Changing differential fluid - A step by step "HOW TO"

brianr · 01-21-2009, 04:22 PM

Yesterday we (Chris4x4, and I) got together to help you all change your diff fluid.

Here is what is required;

-24mm socket (1st gen diff may be a different size)
-ratchet
-rags/shop towels
-milk jug or coffe can... EMPTY ofcourse!
-3 qts 75-90 weight gear oil ( I used 80-90 becasue it was readily available)

(for you guy like me w/ the Sport model, you'll need a 4oz. tube of LSD additive).

First step is to remove the higher of the two plugs ("fill/vent plug").

Step two, remove the lower plug ("drain plug"). Be sure your jug/can/tub/pan is handy.

While the old gear oil is draining, take the time to clean off the magnet on the end of the plug.

When the oil has completely drained, replace the lower or "drain plug".

Now you can begin to refill your differential! You should add your LSD additive sometime between your first and second quart of gear oil.

When filling, the oil will begin to run out at some point. Put the plug in the fill hole, and let the gear oil run down into the lenght of the axle shaft. After a few minutes, remove the plug and begin to fill again.

Remember to replace your fill plug!

EDIT-

Quote:

Originally Posted by rab89

Hey there, I just wanted to let you know, so you can update, that the first gen uses the same size 24mm socket.
It would be good to put that in the thread.

Ross

PackerfanXD · 01-21-2009, 05:00 PM

Awesome write up!

When will I need to do this?

wolfpack_5150 · 01-21-2009, 05:02 PM

Good idea, thanks guys!

Anyone who does this for the first time.....Please dont just spin off the drain plug first. Take off the fill first just like the writeup says, that way ur not stuck with an empty rear end (insert joke here). Ive seen ppl smack there drain plug free, dump the gl5 and cant get the fill plug free cuz its rounded or whatnot. I admit it, I used to work at a few quick lube places and had to bail out a couple people cuz of them doing this. I always got fired for cussin out my bosses, or walked out cussin at em. Not because I screwed something up (knocks on wood). I just have a low tolerence for BS, and demand respect from anyone I deal with boss or not.

-TRDMAN- · 01-21-2009, 05:03 PM

BADASS!!! good write up guys!

tacomaman06 · 01-21-2009, 05:43 PM

great write up!!! should be stickied! i forgot all about doing a write up when i did mine on the 06, and again when i did mine on the 04!

chris4x4 · 01-21-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerfanXD

Awesome write up!

When will I need to do this?

I think its recomended at 15,000 miles.

dually · 01-21-2009, 07:20 PM

When i changed mine a while back, it was the worst smelling shit ever.

chris4x4 · 01-21-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dually

When i changed mine a while back, it was the worst smelling shit ever.

Yeah, it doesnt smell good. Brian thought he smelled it in his truck when we were finished.

PackerfanXD · 01-21-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris4x4

I think its recomended at 15,000 miles.

Ok, thanks. That'll give me something extra to do on mod day.

tacomaman06 · 01-21-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerfanXD

Ok, thanks. That'll give me something extra to do on mod day.

actually...every 30k

.......but change it early and go with synthetic!!

wildjerseyfirefighter · 01-21-2009, 07:41 PM

think this is like trans fluid? if its never been done, dont do it? Ive got 125K on my 96, and ive never done the trans,coolant or rear fluid since ive had it(got it at 61K).

chris4x4 · 01-21-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacomaman06

actually...every 30k

.......but change it early and go with synthetic!!

Ah. Ok. I change mine every 15k or so, but I tow a boat, and dunk the rear in the water often. FWIW, I havent found a synthetic that works good in the LSD rear of the second gens.

Toy4Life · 01-21-2009, 07:48 PM

Don't forget, if you have 4WD, there is also a front differential and different tools required to change the fluid.

wildjerseyfirefighter · 01-21-2009, 07:53 PM

so whos gonna do a write up on the front diff? lol

brianr · 01-21-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildjerseyfirefighter

think this is like trans fluid? if its never been done, dont do it? Ive got 125K on my 96, and ive never done the trans,coolant or rear fluid since ive had it(got it at 61K).

oh gawd, change it!

afd23a · 01-21-2009, 08:12 PM

For those who haven't done it before, you may want to get one of these to make it easier to get the fluid in.

chris4x4 · 01-21-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afd23a

For those who haven't done it before, you may want to get one of these to make it easier to get the fluid in.

