Jul 12, 2022
The M220 Dana rear axle on the Bronco does not have any kind of drain plug on the back of the differential housing. So a differential oil change will require the cover to be removed. Now that is a good practice for the first diff oil change, to get rid of initial wear particles with the oil as it drains, and to inspect the internals, but not so much going forward, plus it's a bit of a PITA.
The M220 Dana rear axle on the Ranger DOES have a drain plug on the back of the differential housing. The M220 on the Bronco has the flat pad where the Ranger rear axle drain plug is, but on the Bronco it is not drilled and tapped for a drain plug.
Why Ford specified Dana drill and tap the housing on the Ranger rear axle for a drain plug, and not on the same M220 axle for the Bronco is a mystery.
For most people this falls into the WGAS category. Only reason I noticed it is I was interested in replacing the OEM diff cover with the same style, cast nodular iron diff cover from Ford performance that I had installed on my F150.
That is a really superb unit. It adds significant strength to the housing, provides protection from rocks on trails, adds lubricant capacity, and on the F150 unit, has an integral drain plug. The unit for the M220 axle does NOT have a drain plug, which when used on a Ranger isn't an issue.
There are numerous other M220 diff covers out there, most cast aluminum, and one or two iron. Unfortunately the iron ones appear to offer slightly less oil capacity than the OEM cover, but I'm not certain of that.
The rear panhard rod on the Bronco which runs right in front of the rear axle, complicates the use of a larger capacity diff cover unless shaped to compensate.
Anyway, just a nit. I'll get serious with this as I approach 10K miles in a number of months down the road. Perhaps by then Ford performance will offer a Bronco specific unit.
The M220 Dana rear axle on the Ranger DOES have a drain plug on the back of the differential housing. The M220 on the Bronco has the flat pad where the Ranger rear axle drain plug is, but on the Bronco it is not drilled and tapped for a drain plug.
Why Ford specified Dana drill and tap the housing on the Ranger rear axle for a drain plug, and not on the same M220 axle for the Bronco is a mystery.
For most people this falls into the WGAS category. Only reason I noticed it is I was interested in replacing the OEM diff cover with the same style, cast nodular iron diff cover from Ford performance that I had installed on my F150.
That is a really superb unit. It adds significant strength to the housing, provides protection from rocks on trails, adds lubricant capacity, and on the F150 unit, has an integral drain plug. The unit for the M220 axle does NOT have a drain plug, which when used on a Ranger isn't an issue.
There are numerous other M220 diff covers out there, most cast aluminum, and one or two iron. Unfortunately the iron ones appear to offer slightly less oil capacity than the OEM cover, but I'm not certain of that.
The rear panhard rod on the Bronco which runs right in front of the rear axle, complicates the use of a larger capacity diff cover unless shaped to compensate.
Anyway, just a nit. I'll get serious with this as I approach 10K miles in a number of months down the road. Perhaps by then Ford performance will offer a Bronco specific unit.
2022 Bronco "Black Diamond" 4DR hard top, 2.7 V6 in "Area 51"
Deano Bronc, Bschurr
Last edited by a moderator:
Jul 12, 2022
