Late model GM drain plug

[Ron]

Okay...I feel like this should be in n00b tech, but not so much.

Got up around 6 this morning and went to start some basic maintenance that had been overlooked for a while.

The 01 Yukon just recently hit 100k and I thought it might no be a bad ida to drain the rear diff and refill...what the hell...

Well I crawl under, scratch my head for 15 minutes and now I am stumped. THERE IS NO DAMN FILL PLUG THAT I CAN FIND?

Of course I can pull the cover and that will handle draining, but how the hell do you fill this damn things?

Sorry if I am just dense, but I uh..have worked on an axle or 2 and never seen shit like this....

 

[Blkvoodoo]

on the pinion snout of the axle housing, pass side, 3/8" square drive plug. might be covered in crud.
DO NOT USE POWER TOOLS TO REMOVE/INSTALL !!!
Never seen a GM axle with out one.

Should be about 8" back from the pinion flange seal.

 

[Ron]

actually thats the 1st place I looked, as its wher it was on an 02 I changed the rear end for a friend just 2 weeks ago...

I am reallyu convinced this damn housing somehow made it out of the factory without a fill plug...(I know it didn't but damn)

The underneath is spotless (no crud buildup)...I even had a freind crawl under, no luck.

On the pinion snout on the drivers side is a spot that looks like it could be a crappy weld up job/almost looks like gobbed silicon, but its metallic (magnetic)....

I just cant figure why if that was the fill hole someone would have welded it up solid?

I bought the damn thing with 30k and I have talked with the previous owner, never wrecked...

just damn

 

[Blkvoodoo]

anything is possible

that is why I said no power tools, I've seen many of those fubar'd at the dealership during PDI. You may well have one that was. Welding it over garuteed no leaks ( but not a smart fix)

best thing to do, pull the cover, drill a hole and weld a bung on the cover at the fluid line. install your own plug. ( you will see the fluid line on the cover )

 

[Ron]

anything is possible

that is why I said no power tools, I've seen many of those fubar'd at the dealership during PDI. You may well have one that was. Welding it over garuteed no leaks ( but not a smart fix)

best thing to do, pull the cover, drill a hole and weld a bung on the cover at the fluid line. install your own plug. ( you will see the fluid line on the cover )

Well I had decided not to post my intentions of fixing the problem, but since you said it was the best idea...cover is laying in the parts washer as we speak...bout to drill and weld, actually just using a nut because its handy, and I have a spare cover.