or am i going to need to jack up all 4 corners?

 

You wont get all the fluid out of there with just the rear being up, it should be on a level surface to perform the service correctly.
-GP-

 

that's what i figured

 

that said, most of the junk is at the bottom. I don't think it's worth worrying about. I've never jacked up the front to change the fluid. Of course with this d@mn carbon diff I'm supposed to change it every 2k miles to prevent gear whine...

 

most of the junk is at the bottom, therefor you'd want to get it all out, you cant do that if it's settled in the back of the diff while you're jacking it up from just the rear and letting the fluid out the front. In reality, the magnetic plug should be doing it's job and trapping all the shavings, but i'd rather be safe than sorry.
-GP-

 

Drive the car up 4 ramps so the car is level..

 

Enjoy the smell

 

I used ramps on the rear. I also used a fluid extractor. My best tool purchase of 2008 by far. It was fun and saves time when performing routine maintenance projects.There was absolutely nothing left in there when I was done.

Why does gear oil smell like dinosaur farts ???

 

I am planning on doing mine very soon. My Amsoil shipment should be here on the 5th and I plan on putting the back wheels on stands and then jacking the front up to make it level. If the car isn't level, your oil level reading when you put fresh oil in will be low...

 

Good point about the gear oil level being off..

 

Yep.

If the rear is higher than the front of the car, you will put too much fluid in, higher in the front, you will not be able to get enough fluid in.

 

Drive your car around a bit before you drain the fluid... That way all the junk will be suspended in the fluid when you drain it out.

I would jack it up level, too...

 

Just curious what kind of fluid extractor you have and what other duties do you made use of it?

Thanks...

 

If you use a jack, just drop the car back down to the ground to let it drain, then jack the car back up to finish the job. Just make sure that you won't crush whatever you're using to catch the fluid.

 

If you jack the car back up to finish the job, your fluid level reading will be off due to the angle of the car...