed the location right behind the oil filter on a passenger side. The plugs are exactly the same as the plugs in the rear diff - lower is a magnetic one, upper is a filler plug. Fluid smells the same as rear, little cloudier than the back though.

Am I on the right path?

Thanks!

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Good question. I was wondering this too. I'm thinking its getting time to change that fluid and, not that I'm engaging the awd that often, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to change the front too.
 
durak2000 said:
Hey guys,

I have searched this to death, but can not seem to find a location of a front differential on my 2003 FX35 AWD. Now, finding a rear differential is not a problem, but front one is a ghost. It's not even in the FSM. I searched all relevant sections and could not find it.

I think I have pinpointed the location right behind the oil filter on a passenger side. The plugs are exactly the same as the plugs in the rear diff - lower is a magnetic one, upper is a filler plug. Fluid smells the same as rear, little cloudier than the back though.

Am I on the right path?

Thanks!

9rixav.jpg



4v49qw.jpg
Click to expand...
Yes, that is the front diff. When I changed the fluid in both of my diffs not long after I bought it (earlier this year), it appeared that the rear fluid had been changed recently but the front had not. The front fluid was pretty dang dirty.
 

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dlaska said:
would like to do this to mine sometime...how do we change it?
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It's a pretty easy job, almost as easy as changing oil. Be aware that gear oil has a foul odor.

On each differential, the lower plug is the drain plug and the upper is the fill plug. Remove both plugs and let the gear oil drain. Once it has completely drained replace the drain plug. *Note - you are supposed to use new gaskets* Then just fill the diff with new gear oil until it reaches the fill plug. The correct fluid level is right at the bottom of the fill plug hole. I just pumped enough in there until it started draining out of the fill plug and didn't replace the fill plug until it stopped draining. I bought and used a pump attachment for the gear oil bottles, any parts store has them for ~$10. All plugs get torqued to 25ft.lbs. and the procedure is the same for both diffs.

I would suggest getting a 10mm hex bit socket to use with a 1/2" drive ratchet. the front diff plugs aren't as easy to get to as the rear diff so using the socket with an extension & ratchet will be very helpful.
 
Dynamo said:
It's a pretty easy job, almost as easy as changing oil. Be aware that gear oil has a foul odor.

On each differential, the lower plug is the drain plug and the upper is the fill plug. Remove both plugs and let the gear oil drain. Once it has completely drained replace the drain plug. *Note - you are supposed to use new gaskets* Then just fill the diff with new gear oil until it reaches the fill plug. The correct fluid level is right at the bottom of the fill plug hole. I just pumped enough in there until it started draining out of the fill plug and didn't replace the fill plug until it stopped draining. I bought and used a pump attachment for the gear oil bottles, any parts store has them for ~$10. All plugs get torqued to 25ft.lbs. and the procedure is the same for both diffs.

I would suggest getting a 10mm hex bit socket to use with a 1/2" drive ratchet. the front diff plugs aren't as easy to get to as the rear diff so using the socket with an extension & ratchet will be very helpful.
Click to expand...



Good info. Anyone have any pics of the locations of the plugs?
 
Dynamo said:
It's a pretty easy job, almost as easy as changing oil. Be aware that gear oil has a foul odor.

On each differential, the lower plug is the drain plug and the upper is the fill plug. Remove both plugs and let the gear oil drain. Once it has completely drained replace the drain plug. *Note - you are supposed to use new gaskets* Then just fill the diff with new gear oil until it reaches the fill plug. The correct fluid level is right at the bottom of the fill plug hole. I just pumped enough in there until it started draining out of the fill plug and didn't replace the fill plug until it stopped draining. I bought and used a pump attachment for the gear oil bottles, any parts store has them for ~$10. All plugs get torqued to 25ft.lbs. and the procedure is the same for both diffs.

I would suggest getting a 10mm hex bit socket to use with a 1/2" drive ratchet. the front diff plugs aren't as easy to get to as the rear diff so using the socket with an extension & ratchet will be very helpful.
Click to expand...

thanks for the response....gotta put this on my to-do list and try it
 
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