If you haven't done so in the last year, jack up the back of the 7 and replace your differential fluid. You'll need a pretty big socket for the drain and wrench for the fill (21 and 23? can't remember) and some yummy synthetic fluid to put in there. I use Mobil1 and was very happy with it. Car accelerated with less effort and seemed to actually be a bit faster. I betcha a lot of FDs get their engine oil changed every 2k miles, but are still running on their original nasty diff fluid. Get that nasty crap outta there! Join the revolution !

 

Good idea! I'll have to tell the body shop to do it...

 

The car has a limited slip diff, so does it require any modifiers for the fluid?

How hard is it to get to the fill plug? Is the tranny as easy?

 

I think you can see it if you jack up the car. Easy to get to. Almost like changing your oil. There's a how to somewhere...

 

not that I'm aware of. I use the Mobil1 fluid---if memory serves it's 70w90. Just jack up the 7 from the diff and you'll see it. I'm prolly doin' my dad's today......i'll post a how to if/when we get done. Course, it's cold as crapola here in NJ, and the damn garage ain't heated.....

Rich

 

Who is that girl in your sig?? Everytime I see that picture I just want her to suck my...I mean ... another lollipop! Is she a friend?

 

One thing--before you drain it, *make sure* you can loosen the fill plug. My bud alan's was fused on there, even with the use of a breaker bar....if we woulda drained his fluid he woulda been f*&ked because we couldn't fill it. Soon we're going to do battle with his fill plug, and we shall prevail if it kills us

 

yeah... who is the person in ur sig

 

The torsen unit in the fd's has gears, not clutches, so as far as I know you don't need a friction modifier.

 

She is 7sweetie aka Hannah.....she's a great driver (only chick to ever drive my fd) and is Ihor's g/f, so best ta step off

 

one more thing, make sure you chock the front wheels before jacking up the rear....

 

Hehehehehe, you guys are funny. You guys need a "how to" to change your diff fluid??? That is some funny shiet.

Ok, well I know that we were all FD virgins at one time. Just my 2 cents, don't be afraid of this car. I have to admit, with most of my experience being on 1st and 2nd gens, the FD was intimidating at first. But now that I've "been there and done that", the best advice is "just do it" and don't be afraid.

In this case, you don't have to know anything, just jack the car up by the diff (standard on all cars). Then, start looking and you'll find the fill & drain plugs.

And lastly, GoodfellaFD3S, thanks for the great tip about FIRST making sure you can remove the fill plug BEFORE draining the diff. I am forever going to follow that rule. Never thought about it, but it sure as hell makes all the sense in the world.

Merry Christmas guys,
Tom

 

Yeah, it sounds kinda silly, but alan's damn fill plug is somehow, someway fused to the diff. His FD has over 150k miles on the chassis (and only 2 motors) and the diff fluid hasn't been changed in many moons. I guess this goes along the lines of "the only stupid question is the one you don't ask "

take care,
Rich

 

I know what it's like to have a bolt "fused". When I first bought my FD, it had a major engine fire. The fire dept sprayed water all over the engine bay and inside the car beacause it started getting in to the dash as well. Anyhow, when I was trying to remove the eccentric shaft main pulley bolt, which is on there 180-200 ft/lbs, it would NOT come off for the life of me. I was using a breaker bar with a 6 foot pole for leverage and I broke 2 of my chrome Snap-On sockets trying to get the bolt off. So then I went to Sears and bought the hardened sockets, the black ones that are for air guns, and I broke 3 of those!! So I broke 5 sockets in all. On the fourth black socket, it finally broke loose. The bolt was seized in there with rust all in the threads.

Before it came off, I was starting to worry that it would never break loose and that I was going to have to spend BIG $$ to buy a new eccentric shaft.

Anyway, take it easy. Merry Christmas,
Tom

 

you may try Jiffy Lube. i know it sounds funny but they have diff fluid on tap and if anything they can jam the nozzle in there through the drain, fill it up, and put the plug back on before it all drains out. it does work, cuz i have had to do it before (made the same mistake) at work one day.

when i worked there, they charged like $20 to do the service but you can prolly get it done for $15 or so.

 

Rich, Do you know for sure the socket sizes needed for the fill/drain plug? I thought they were both 24mm. Thanks.

Danny

 

As far as Redline fluids, which one is recommended? Just the straight up 70W90 fluid or one of the others?? Thanx in advance.

Zach

 

ha ha, i love you rich, what would i do without you

 

im also looking foward to seeing you this weekend, we're going to have FUN!!!

 

Sho Enuff. Two other rx guys (Kenny and Anthony--xsler8nrx7 and rotary93) might be rollin' with us . Gimme a call as soon as you get in.....Ihor has my number .

Rich

 

Rich is right on with the diff fluid, I noticed a very nice difference in mine when I changed it. On the track with slicks I could feel the inside rear doing a little more work than usual.

The Mobil 1 is good and available, but I recommend NEO synthetics for the tranny and the diff. Truly wonderful stuff and many, many race teams use the stuff. (I saw a box of it stacked inside a Penske trailer at a CART race once. You can buy at from www.bakerprecision.com

 

another tip I could add to this thread:

install a new aluminum washer when you change your fluid

I reused the old washer and it started leaking, pretty soon there was oil residue all over my differential....not pretty

 

FWIW, I've been using Royal Purple Max Gear in both tranny and diff for a while now, and I've been pretty happy with it. I don't have anything in particular to compare it to save the original mineral-based oil, but I've been pleased and nothing bad has happened.

FWIW, I've never changed the washer either, and I have no leaks (maybe someone else did previously) but I'm probably going to have one now, just because I opened my mouth!

jds

 

Thanks for the pat on the back, Manute. Hope your holidays went well .

your pal,
Spud

 

I use Redline Shock Proof.... It looks like Pepto Bismol... and a little thicker... but it's used by many road racers which is good enough for me.