Rear Differential Drain & Fill Plugs
#1
Rear Differential Drain & Fill Plugs
So this past weekend I decided to replace the oil in my front differential, transfer case, and rear differential. On Saturday I sprayed down all the nuts/bolts with PB Blaster and let them soak overnight. I started with the front differential, no problem. Then I moved to the transfer case, again, no probelm. Then I got to the rear differential, and nothing. The drain and fill plugs will not budge! I even had a neighbor help me and the two of us still couldn't get either of them to move . After about an hour of wrestling with the bolts , I gave up and just spraying it with more PB Blaster and I figured I would try it again sometime this week because I was worried that I was going to strip the bolt and make the problem even worse. So, does anyone have any tips/tricks that I can use to get the darn bolts off?
#3
Registered User
I just did this over the weekend and mine were pretty frozen on there too. I just hit it with PB blaster and broke out my 24 inch breaker bar. Had to put quite a bit of force on it but it went...so did my knuckle into the leaf spring.
Man I hate the smell of gear oil. It almost makes me sick.
My breather was also rusted shut, so I ordered two new ones from the dealer. Don't forget about those.
Man I hate the smell of gear oil. It almost makes me sick.
My breather was also rusted shut, so I ordered two new ones from the dealer. Don't forget about those.
Last edited by snobdds; 01-31-2011 at 07:09 AM.
#4
Registered User
6pt socket and nothing else, 1/2" breaker bar and an impact socket is best. 3/4" if you must. Impact gun is also possible if you have one. Before using impact gun, I suggest you find yourself a new plug first.
Mine was hell to pop as well. I don't think the PO ever checked it.
Mine was hell to pop as well. I don't think the PO ever checked it.
#5
6pt socket and nothing else, 1/2" breaker bar and an impact socket is best. 3/4" if you must. Impact gun is also possible if you have one. Before using impact gun, I suggest you find yourself a new plug first.
Mine was hell to pop as well. I don't think the PO ever checked it.
Mine was hell to pop as well. I don't think the PO ever checked it.
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#8
Registered User
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still can't get my rear diff on the 4runner loose. I've PB blasted it, torqued on it with cheater pipe (6pt socket as well, 1/2" drive), torched it, hit it with a hammer.... it almost looks like it's part of the diff itself, won't budge even with a little chisel action. I'm tempted to get a BFDrillbit out and solve this the power tool way... need to rebuild/regear soon anyway...
better luck to you!
better luck to you!
#12
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MRNRA, South-Western Virginia
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My rear diff drain plug was kind of rounded when I bought and it is defiantly rounded now. Anyways, I ended up sucking all of the gear oil out with a syringe. Maybe in the Spring when I don't need 4x4 I will take time to remove and replace it. I am thinking a blue flame wrench and an extractor. Some must take the quality of a Toyota pickup so much for granted that they didn't bother to perform routine maintenance or so it seems.
#13
Registered User
still can't get my rear diff on the 4runner loose. I've PB blasted it, torqued on it with cheater pipe (6pt socket as well, 1/2" drive), torched it, hit it with a hammer.... it almost looks like it's part of the diff itself, won't budge even with a little chisel action. I'm tempted to get a BFDrillbit out and solve this the power tool way... need to rebuild/regear soon anyway...
better luck to you!
better luck to you!
#14
Hopefully I can get it off without stripping it, but it was pretty unwilling to move so I will have to see what happens this weekend...
still can't get my rear diff on the 4runner loose. I've PB blasted it, torqued on it with cheater pipe (6pt socket as well, 1/2" drive), torched it, hit it with a hammer.... it almost looks like it's part of the diff itself, won't budge even with a little chisel action. I'm tempted to get a BFDrillbit out and solve this the power tool way... need to rebuild/regear soon anyway...
better luck to you!
better luck to you!
#15
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
I got mine from Inchworm, but you can get them from pretty much any vendor who sells transmission, transfercase or differential parts: Marlin, Inchworm Gear, etc. They're only a couple bucks each and don't protrude from the diff like the standard hex bolts do, but instead have a lower-profile head and use an allen socket for r/r. This way you can still get it out after you've beat it up real good on some rocks.
Last edited by highonpottery; 02-03-2011 at 08:51 AM.
#16
I got mine from Inchworm, but you can get them from pretty much any vendor who sells transmission, transfercase or differential parts: Marlin, Inchworm Gear, etc. They're only a couple bucks each and don't protrude from the diff like the standard hex bolts do, but instead have a lower-profile head and use an allen socket for r/r. This way you can still get it out after you've beat it up real good on some rocks.
Hmmm that seems like a pretty good idea. Do you know of any disadvantages of going with a low-profile plug like that?
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