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Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles

How to change the rear axle fluid on a 1999 Jeep Cherokee

Model: Jeep Cherokee XJ, MK 2 - Years 1984-2001
Part: Checks and maintenance

What we see described in the video is the operation of draining the old oil from the rear differential and filling it with new oil. To empty the differential, the rear cover (the lid) is removed to drain the old oil. In the video, it is necessary to previously remove a stabilizer bar that is in the way. We clean the cover and the seat well, to remove any traces of the old sealant. Then we will apply the new one between the cover and the differential, tightening everything well. The differential is filled with specific oil up to the correct level, adding a special additive (but we will see that it is not always necessary). This is the basic procedure, but the youtuber also explains several important concepts, such as identifying the type of axle, crucial for buying the right replacement, through a metal label. Furthermore, if the differential is a limited-slip differential (Verilock) then it is necessary to add the original Mopar additive mentioned earlier, otherwise this is not necessary. Always for models with Verilock, the recommended oil is SAE 75W-140 synthetic. To verify if the amount of oil introduced is correct, and in the absence of an indicator, the oil must reach exactly the lower edge of the filling hole. Furthermore, he tells us an unexpected thing: the differential oil - as recommended in the user manual - must be changed every 12,000 miles (approximately 19,000 km), which is a much more frequent interval than one might expect.

Posted on 4 November 2025 by ScegliAuto

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