Changing the rear diff fluid - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

E.T. · 09-30-2013, 09:55 AM

I'm going to be giving this a shot soon and would appreciate any tips (or if someone could point me to the best DIY on the forum).

A few questions:

which brand of fluid is best
can I get this at a local auto store, or do I have to order
is it ok to do this with the rear wheels on ramps (will all the fluid drain out)
I have the LPE 3.70 gears. Is the procedure still the same?

Thanks for any advice!

Avenging Orange · 09-30-2013, 11:25 AM

When in doubt, factory fluid will do. Yes you can do it on ramps. Some may tell you a tad more friction modifier for an aftermarket set, but I think you'll be fine. Search the DIY, all kinds of info there.

E.T. · 09-30-2013, 12:02 PM

Cool, thanks.

I found a good DIY on here. Someone said that it can be done without even jacking up the car?

I'm going to give the Royal Purple 75W-90 a shot.

Avenging Orange · 09-30-2013, 05:39 PM

Ha, you can, but its a tight squeeze getting under there. I just used hydraulic jack and jack stands on drivers side. RP is a good choice.

E.T. · 09-30-2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

Ha, you can, but its a tight squeeze getting under there. I just used hydraulic jack and jack stands on drivers side. RP is a good choice.

LOL, yeah, I just slid under there in the garage and it ain't happening with the jack. I'm skinny, but it's still real tight. So just raising the driver's side works well? Did you put one jack stand on the driver's side rear?

rozay · 09-30-2013, 06:17 PM

I used redline

SPCBA · 09-30-2013, 07:25 PM

Gonna need a simple hand pump (like from wifes lotion....or yours hehe) and a tube to go from pump spout to the fill hole. Real easy on ramps. Dont over tighten the bolts back in. Ask lpe what they suggest for fluid and friction modifiers would be my suggestion.

E.T. · 10-01-2013, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPCBA

Gonna need a simple hand pump (like from wifes lotion....or yours hehe) and a tube to go from pump spout to the fill hole. Real easy on ramps. Dont over tighten the bolts back in. Ask lpe what they suggest for fluid and friction modifiers would be my suggestion.

I'm good with the friction modifier (it's already in the Royal Purple). Is this okay to do with the back end on ramps or should the car be level?

Could I put the rears up on my race ramps, and then jack up the front to level the car and pop some jack stands under there? Or maybe this is making things too complicated...can I just back up onto the ramps and do the fluid change even though the car won't be level? I have a little hand pump I can use if all the old fluid doesn't come out.

Mr_Draco · 10-01-2013, 10:01 AM

You can do it on ramps (I just changed mine this way Sat.) however the drain plug is towards the rear so not all the fluid will drain out so you won't be able to get a full quart back in when you fill up. The difference will only be a couple oz so it's no big deal. If you do it on ramps, don't drive all the way up on the ramps, only go about half way up and chock the wheels so you will get more fluid out.

E.T. · 10-01-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

You can do it on ramps (I just changed mine this way Sat.) however the drain plug is towards the rear so not all the fluid will drain out so you won't be able to get a full quart back in when you fill up. The difference will only be a couple oz so it's no big deal. If you do it on ramps, don't drive all the way up on the ramps, only go about half way up and chock the wheels so you will get more fluid out.

Cool. I also have jack stands, so do you think that would be the better choice? I wouldn't have to raise the cars as high, but I feel a little more comfortable under the ramps. Either way, I can pump out the leftover.

E.T. · 10-01-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRD_WRK

I wouldnt recommend driving partially up a movable ramp and crawling underneath, even with front chocked and E brake on.

I change mine without raising it at all, but im pretting skinny with long arms.

Raising/lowering a rear end takes only a minute. jack it up on left side, put a stand under it, open the plug, lower it down to get it All drained out.
jack it back up on both sides(w both stands) to replug / fill.

Change when car has been off for a while.
Get a GOOD pump.

We assume you dont have an Eaton TT, else Id use different oil and no modifier.

Thanks, I will give that a shot. No TT (twin turbo?) just a Maggie

JohnnyBfromPeoria · 10-01-2013, 05:16 PM

Tru Trac.

John B.

E.T. · 10-02-2013, 10:17 PM

Well, it's all done. Wasn't too bad. The drain bolt was too close to the one exhaust pipe, so I had to unclamp it and move it a bit. It was a little tricky getting everything out of the new bottle and into the diff, but I got most of it in with just a tiny bit of spillage. Went for test drive and didn't notice any new or strange sounds, so I think it was a success

09-30-2013, 09:55 AM	#1
E.T. Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,273	Changing the rear diff fluid I'm going to be giving this a shot soon and would appreciate any tips (or if someone could point me to the best DIY on the forum). A few questions: which brand of fluid is best can I get this at a local auto store, or do I have to order is it ok to do this with the rear wheels on ramps (will all the fluid drain out) I have the LPE 3.70 gears. Is the procedure still the same? Thanks for any advice! __________________

09-30-2013, 11:25 AM	#2
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	When in doubt, factory fluid will do. Yes you can do it on ramps. Some may tell you a tad more friction modifier for an aftermarket set, but I think you'll be fine. Search the DIY, all kinds of info there. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

09-30-2013, 12:02 PM	#3
E.T. Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,273	Cool, thanks. I found a good DIY on here. Someone said that it can be done without even jacking up the car? I'm going to give the Royal Purple 75W-90 a shot. __________________

09-30-2013, 05:39 PM	#4
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	Ha, you can, but its a tight squeeze getting under there. I just used hydraulic jack and jack stands on drivers side. RP is a good choice. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

09-30-2013, 06:17 PM	#6
rozay Drives: camaro 2LS LFX A6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Florida Posts: 614	I used redline __________________ Niche 20x10.5, BMR 1.25 springs, GFX splitter,1LE Diffuser w/ 3.5 quad tips

09-30-2013, 07:25 PM	#7
SPCBA Drives: pleather and Chiclets Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: a line somwhere Posts: 4,206 View My Garage	Gonna need a simple hand pump (like from wifes lotion....or yours hehe) and a tube to go from pump spout to the fill hole. Real easy on ramps. Dont over tighten the bolts back in. Ask lpe what they suggest for fluid and friction modifiers would be my suggestion. __________________ the power by www.cunningham-motorsports.com the brakes by www.RacingBrake.com

10-01-2013, 10:01 AM	#9
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 7,359	You can do it on ramps (I just changed mine this way Sat.) however the drain plug is towards the rear so not all the fluid will drain out so you won't be able to get a full quart back in when you fill up. The difference will only be a couple oz so it's no big deal. If you do it on ramps, don't drive all the way up on the ramps, only go about half way up and chock the wheels so you will get more fluid out.

10-01-2013, 05:16 PM	#12
JohnnyBfromPeoria Drives: 2012 LS M6, Black Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,045	Tru Trac. John B.

10-02-2013, 10:17 PM	#13
E.T. Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,273	Well, it's all done. Wasn't too bad. The drain bolt was too close to the one exhaust pipe, so I had to unclamp it and move it a bit. It was a little tricky getting everything out of the new bottle and into the diff, but I got most of it in with just a tiny bit of spillage. Went for test drive and didn't notice any new or strange sounds, so I think it was a success __________________