2003 Suburban Rear Axle / Differential Cover w/Drain

[rjdjbd]

I've slowly working my way thru changing out all the fluids on my 2003 Suburban four-wheel drive with a G80 differential. After watching a couple of YouTube videos on how to change out the differential fluid, I was surprised to find that my Suburban does NOT have a drain plug on the differential housing. I have to pull the differential cover, which is far messier and requires replacing the gasket.

I'm looking for suggestions on replacing the differential cover with one that has a drain plug and after looking around online, I see that the prices run all over the place, with many designed for improved cooling, racing or off-road use, etc. I'm looking for a standard-style replacement that doesn't negatively affect anything inside the housing.

Any suggestions as to brand and model?

Thank you very much!

[davester]

I would suggest getting a drain plug installed on your existing pan, as non-oem pans don't seem to closely match the oem pan for where they place the fill port, so you typically wind up over-filling the diff (which is not a good thing, as it results in more aeration and extra heat being generated from more fluid being flung around).

[rjdjbd]

I would think it would be a big hassle to get someone to drill into the cover and thread it for a drain-pug. I'd be concerned with it getting damaged. Someone must offer a cover with a drain-plug, I can't be the only one that wants to make the process easier. This vehicle is 17 years old and a zillion of this model run was built; I certainly see this bodystyle on the road all the time. YouTube has a video or two showing a factory cover with a drain-plug, but must be newer than a 2003 model.

[Mike GMC]

My 2000 has a drain plug in the bottom of the housing, not the cover.

[davester]

You can buy cover's with drain plugs in them, it's just that (at least for me), you can't count on the manufacturer to put the fill hole in the right spot, so you can't get the fluid level in the diff right.

[Black02Silverado]

My 2002 Silverado has the plug on the bottom of the housing as stated above.  It might be covered with dirt.  Clean the bottom of the housing off.  Plus taking the cover off is a good thing because you can clean the magnet off as well.  As for fluid changes.  I go 100k between changes with AMSOIL's Severe Gear oil.  I have used oil analysis that show it is still good even at 100k miles and that's  with pulling a 4klb trailer though out the year.

If you want a quote for AMSOIL send my what you want to get and an address in a PM

[rjdjbd]

1 hour ago, Black02Silverado said:

My 2002 Silverado has the plug on the bottom of the housing as stated above.  It might be covered with dirt.  Clean the bottom of the housing off.  Plus taking the cover off is a good thing because you can clean the magnet off as well.  As for fluid changes.  I go 100k between changes with AMSOIL's Severe Gear oil.  I have used oil analysis that show it is still good even at 100k miles and that's  with pulling a 4klb trailer though out the year.

If you want a quote for AMSOIL send my what you want to get and an address in a PM

I can absolutely guarantee that there is no dirt or rust covering the drain-plug. I live in California and have never taken it off-road or in the snow. Looks like in 2003, there was no drain-plug but as others have mentioned, was added some model-years later to the housing. Video's on YouTube show exactly that.

[rjdjbd]

2 hours ago, Mike GMC said:

My 2000 has a drain plug in the bottom of the housing, not the cover.

Sure wish that was the case for me. I'd even accept one on the cover if it was close to the bottom.

[rjdjbd]

1 hour ago, davester said:

You can buy cover's with drain plugs in them, it's just that (at least for me), you can't count on the manufacturer to put the fill hole in the right spot, so you can't get the fluid level in the diff right.

You're right. The after-market covers I've found so far, the drain-plugs are far too high to effectively drain out the fluid.

[Bad Bowtie2]

"RAM IT".

 

Take you existing cover off. Find a rubber plug, drill you OEM cover to match, then "plug-it" up. Newer RAM trucks have this feature & I haven't seen any broken down on the side of the road with the plug "missing". I have seen RAM's broken down for OTHER reasons though!! LOL!!! 

 

[txab]

Drill it for a plug and have one welded on. Or just pull the cover (my preferred method). Use a high quality synthetic and you're good to go long enough you'll have replaced the vehicle by the next change.. As Nick mentioned, he had his tested at 100k, still plenty of life left. I tested mine at 90k with same results

[kstruckcountry]

Watch this and you'll never consider an after market cover. Other than Banks, anyway.

It is good karma to remove the cover, clean the magnet, and inspect the gears. Then reinstall with a fresh seal.

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