Okay, I have owned my YJ since it was new, two miles on it actually. It now has 206,000+ miles on her....

I had to replace the rear axle in 1998, thought that I made that clear. At that time, it got new fluid, where-as the front didn't because it was fine. So, the reason why one got new fluid and the other didn't.

The grayish coloring the rear has looks almost like the sludge that you would find in an automatic transmission pan after 150,000 miles. Metalic, but extremely fine, and thinner, not thick like you would see in a transmission.... The overall consistancy of the oil was about the same as new gear oil, so I don't want to give the impression that it was thin.

Yes, it is lifted, only 2.5 inches, but when I had each end jacked up at a time, the pinion angle was parallel to the ground when I did the service. So, that shouldn't have made a difference for the fill plug vs. the fill level compared to the lift and it's angle on the axle. Clear enough?

The unused bolts are a strange thing. Really cureous about them....

I've changed the fluid in the transfer twice and once when it was overhauled. I guess I should do that more frequently?
I don't recall ever doing the transmission. It is an AX15 and it has been overhauled once and I'd bet that is the only time it has ever seen new fluid.

So, waiting on some interesting comments back on all this. Thanks WingNut76 for your $0.02.