Thats a good thing to have. I have only needed to use them on the front diff, and transfer case, as I have found the rear has enough room to just pour it in from the bottle.

Monkeysuncle · 01-21-2009, 08:16 PM

If you don't have a 24mm socket, which I didn't, a 15/16s socket will work, thats what I used on diff and 5 speed oil changes a few weeks back.

wildjerseyfirefighter · 01-21-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianr

oh gawd, change it!

is it safe? I dont wanna "shock" it

chris4x4 · 01-21-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildjerseyfirefighter

is it safe? I dont wanna "shock" it

Yes its safe. You may feel much more power in fact, as the gears dont have to try and transmit power thru thickass old oil.

01-21-2009, 05:00 PM	#2
PackerfanXD A.K.A. Rusty Shackleford Name: Matt Joined: Aug 2008, #8741 Location: Armed In A GUN-FREE Zone Age: 35 Gender: Male Posts: 3,514 Killer Blue Taco 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6 Bilstein 5100's, OME 885's, Total Chaos UCAs, Rear Leaf Spring TSB, Toytec AALs, Moto Metal 950 16" Wheels, BFG 285/75R 16 AT Tires, TRD Exhaust, Viper Alarm, Fog Light Mod, De-badged, Blue LED Dome Light, EZ Clamped Tailgate, Wet Okoles, Satoshi Grill, 5% tint, Engine tick fix, Black Bumper, Black Center Valence, Thanks for all the help chris4x4!	Awesome write up! When will I need to do this? __________________ Μολὼν λάβε!!! *"From my cold, dead hands!"* I was Anti-Obama when Anti-Obama wasn't cool.

01-21-2009, 05:43 PM	#5
tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Redneck Division Name: Will Joined: May 2007, #1475 Location: York,South Carolina Age: 30 Gender: Male Posts: 21,977 04 trd tacoma 4x4 v6 double cab 2004 Double Cab Automatic 3.4 v6 vent visors,deck plate mod, gray wire mod, black steelies and emblems, mag-lite mod, wheelers/ome suspension, stainless brake lines,blacked out bumpers(bedliner),dynomax super turbo muffler,cabelas mossy oak seat covers ans camo steering wheel cover,brush guard, hella 500(x4)custom built(by me) hitch hauler),budbuilt skids,revenge-fab sliders,inchworm locker skid,cobra cb,wilson 3 ft antenna,hi-lift jack(tool box mounted) painted stock wheels....still to come.... afe pro dry s filter..........plus many,many more!!	great write up!!! should be stickied! i forgot all about doing a write up when i did mine on the 06, and again when i did mine on the 04! __________________ i am WILL--my ride=04 tacoma trd 4x4 double cab, v6, auto,deck plate mod, grey wire mod, billy 5100's all the way around,black low-pro uws toolbox, black steelies,blacked out emblems, mag light mod,wheelers/alcan springs, ome 881 coils, braided stainless brake lines, polyurethane bushings,dynomax super turbo/slash cut tip-blacked out,chrome deleted bumpers via herculiner bed liner,color matched bedlinered tailgate, camo seat covers,sockmonkey decals,husky floor liners, hunter brush guard, 4 hella 500's(2 spotlight/2fog light),budbuilt skid plates,inchworm e-locker skid,revenge-fab sliders,cobra cb/loudspeaker PA, pioneer headunit/infinity reference components/2ways......plenty more still to come!!! http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa269/tacomaman06/ signature by piercedtiger www.myspace.com/goodolboy1979

01-21-2009, 07:41 PM	#11
wildjerseyfirefighter Not now chief im in the fuckin zone Name: Joe Joined: Dec 2008, #11677 Location: NJ Age: 23 Gender: Male Posts: 3,588 96 Tacoma 4x4 1996 Access Cab Automatic 3.4L V6 Tinted windows,CAI,TRD Wheels,Herculined bed,full sound system,scanguage,custom in-dash nav.,all new lights,borla cat back, billstien 5100's up front,wet okle seat covers,Energy suspension bushings	think this is like trans fluid? if its never been done, dont do it? Ive got 125K on my 96, and ive never done the trans,coolant or rear fluid since ive had it(got it at 61K). __________________ Welcome to New Jersey; Home of where the weak are killed and eaten. My build

