I changed my diff fluid yesterday for the first time just by the drain plug and didn't remove the cover since i didn't find anything in the oil for concern. when i filled it up it didn't take anywhere near the amounts i found online, 1.4 pints for the front and 2.35 for the rear. the front took less than one and the rear took less than 3 before the oil started to come out of the fill hole. is there some way that the amount of oil differnece was left in and on the parts inside the diff? are the amounts i found online incorrect? do i need to let it settle then top off again?

I did mine a couple months ago and it was about like what you described. I used the write-up on JKF which says to fill it up until it starts to come out of the fill hole (if you have stock diff covers). I bought 4 pints and only used 3 between the two diffs.

if you used 3 you used more than me. i still have a little left in the 3rd bottle.

my front 44 took aboout 2 bottles yesterday, but I have a riddler diff cover with the raised fill hole.