Hi All: Just read an article in the latest issue of Popular Mechanics re: changing rear differential fluid. I've had many cars over my 60+ yrs of driving.I don't remember ever changing fluid in any of them,and never had a problem. Maybe it's me or have I just been lax in the maint. dept and been very lucky? I've always maintained my vehicles by my self (must admit at 75 it's getting a little more difficult). My question to you all,do you change rear end lubes and /or front diff.? thanks for your input,jerrops

 

If it's a posi axle I change the fluid every other year and replace the additive. If it's an open diff, I'm a bit lax with them. I've changed the fluid in my Cherokee axles twice. Once at 100K, again at 200K. Seems to have been sufficient.

 

Only changed my rear diff fluid when I did a disc brake conversion. Had to drain it so I figured for $20 or so I might as well put new stuff in.

 

I bought my jeep with 260k and beat the ever living crap out of my rear diff. Then changed the oil and it was black, I figured it had never been changed but it didn't seem to make a difference when I changed it

 

Kind of depends if it see mostly road you can be pretty relaxed with it. If you are going threw deep water a lot you need to change it often

 

Factory recommendation is every 30K miles.

 

Really?
I'm like the OP.
I've only changed it when I had it open for some reason. EVER.
I can only remember breaking a rear end once. And I'm pretty sure it was fubared before I got it.

 

Anytime I buy used vehicle I change all the fluids in it (except auto trans) so I know they HAVE been changed and also to get a look at the fluids that come out of it. Then I'll change the t-case/axles again every couple years or so.

If it was an off-road rig (deep mud / hard playing) then yes, I'd change them all much more frequently.

...

 

I do it every 4th oil change. Usually the mid-summer oil change. Full synthetic in the rear 8.25 and semi-syn in the front.

I gotta regear now due to my 31s. lol