[Charlie Brown]

So Im putting in diff drop brackets in the front of my 97 Vitara and I've seen it recommended that you top up the diff oil is there a thread on here somewhere where I can see how to do this/check it or is it too hard for a backyard mechanic?

thanks guys!

[atari4x4]

jack the front up high or park it facing up hill

[buzbox]

Front, rear and gearbox use the same principle. http://auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=19936

I wouldn't fill it up more than what it should. Actually more like, why would you want to?
*edit - going by your title, it's as if you want to add more oil...

But If you just want to check your oil, well just undo the top plug, dip your pinky in there. If it drizzles out a touch, It's at the correct level. When checking you want to see the colour. anything milky, dark or even black you'd want to change it.

If your just putting in diff drop brackets, I really don't see how that will affect the capacity of the oil.

[atari4x4]

i'm pretty sure the calmini instructions state to overfill the front diff due to the diff drop not lubricating the pinion bearings + on the GV they revised the filler hole location on the front diff & in the FSM they tell you to jack the front & fill.

[atari4x4]

more tech here viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4972&p=66045&hilit=gv+oil+level+diff#p66045

[buzbox]

hmm.. ok.

I thought instructions are just another way that "the man" dictates you on what to do... which is why I usually just throw them out....

[DarkHorse]

Yeah, theory is that the diff angles down, so the highest point of the pinion may not be submerged.

I never did it with mine, not sure if they did when the locker went in.

[Charlie Brown]

thanks again guys! very helpful! =)

[christover1]

I filled the extra bit through my diff breather.
Bit slow, but worked

[got_bar_work]

I put it up hill on stands the just put in how much the book says to
I think the front is 2.2l or something like that

[Charlie Brown]

How much extra is that then?

[stocker]

a poofteenth. seeing as both Front and rear diff combined with the gear box don't use a 4 Litre bottle of oil...

you could almost get a large syringe. perhaps 100mL and inject it down the breather

[Charlie Brown]

okey dokey =)

[got_bar_work]

Sorry found this
Engine Oil4.2L (7.4 Imp pt) (Replacement with Oil Filter)10W40/10W50-20C to +40CTransmission Oil
(M/T)1.5L (2.6 Imp pt) (When replacing)75W90 preferredTransmission Oil (4 speed A/T)2.5L (4.4L Imp pt)DEXRON-IIE/DEXRON-IIIDiff Gear Oil
- Front1.0L (1.76 Imp pt)80W90 preferredDiff Gear Oil -
Rear2.2L (3.9 Imp pt)80W90 preferredTransfer Case Oil1.7L (3.0 Imp pt)75W90 preferred