Differential Housing Cover: Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Mariner and 2010 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Clean the gasket mating surfaces of the differential housing and the differential housing cover.
- Apply a new continuous bead of clear silicone rubber as shown in the illustration.
- Install the differential housing cover and the 10 bolts.
- Tighten to 23 Nm (17 lb-ft).
- Remove the filler plug and fill the rear axle with 1.15L (2.43 pt) of rear axle lubricant, 3-5 mm (0.118-0.196 in) below the bottom of the filler hole.
- Install the filler plug and tighten to 27 Nm (20 lb-ft).
NOTE:
Make sure the machined surfaces on the rear axle housing and the differential housing cover are clean and free of oil before installing the new silicone sealant. The inside of the rear axle must be covered when cleaning the machined surface to prevent contamination.
NOTE:
The differential housing cover must be installed within 15 minutes of application of the silicone, or new sealant must be applied. If possible, allow one hour before filling with lubricant to make sure the silicone sealant has correctly cured.