Differential fluids maintenance

Asked by GuruXGC2Z Nov 30, 2018 at 09:24 AM about the 1985 Ford Bronco II XLT 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Looking at buying a 1985 Ford Bronco II, 4WD with 43000 original miles, it’s
in Sedona AZ and not driven very much. I’m planning on driving back to
Salem OR? The oil and transmission fluid have been changed, should I be
concerned with the differential / transfer case fluids

4 Answers

1,655

I drove a 1953 F100 4wd from Grand Prarie, Alberta, Canada to Lincoln, Nebraska and that was my biggest concern but I just said f*ck it and started driving. If your worried, rent a trailer

103,215

Given the Bronco's age, and the fact it is low mileage, find a service station or local mechanic to make it road worthy, check all fluids, check condition of brake lines, tranny cooling lines, etc. If it's been sitting without much usage for a while, then seals are probably a little dry, and you never want to take a chance on a rusty brake line going out when in traffic. After it's been serviced, drive it anywhere you want. If you don't trust its road worthiness, then do as above poster suggested and rent a trailer.

Did you buy it? I was thinking of buying the same truck and driving it to Connecticut before it was pulled off auto trader. Hope it made it back to Or.

120

Typically the differential and transfer case fluids are fine unless you inspect them and find they've been contaminated with water due to offroading or being flooded...otherwise they're not often changed. Now, if you happen to have gotten lucky to find a somewhat rare bronco 2 with a limited slip rear differential then it may be a good idea to change the rear differential gear oil and add the proper limited slip additive otherwise it should be fine for a trip across the country if all other fluids are good, and no other mechanical issues are present...just remember all those belts, hoses, tires, etc. may need to be changed due to age.

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