OK -- So I have been through water several times and my X has 21,000 miles on it now. I know I should have changed the dif. fluids @ 15,000 miles for regular service and should have changed out the fluids after going through water, but I just found this all out (rookie) and have yet to change the fluids. So, I called my dealer and they want like $135 for each dif. (front and rear). My question is ... at this point can I simply change out the fluids myself to save $$$, or will I need to really get in there and clean. I have no idea how to do this, but I will learn quickly to save $$$ and my Jeep. Also, have I damaged anything by waiting this long?
Thanks.

 

Change it out yourself and keep records and receipts. Also use synthetic gear oil. It will have more cleaning properties than the dino oil would. If you have an ls differential, you may need friction modifiers.

 

Not hard at all. Do it yourself? I changed mine and put in lube lockers instead of RTV. I am sure you will get comments on pros and cons of each. You should be able to easily do it under an hour for each diff. Go with synthetic.

 

Too add to the op, why do we need to changed the fluid out in the diffs after going through water? The seal on the diff cover shouldnt allow any water in the diff....or should it. Im a newbie as well. It would be helpfull if someone could shed some light on it for me as well.

 

The reason for changing the fluid after going thru water is the breather tubes can let in water even with the little white thing on top of them thats made to stop water getting in, I speak from experience lol.....the front breather comes up the top of drivers side shock tower, the rear goes to just over the frame on the passenger side....so if you've been in water deeper then that you should change the fluid....I'm pretty sure if you got water in either you would know it because it winds up coming back up out of the breather tubes and it looks like dirty milk....you can also tell if you got water in by opening the stock diff cover fill hole and sticking your finger in, the fluid should be right up to the hole and be clean looking SMELLY(I mean EXTREMELY SMELLY HAHA) oil

 

My son and I changed the fluids out in mine last week at 17K miles. We had wheeled it several times with mild water fording. The fluid didn't appear contaminated with water (wasn't milky looking), but it was extremely black and dirty; definitely in need of change.

 

Do your own. You can buy three quarts of synthetic Mobil 1 gear oil for about $30 or so
and then you'll have money left to buy something cool for your Jeep.

 

I did mine last night in about 20 min. Same ?? wanted to know if water has found its way in because of recent water fording....