I just did both diferentials and my transfer case .I had all previous maintanance done by Toyota .It wasn`t that hard it took me about 2hrs including the skid plate .I found the bolts on the front differential and the back one tough to losen . The rest was just patience .I let the dealer do the tranny since I had a hard time findin the filler hole . I used Amsoil synthetic for the transfer cases and differential and Mobil 1 for the motor earlier.

Easy job I would never go back to the dealer for this service any more .

 

Ditto... I was surprised at how easy the diff stuff is.
The only hassle is having to go pick up replacement washers. Which reminds me I have to go do that soon....

 

i agree about not taking it to the dealer....unfortunately i dont have the time nor any place to do the work.....even an oil change would require me driving to my fathers house, its just as easier to drive to the dealer.......

glad to see you didnt run into any problems....for me its always that last bolt that gets stuck or something dumb like that, never fails...

 

Well I planned to do the work on the weekend .But found it hard to get the hex key into the fill bolt on the front diff .So I plyed it safe waited a couple of days to get a new one just in case I stripped it .

 

Ive never replaced them when i do my diff's/t-case/tranny, and have never had a leak, but if you want piece of mind replace them :bounce2:

 

I found that I'm leaking in my rear diff. I'm not sure if the previous owner replaced it or not. For all I know I could be reusing an 18 year old washer

 

I went to the dealer for the washers .The parts guy gave them to me for free .

 

same here. there nice guys. but i dont change them often

 

I have a question about the fluid to use in the diff. I know to use 80w-90 hypoid gear oil but what is hypoid? I tried to find a bottle that said it but the closest thing I could find was Castrol hypoy C. I dont know what hypoy C is or what hypoid is. Any help would be appreciated.

 

i believe all gear oil is approved for hypoid units, hypoid is the type of gears that are in your rear end