I want to drain the rear end fluid, also in the front axle but......
I was under the Cherokee tonight, and I cannot see any drain plug, or fill plug.
I didn't check the front axle yet.
Anyhow, I only see a rubber plug on the cover? It seems like a rubber "circle" type plug. That just pushes in. Just kind of confused. DO I remove the cover to drain, and fill with fluid through the rubber plug?

 

Yes.

 

pull off the diff cover to drain and clean it, apply rtv silicone and re-install then fill through rubber plug

 

take the cover off to let all the fluid out, spray the diff and the cover with brake clean to get all the old fluid out, apply RTV and bolt the cover down and fill it through the rubber plug

 

Thanks guys! I thought maybe the PO screwed something up, and put that rubber thing on there. never saw that before. Will do it today.

 

I believe after you apply the RTV silicone gasket material you need to partially tighten the cover and allow the RTV silicone gasket material time o cure before you torque down the cover.

If you torque it down with the RTV Silicone gasket material still 'wet', you run the risk of squeezing it all out.

Maybe someone can chime in, but I think there are two torque specs when using that stuff. The first number obviously low to cause a uniform sealant coverage and the final number to tighten it dow for fill and use.

 

I knew to wait. But I had no idea about the "two" torque specs. Going to advance this morning. Hope they give me the right gasket.
Also....is the front axle the same??
I didn't look yet. That way I know to buy two gaskets this morning while at the part store.
I see my owners manual calls for 75w/90. not sure how much fluid they mean. It was in metric.
I have a bunch of 80w in the garage, go figure. ugh!
I don't off road at all. So I guess just factory gear lube as the book states? 98 with 150k on it.