Per4mance DIRS and Differential Fluid Change

[Paladin06]

I agree.

Yesterday I ordered a set of what looks like 45 degree angled hex Allen wrenches from a UK Ebay website that contains an 8 mm wrench that will fit my 2019 Challenger's differential fill plug. It was $25 out the door - which included overseas shipping to Kentucky from England. My burgeoning toolbox runneth over...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183036366341

When they get here in a week I'll report in this thread if the angled wrench will actually work.

Saved to my wish list.

 

[Finface]

And...drum roll, please...my UK 45 degree angled hex Allen wrenches FINALLY arrived.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183036366341

It was a second order because the first order, ordered on May 15th, sat in a Chicago warehouse for 40 days. I could see it got there from the UK. I queried the seller on Ebay after two weeks of inaction - they said give it time. Well it never moved - perhaps somebody did a "five finger discount" and stole it - or it is buried like the Arc of the Covenant in the Indiana Jones movie. Not sure if the offending warehouse was US Customs, or US post office, but after six weeks of inaction I got a refund, then reordered the exact same product from the same Ebay vendor - and the second time it took only 10 days to show up.

It is the perfect solution. It fits, it doesn't hit anything, its range of motion when inserted is easily enough to break loose the fill plug (but be careful not to bang it into and scratch the anodized aluminum of the DIRS) and by extracting and reinserting the wrench unscrew the fill plug. Therefore, I hereby declare my Per4mance DIRS installed Challenger differential fluid fill plug loosening and tightening problem resolved - for $25 - plus I got 9 more angled hex wrenches to go with the 8mm for the fill plug.



I'll mention one caution about draining differential fluid with the DIRS installed. That drain plug access channel straight below the fill plug with the Allen wrench inserted in the above picture - to get to the drain plug that channel is narrow. I realized after I unscrewed the drain plug with a long straight 8 mm Allen wrench that IF while trying to retract the plug the drain plug fell off the end of the Allen wrench it might fall sideways, or get angled, in that channel and then be a total PIA to get back onto the end of the Allen wrench to be able to rescrew it back in. I think almost impossible to get it back on the end of the wrench fishing around in there. If so it would require disassembly of the DIRS. So I didn't try to retract the plug - I just backed the drain plug slightly out and fluid started draining just fine, then laid the wrench with plug securely on its end down inside the channel, and let the fluid drain to my heart's content. Rescrewing it in was easy. Words to the wise...

 

[drag racer]

thanks for the tip and finding the 45 degree wrenches...guess I got lucky with my order because i rec'd the first time in about a week after shipping from the UK

 

[Octanewide]

And...drum roll, please...my UK 45 degree angled hex Allen wrenches FINALLY arrived.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183036366341

It was a second order because the first order, ordered on May 15th, sat in a Chicago warehouse for 40 days. I could see it got there from the UK. I queried the seller on Ebay after two weeks of inaction - they said give it time. Well it never moved - perhaps somebody did a "five finger discount" and stole it - or it is buried like the Arc of the Covenant in the Indiana Jones movie. Not sure if the offending warehouse was US Customs, or US post office, but after six weeks of inaction I got a refund, then reordered the exact same product from the same Ebay vendor - and the second time it took only 10 days to show up.

It is the perfect solution. It fits, it doesn't hit anything, its range of motion when inserted is easily enough to break loose the fill plug (but be careful not to bang it into and scratch the anodized aluminum of the DIRS) and by extracting and reinserting the wrench unscrew the fill plug. Therefore, I hereby declare my Per4mance DIRS installed Challenger differential fluid fill plug loosening and tightening problem resolved - for $25 - plus I got 9 more angled hex wrenches to go with the 8mm for the fill plug.

View attachment 79396

I'll mention one caution about draining differential fluid with the DIRS installed. That drain plug access channel straight below the fill plug with the Allen wrench inserted in the above picture - to get to the drain plug that channel is narrow. I realized after I unscrewed the drain plug with a long straight 8 mm Allen wrench that IF while trying to retract the plug the drain plug fell off the end of the Allen wrench it might fall sideways, or get angled, in that channel and then be a total PIA to get back onto the end of the Allen wrench to be able to rescrew it back in. I think almost impossible to get it back on the end of the wrench fishing around in there. If so it would require disassembly of the DIRS. So I didn't try to retract the plug - I just backed the drain plug slightly out and fluid started draining just fine, then laid the wrench with plug securely on its end down inside the channel, and let the fluid drain to my heart's content. Rescrewing it in was easy. Words to the wise...