01-21-2009, 07:53 PM	#14
wildjerseyfirefighter Not now chief im in the fuckin zone Name: Joe Joined: Dec 2008, #11677 Location: NJ Age: 23 Gender: Male Posts: 3,588 96 Tacoma 4x4 1996 Access Cab Automatic 3.4L V6 Tinted windows,CAI,TRD Wheels,Herculined bed,full sound system,scanguage,custom in-dash nav.,all new lights,borla cat back, billstien 5100's up front,wet okle seat covers,Energy suspension bushings	so whos gonna do a write up on the front diff? lol __________________ Welcome to New Jersey; Home of where the weak are killed and eaten. My build

01-21-2009, 08:16 PM	#18
Monkeysuncle Thinking with my dipstick Name: Kevin Joined: Aug 2008, #8809 Location: Florida Gender: Dude Posts: 515 99 Tacoma SR5 4x4 5 speed Manual Hubs 1999 Xtra Cab Manual 3.4 V6 Diff Breather,CB thingy,GPS,Cop Shocks,Cop Breaks, It's got a 440, so it runs good on any gas.	If you don't have a 24mm socket, which I didn't, a 15/16s socket will work, thats what I used on diff and 5 speed oil changes a few weeks back. __________________ This guy said to me , Have a nice Day. I said, Don't tell me what to do.

01-21-2009, 05:02 PM	#3
wolfpack_5150 Johnny-no-stars Name: Robert Paulson Joined: Jun 2008, #7599 Location: Atascadero Ca Age: 29 Gender: Guy Posts: 4,847 06 TRD O.R. PreRunner 2006 Access Cab Automatic 4.0 Pop and lock, TSB AAL, nokya yllw fogs, alarm w/2 way remote, Flowmaster 40, wrangler S/A, revenge fab sliders, Steel Braided brake lines, socked decals, frnt windows @30%, TW sticker :-)...	Good idea, thanks guys! Anyone who does this for the first time.....Please dont just spin off the drain plug first. Take off the fill first just like the writeup says, that way ur not stuck with an empty rear end (insert joke here). Ive seen ppl smack there drain plug free, dump the gl5 and cant get the fill plug free cuz its rounded or whatnot. I admit it, I used to work at a few quick lube places and had to bail out a couple people cuz of them doing this. I always got fired for cussin out my bosses, or walked out cussin at em. Not because I screwed something up (knocks on wood). I just have a low tolerence for BS, and demand respect from anyone I deal with boss or not.

01-21-2009, 07:20 PM	#7
dually Waiting on new tune! Joined: Jul 2008, #8205 Location: Your Basement Age: 18 Gender: Dude Posts: 1,569 1998 2WD 2.4L 1998 Regular Cab Automatic 2.4L AiResearch M27 50trim, Benzboy Manifold, FMIC, 450cc DSM Injectors, Greddy Emanage Ultimate, ARP Headstuds, Cometic HeadGasket, TurboXS BOV, AEM Uego, Autometer boost gauge, Rebuilt tranny w/ Raybestos pads IPT Valvebody 12lbs, daily driven.	When i changed mine a while back, it was the worst smelling shit ever.

01-21-2009, 07:48 PM	#13
Toy4Life 668: The Neighbor of the Beast Name: Chad Joined: Aug 2007, #2566 Location: Slippery Rock, PA Age: 30 Gender: Male Posts: 4,933 92 4Runner SR5 4x4 Access Cab Automatic 3.0 V6 mystery siren, cheap ass stereo, 2002 Xcab TRD Offroad V6 4x4 (recently sold)	Don't forget, if you have 4WD, there is also a front differential and different tools required to change the fluid.

01-21-2009, 08:12 PM	#16
afd23a Senior Member Joined: Sep 2008, #9483 Location: Nashville, TN Gender: Male Posts: 394 05 Access Cab 5 Lugger 2005 Access Cab Manual 2.7L Factory Fog Lights, Stubby Antenna, Removed Secondary Air Filter, AFE Pro Dry-S Air Filter, Metra Ipod Adapter, Cheap Traction Bars Mod, AMSOil Fuids, Removed Air Intake Resonator, Int Wiper Stalk, Wet Okole's, URD Short Shifter, Scanguage II w/Blendmount	For those who haven't done it before, you may want to get one of these to make it easier to get the fluid in.

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