Advice Needed... TJ servicing...

You can do this in a few hours on your driveway. All that is involved is removing both diff covers, draining old oil into a drain pan (buy from cambodian tire), clean the covers and mating surface on the diff's, re-seal with some rtv (silicone) then fill the diff's via the fill port.

This ia one thing haynes is pretty good for.

No picture, but if you look under the front of your jeep (below the engine, in front of the oil pan) you will see what looks like a shock, that is the steering stabilizer. again it will only take a few hours (2 at the most) to change out by yourself (i dont think you need any sort of special tooling, save for a tourch to heat things up if there stuck)

This is just a messy job, but I would wait until you need your brakes done.

prices fit with stealership, you can do the first 2 items yourself and the money you save will pay for the tank of gas for all the running around, the drain pan, gear oil for the diff's and beer to help with the jobs at hand.

Snow...

I don't have the recommended $40 brake fluid vacuum tool so I bought a bottle of the DOT 4 synthetic fluid and a turkey baster at the dollar store.

Dot 4 is compatible with the factory DOT 3 but is less susceptible to the water contamination that turns the fluid black.

(Note: DOT 5 is incompatible)

I suctioned the master cylinder out with the turkey baster and then refilled it. A couple weeks later I repeated the procedure and a couple weeks later I repeated the procedure again.

The synthetic DOT 4 is $4.99/quart and it takes about 12 ounces each exchange. I did not need to get air out of the brakes so I did not need to get a neighbor's assistance pumping. Is the fluid totally clear and replaced? No but it is much cleaner and I now have a fluid with better specs.

Total cost $4.99 + tax (DOT 4 costs a dollar more than a quart of DOT 3)

Billy Ray did pass the time by typing:

Use one of these. Only takes one person and no pumping but just like the two people method you have to keep a close eye on the reservoir.

Pressure type

IMO, they saw you coming... you're getting bent over.

I'd never let anyone else do these things... and when a shop comes up with stuff like this, I wonder if they did the contaminating themselves. $300 to change two diff's fluid? Criminal! This can be done without dropping the cover... the fluid can be sucked out with a hose. =20

What kind of shop is this? Jiffy-Lube clone, or reputable local establishment? If you aren't a=20 mechanic, you need to start a good relationship with one. __ Steve .

I actually had the front and rear diff's fluid changed, oil changed, and the transmission and transfer case for about $400 US from a dealership. I now do it myself. It's not hard. Simply get a Chilton's manual for your Jeep and follow the directions. Remember that limited slip axles require special additive lube for the differential. Then it's just the cost of some fluid and some silicone gasket maker (and possibly limited slip lube additive).

Brake fluid change is easy. Get a cheap brake bleeding kit and a helpful friend and bleed them until the fluid is completely new. Save the $... Make sure to use a flare fitting wrench that grips almost all the way around the nut to make sure you don't round it off.

Steering damper is a little difficult to change on your own because of a tapered bolt that holds it in. A pickle fork attached to an air chissle wouln't even break mine loose. We had to get out the oxy-acetelyne torch and heat it up. A propane torch wouln't do. I'm not sure about maybe a MAPP gas/oxygen kit... Essentially, it's a shock that is mounted sideways accross your front steering assembly. It must have a bad seal and is leaking oil. It's not an expensive item, around $50 US, but it's not easy to get the old one out because of that nasty tapered bolt. If you know someone with an oxy-acetelyne torch and they know how to use it, get them to remove it for you (don't cut it out, just heat it up to knock it out), drive it home and bolt your new one up in your driveway and save some $...

Don't know how to do any of these items? Get a Chilton's manual... Haynes it also decent.

Thanks to all for the advice! I'll try and do some of this on my own...

Joe.