Today I swapped out the fill plugs on my front and rear diffs for some low profile magnetic plugs. In hind sight, I should've ordered four and done the drains at the same time, but I'll just have to snag some more crush washers on my next order.

My front diff's fill nut was on pretty snug, but luckily all the corners were mostly intact. I don't think the previous owner ever did much in the way of maintenance. The rear was fubar; totally rounded off. I wound up taking a file to it and creating new corners, letting it soak over-nite with PB and then beating a 15/16 deep impact taper-less socket(a black $7 Kobalt socket I picked up at Lowes) onto it and then cranking it back and forth with a foot long cheater pipe.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8410d848.jpg

Had to stick the socket in my vice and use a BFH and a screwdriver to knock the bolt out of the socket afterwards. The shiny bolt on the left is the rear bolt that I had to reshape with a file.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMAG1606.jpg


For anyone wanting to swap their fill and drain plugs on their diffs here are the Toyota part numbers:

Low Profile 10mm Hex Drive Magnetic Drain Plug: 90341-18021

Steel Crush Washer(gasket): 12157-10010

Also, I've read that the same plug will work for replacing the fill on the T-case, but that you should use an aluminum crush washer(gasket) so here's the part number for that:

Aluminum Crush Washer(gasket): 90430-18008

Instead of using our local Toyota stealership, that didn't have the plugs in stock anyway, I found this parts department online that has pretty damn low prices and charges a whopping $3 for USPS ground shipping. It only took two days for my parts to show up in Texas from Michigan.

http://www.toyotapart.com/


-Happy Wrenching

 

This is one of those things I usually end up replacing on every Toyota that passes through my place.

With parts delivered over night I can understand dealers not stocking these parts.

I don`t like the Hex drive plugs I guess if you don`t drive in the dirt they are not bad .

 

What does dirt do to the plugs? If these are going to turn into a nightmare down the road I'm open to an alternate suggestion. This was mainly just to get the rounded plugs off and the holes plugged.

 

Toyota 4x4 Drain Plug Mod ( Quick Tip / Cheap tri…:

 

In the diff and trans on a 4wd app those plugs look like a good idea.
I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in using those plugs in the engine for their magnetic abilities.

If your set on the belief that magnetic plugs work to help keep metal shavings out of the vital bits then use a Dimple oil plug http://magneticdrainplugs.co/ or a gold plug http://goldplug.com/
Yes they are more expensive but the magnets are a lot stronger.

Dimple oil plug

 

Not a bad idea at all. I just have a beastly welding magnet stuck to the bottom of the pan beside the plug.

 

As the OP is in Texas you should be fine !!

Here in the Great North with the great Liquid brine The Allen head plugs after just one winter have so much grit and rust Getting out one plug I ruined two 10mm allen impact sockets .

I have no problem once the old plugs are removed with the Hex head plugs well Never Seized of course.

 

Yeah luckily we get salt on our roads maybe once a year tops. Not this winter though, stage 5 drought. I can see how you'd have an issue with them for sure, that hex slot must make a nice pocket for salty sludge to hang out and feast.