Bret

As you probably already know, it is not possible to get a torque wrench in a position which will enable you to use it to torque the differential fill bolt to the proper specification which I believe is 33ft-lbs. I thought about how I might get as close as possible to the factory specified torque by using another method to guesstimate. I decided that I would mark a continuous line from the fill bolt on to the housing around the fill bolt. When I was done filling my differential, I would then be able to simply tighten the fill bolt until the line lined up again. Upon looking at the differential fill bolt I found that there was already a yellow line that had been marked on the fill bolt and it happend to go on the housing as well, so I decided to use it instead. Here is a picture before I loosened the fill bolt:

Well, I guess that it was a good idea to try, but things did not pan out. When I went to tighten the fill bolt, I went well past what my arm tells me is 33ft-lbs and the fill bolt still had a way to go in order to get back around to where it was. Here is an after picture:

My guesses as to why my method didn't work are that the new washer was a different thickness or the fill bolt was over-tightened at the factory. The bottom line is that this method won't work, but I'm open to new suggestions.

cdelena

Why do you care? Snugging this bolt by hand with an simple wrench is all that is needed. It is just a big plug with no critical function and no stress.. just give the wrench a shove after it is already screwed in and go on to other things.

Bret

Well, too loose and it can vibrate off. Too tight and you can damage the fill plug or the differential housing. I agree that there is a large range that will work, but by attempting to get to the exact point it's suppose to be at, I should be more likely to not fall out of that actual range of tightness that will work.

Road Rage

Just snug it up.

ExOdy

What size do I use to take that bolt off?

Zonie

It has to do with what position the line was in when you started tightening it. So it may not work.

Mine lined up when I changed the fluid this weekend, but I think it was just a coincidence.

spider

I've already changed my Diff. fluid 5 times. It lined up every time. Granted, I can't really "feel" how snug 33 ft-lbs is...

Billman250

23mm I think...

Road Rage

Yup, 23mm it is.

hokiemax

mine didnt line up. I was afraid it would be more like 100ft/lb if I tried to line it up. dont worry about it.