New guy, don't know anything about differential

I don't do much off roading or mudding, but when I come home from Afghanistan I would like to go mudding with my sisters boyfriend and I have questions. I was looking into certain mods for the differential but at the same time I don't know why I would be doing it. What problems can mudding cause? I've been told I have to check fluids or change them. I just don't know how often I should check or how often it would be good to change. Any information at all, if someone wouldn't mind taking the time to teach me what I need to know about what precautions I need to take and just teach me overall about what I should do if I do ever get into mudding/offroading more frequently.

PLEASE EDUCATE ME!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F40ZBDAG8-o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This video helps you understand how they work.. It's worth watching imo.


As for precautions, you should do the differential breather mod, but thats all I can think about.

 

from what I've read the rear diff breather mod is something you should look into. heres a how to http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/15686-diff-breather-mod-dummies-pics.html

it keeps water, mud, anything other than air (unless you get your truck submerged above where you relocate it to) out of your differential.

 

Change the fluid on a regular bases. Inspect the fluid to see if water did get in. If mud got in you will need to flush it to get it all out and double check the breather setup.

 

Regular basis? How often would that be? Every couple months like with the oil change?

 

Derpy Derek, thanks a lot. That video was awesome. Now my question is, why do differential's need oil? Is it just to lubricate the metal parts? And why does there need to be air in there?