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

No, use a 24mm, 6 point socket!!!

 

15/16 fits better. More secure. Trust me.

 

24 mm fit just fine on mine

 

It's a Toyota so all the fasteners are metric. I usually just use a wrench when I change diff fluid. I did just switch over to the Allen key drain plug because of the stock one being hit on rocks.

 

This is embarrassing, but I initially tried using a 24 mm 12-pt socket and it rounded the edges off the top fill plug. Still works but I found that the 15/16 worked a lot better for me.

 

The 12 pt is why, especially if it's a when 12 pt socket.

 

Here's the breakdown on the 107 pages:

Should I add LSD additive? 94 pages

Mine took more than 3 quarts: 10 pages

Other: 3 pages

 

Well done, sir. Well done indeed.

 

The plug with the magnet is the fill plug right? That's the way mine was..
Just seems like it should be the lower part to catch everything. Guess not.

 

Magnetic plug is not the fill plug, it's the drain plug. Somebody switched them at some point

 

Is there a write up for the front diff change? There are comments about it but I have not seen anything for it.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-differential-gear-oil-change-second-gen.172914/

 

Thank you!

 

Thanks to the OP for the instructions. I changed the rear differential fluid this weekend with 16K miles on the rig. The fluid that came out was black and there were lots of finely ground metal particles stuck to the drain magnet. The only thing that went wrong was my fluid pump failed (it's amazing how much fluid gets past a dried out o-ring) so I had to squeeze the gear oil out of the bottle. This wasn't so bad on the rear diff but was a real PITA on the front diff. Also found out why everyone recommends using a 6-point socket instead of the 12-point. I should have checked my socket set before starting the job. Both rear diff plugs came off but the corners slightly rounded. I'm definitely going to buy a 6-point 24mm socket before the next fluid change.

~ Steve

 

So it says at some point the oil will began to run out, to put the plug in the refill hole so the oil could run down the axle .. When that's done and I begain to fill it with more oil when should I stop and completely close it off? When the oil starts to run out again?? And do I need ls diff additive I have a 06 trd sport?

 

Yes you need additive. Yes give time to run and push the air out.

 

Is it normal to see little spec of metal In the magnetic???

 

Is it normal to see metal spec is the magnetic?

 

Yes, just not big chunks.