I finally got around to taking care of my 2012, thanks to Sal at Nitro Industries/Collision Pros (10915 Hawthorne Blvd, Lennox, CA 90304). After my 9:30am Costco appt to get the 37” KO2s put on, I went to Nitro to hammer back the pinch weld on the rear wheel wells and apply black Flex seal (rubber coating) to them. The front wheel wells also needed minor trimming to totally eliminate rubbing. Sal had installed +2 deavers & the rebuilt shocks on mid-perch a few weeks ago when he insisted I refresh the transmission & diff fluids since they have not been changed with 127K miles. Last week, I brought in a diff cover (www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/R2486-A.html), 1 gallon gear oil & RTV (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023GM2KK), transmission dipstick (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C1GX5C8), filter & a case of fluid.
Sal drilled a small hole in the cover (see pix) to easily drain the trans fluid into a bucket, & measured just over 7 quarts drained. Given the 127K miles of wear, it is advisable not to flush out all the fluid at once. He installed an easy way to drain & fill the tranny, so I can do it again in 20K miles in my driveway. The drain hole was expanded on the bench, and a threaded **** welded on (see pix). Then he installed the engine-bay-accessible dipstick, & easily refilled with new 7+ quarts by zip tying the funnel to the hood (see pix). The dipstick’s fill accessory had to be heated to fit over the bottom of the funnel. The wheel wells took 2 hours, the trans 2 hours, and then the diff cover another hour at the most. He sprayed clear coat on both the diff & trans covers, & suggested I replace the trans plug with the type that is more protected & recessed & takes a hex wrench to remove.
I headed back to Big Bear and after a week’s worth of driving, I agree it was well worth the 2-hour trip to see Sal as the new tires feel & look great with no rubbing. There is no noticeable difference in the shifting, but I never had an issue to begin with. I ride the Raptor hard in the mountains & Johnson Valley. See pix of the chunk of the lower A-arm knocked out by a rock. I’m thinking about the Baja Kits front Prerunner or full long travel race kit, where Sal estimates can be installed in a day.
Sal drilled a small hole in the cover (see pix) to easily drain the trans fluid into a bucket, & measured just over 7 quarts drained. Given the 127K miles of wear, it is advisable not to flush out all the fluid at once. He installed an easy way to drain & fill the tranny, so I can do it again in 20K miles in my driveway. The drain hole was expanded on the bench, and a threaded **** welded on (see pix). Then he installed the engine-bay-accessible dipstick, & easily refilled with new 7+ quarts by zip tying the funnel to the hood (see pix). The dipstick’s fill accessory had to be heated to fit over the bottom of the funnel. The wheel wells took 2 hours, the trans 2 hours, and then the diff cover another hour at the most. He sprayed clear coat on both the diff & trans covers, & suggested I replace the trans plug with the type that is more protected & recessed & takes a hex wrench to remove.
I headed back to Big Bear and after a week’s worth of driving, I agree it was well worth the 2-hour trip to see Sal as the new tires feel & look great with no rubbing. There is no noticeable difference in the shifting, but I never had an issue to begin with. I ride the Raptor hard in the mountains & Johnson Valley. See pix of the chunk of the lower A-arm knocked out by a rock. I’m thinking about the Baja Kits front Prerunner or full long travel race kit, where Sal estimates can be installed in a day.