@Finface first off anything from or to do with Shitcago is truly F'd up.
What was the brand name on those 45 degree Allen wrenches? Thanks for you pointers..

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[drag racer]

Kamasa. check out the link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183036366341

 

[fubar569]

Imma need to grab me a set of those. Lol.

 

[why2kmax]

great find. Ordered a set. never know when it might come in handy for other jobs.

 

[Taxinator]

Here is what I used to access the fill plug. There is only about 2.25” of clearance, so a small tool was required. The 3/8” Powerbuilt low profile socket lever (non-rachet) provided just enough room to loosen the nut. Attached to the lever was a 1/4” socket with an 8mm bit. I also had a small 1/4” ratchet plus 8mm hex bit for faster removal and tightening. Both are about 2” in width.


The low profile lever is quite short, so I added a small cheater bar to the end…made it much easier to loosen the fill plug.

Unfortunately, there is no room for a torque wrench, so I could not torque the fill plug to spec. Another option for those who prefer not to remove the DIRS.

 

[RootsRadical]

I agree.

Yesterday I ordered a set of what looks like 45 degree angled hex Allen wrenches from a UK Ebay website that contains an 8 mm wrench that will fit my 2019 Challenger's differential fill plug. It was $25 out the door - which included overseas shipping to Kentucky from England. My burgeoning toolbox runneth over...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183036366341

When they get here in a week I'll report in this thread if the angled wrench will actually work.

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm dying to know if the 45-degree angled 8mm worked and helped get the diff fluid replaced without issues with the Diff Brace installed? Also, curious if the bolt was able to be torqued to spec afterwards or if you had to wing it? Finger's crossed that I can get a reply on this after nearly 3 years!

 

[vortecd]

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm dying to know if the 45-degree angled 8mm worked and helped get the diff fluid replaced without issues with the Diff Brace installed? Also, curious if the bolt was able to be torqued to spec afterwards or if you had to wing it? Finger's crossed that I can get a reply on this after nearly 3 years!

Just pull the bracket off, not a big deal

 

[why2kmax]

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm dying to know if the 45-degree angled 8mm worked and helped get the diff fluid replaced without issues with the Diff Brace installed? Also, curious if the bolt was able to be torqued to spec afterwards or if you had to wing it? Finger's crossed that I can get a reply on this after nearly 3 years!

post #22

 

[2ndgen]

You can either just take the brace off (pretty easy--I prefer this--easy to not make a mess), get those angled allen wrenches mentioned above, or get a set of long allen wrenches. I have this set by Tekton, works great.

 

[DGatzby]

Just pull the bracket off, not a big deal

Agree. Did mine last fall. Way too much brain damage and time waisted otherwise.

 

[Unholy707]

Sometimes you spend way too much time and effort trying not to take a part off than just taking a part off and putting it back on when done. Just take the part off lol

 

[RootsRadical]

Except that they advertise this brace as being able to be left on for fluid changes. So, I'm wondering how that is possible, or if they are misleading buyers. It sort of sounds like the brace does what it's meant to do and does it well, but that they are engaging in a bit of false advertising about being able to change the fluid with it installed.

 

[Unholy707]

Except that they advertise this brace as being able to be left on for fluid changes. So, I'm wondering how that is possible, or if they are misleading buyers. It sort of sounds like the brace does what it's meant to do and does it well, but that they are engaging in a bit of false advertising about being able to change the fluid with it installed.

Nothing is ever bolt on. Nothing ever works exactly the way it’s supposed. It’s the first to market, automotive aftermarket, just how it is. If people are unhappy? Sell it

 

[Unholy707]

I have their solid one, I have to pull it every time I change the diff fluid. Which is once every couple of years

 

[RootsRadical]

post #22

Thanks! I'm not sure how I missed that one. (I just ordered this same 45 degree hex key set from Amazon UK. It will arrive "between August 3rd and November 11th".) LOL