6+ hours in the garage this weekend...DIY...
 

Hi all,

Spent a good 6+ hours in the garage this weekend. It's nothing to rant about just the typical (oil change, atf drain, front diff drain, transfer drain). Yes, I am slow + newbie, thus I took my time. :D

Wanted to thank Wayne for the wood panel DIY ramp. It's really easy and much faster getting on it than using my jack stands. It's sturdy as hell.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JILyOwYKLvo/Sh...2/DSC00130.JPG

The oil change was a breeze and the atf drain is pretty easy as well. It was the first time doing the front differential and because the car was only jacked up 3 or 4 inches off the ground, I didn't have much clearance. But the front diff was doable and I was able to torque everything back to spec.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JILyOwYKLvo/Sh...2/DSC00134.JPG

The transfer case was the tough one. With limited clearance (I also avoid jacking the car high due to safety), it took me a while to find the Transfer drain/fill plug. Drain plug requires no socket. Just a 1/2 inch ratchet.


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JILyOwYKLvo/Sh...2/DSC00141.JPG

Once again, due to lack of clearance, I didn't have enough room to use breaker bar and I ended up twisting/turning my body and using the foot to kick the ratchet lose.
I was able to torque the drain plug and torque all the plugs except the transfer case fill plug (no room). Just had to manually tighten it. I also made a big mistake by pulling out the transfer drain plug a bit too fast. Then without putting any of the drain plugs back in, I use the hydralic jack and lifted the rear to even the draining process. :D

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JILyOwYKLvo/Sh...2/DSC00144.JPG

One thing is I don't see is a gasket/washer for the Transfer drain plug. I bought a gasket for it but I don't think it actually uses one. The manual calls for RV silicone and that's what I apply on the thread.

In any case, I want to thank "bythabay" again for all his DIY. It made my life that much easier and I must have saved a few hundred bucks in labor.

I used Mobile 1 Synthetic Oil, Matic J+S for the ATF, Mobile 1 75w90 for the front diff and Matic D for the Transfer case.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JILyOwYKLvo/Sh...2/DSC00148.JPG

Nice!

I gotta do the same thing ot my G but i currently have another project occupying the garage.

lol that 4th pic looks like ur car took a dump

Haha...well next time I will pull the plug slowly and use the longer oil pan container. I have a round one and a rectangular container. Unlike the oil drain plug, the transfer drain plug (not sure if it's the angle), it just gushes out :eek:

Good job taking the time to do it yourself and know it was done right. Just did my diff oil last weekend.

Nice Bobby, great job on the DIY maintenance.

Glad the wood ramps worked well for you, I have always found them the easiest. I always have my set handy.

Thanks Wayne. Yeah, the wood ramp was easy to roll onto. The jack stands I usually have to spend a good 20 minutes or more finding the jack points. :)

I love those wood ramps. I made mine with 7 steps so it gives me tons of clearance. I found that if you drop the rear end, another quart of tranny fluid will drain out. It normally takes about 3 quarts on a drain and fill. This last time I got 4 so I was happy.

Looks like you had a satisfying day.

There are only 5 things that i installed on my car (roof spoiler, clear sides,grounding kit, hid kit, led's) which were all really easy and stuff any idiot could do but i was proud as hell i did them. lol.

Wow 7 steps :biggthumpup:

Any pics?

Good job on doing it yourself.

Be careful kicking rachets and breaker bars. That is a quick way to either round off a nut/bolt or possibly shear/bend it.

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't kicking it from a distance. I had the rachet snugged in and then I put my foot on the handle and push on it.

P.S. DaveB, did you replace your Avon's yet? I know you had said once the Avon's wear out you will be getting the non-directional tires. Just wondering which brand you are going with.

looks good mike, i read your thread last night and it reminded me i still needed to get my front and rear diff done.

Why no rear diff? You didn't mention it.

How many liters did you end up using? I just picked up 3 bottles of mobil 1. still up in the air about the transfer case.

I did the rear diff last month.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JILyOwYKLvo/Se...2/DSC00099.JPG

That's what I bought as well. 3 bottles of mobile 1 gear oil (about 1.5qt for the rear and 1 qt for the front). I thought you wanted to get the Red Line. The rear left alot of gunk on the drain plug. The front is not nearly as dirty as the rear.

As for the transfer case, if you want to torque everything to spec then jack the car higher off the ground otherwise you won't have room to use the torque wrench. The transfer case is one tough cookie. Not sure if I want to do it myself next time. Then again, I won't need to look at it probably for another 2 or 3 yrs. I only put about 6,000 miles a year. :D