i just took out all 10 bolts holding it on. my question is do i have to take out the fill plug to take the cover off? i cant budge that thing right now. this will be my first time fixing anything on this jeep myself and i cant seem to get the cover off. all the bolts are out and no fluid is leaking out yet. oh and by the way i have a 2001 i think its a dana 30 if im not mistaken, thanks in advance

Plug does not need to come out, yet... you will need to pry the cover off, try a thin blade if you can.. to fill you will need the plug out.. fill so that the fluid is just below or just starting to come out the fill hole plug... also remove the old seal around the housing and apply new RTV sealer.

Hit it with a hammer a few times it will come loose. I would put the top bolt back in but leave it loose. You don't want to be covered in gear oil. Just keep tapping it with a good amount of force and it will work loose after a couple hits. Then when it gets loose slowly pull the bottom off with the bolt still in the top then once it is just dripping you can take the top bolt out.

thanks, will pb blaster hurt it if i use it on the plug?

Nope.

I would bolt the cover back on first and loosen the plug sometimes they don't like to come out. Then proceed leaving the top bolt as stated above!

yea I agree with hamilton. Sometimes people tighten those like there life depends on it.

well i got the cover off and drained the gear oil (thanks for the hammer trick - i would have never thought of something so easy). now its on to getting the plug out.

If its terribly tight, put the cover on with 4-5 bolts moderately tight and then try.

^ I am with stupid . haha moving on

People sometimes go hit the diff with a hammer???? Yea why not you hit rocks with it and 95% of the time it just laughs back at the rocks!