What size allen wrench or torx tool to fit front diff on 97 Tacoma?

Hello. Tutorials on U tube say 10 mm allen wrench or T55 torx bit. Both are too small for drain and fill plugs. What is the correct size? signed Yankee G

 

It takes a 10mm allen for both plugs.

Make sure you thoroughly clean out all the dirt and oil so it can go in all the way.

They're pretty easy to strip, so it's not inconceivable that they're already rounded out.

 

Squeaky, i checked again for proper size tools, and discovered the previous owner or an oil changer completely stripped out the drain plug on front diff.... fill plug also. Arrg. Any recommendations on how to remove the stripped plugs? Maybe a bolt head may fit.........?

 

Going to be very difficult without removing the diff. You could try using a punch to make a groove in it and tap it, or many people, including myself, have welded a nut to the plug.

Either way, tap the plug straight on with a hammer first as it helps loosen it.

 

Thank you squeaky. Going back under......

 

This is the most important step of removing these, and the one pretty much everyone forgets or ignores... if the hole is cleaned out and the key fully seated, I think it'd be pretty hard to strip it, not impossible though... some people have gorilla strength

extract the fill plug first, so that if the drain ends up dickin' you, at least you can drive the truck somewhere for help

 

Hammer in the right size or next size up if it's stripped bad with a mini-sledge.

And are you sure you're not looking up at the center support for the entire differential? Runs right through the frame cross member and it's like 32 mm allen IIRC.

 

Hi Clay. Yes, i saw that allen bolt theu the frame. I am looking at the drain plug on the driver side of the front diff and the front side, half way up the differential. Thanks. ill try tapping with hammer, and using a drift or chisel to start the rotation of plug.

 

This is what I have to do for my front diff fill plug. That summabish is toast.

 

Mine were rusted in and rounded off also. I had to use next size up and hammer in as others have said. I also bought new plugs from dealer and torqued to correct for next time.

 

Thank you stepside. I will try that. I may be able to grind down a bolt head and fit it in.

 

Had same issues on most my trucks. Ended up Welding a nut to it. Dont usually need a lot of weld, few tacks will work. The heat will help the bolt loosen as well.

 

Jesus man, 32mm allen?

 

Its a 4 year old thread...

I'm sure they've all figured it out

 

Actually, I needed EXACTLY what Sadcon posted, wherever you got it:
"Sacdon said: ↑
My 97 3.4 liter v6 taco front differential takes a 10 mm for the fill plug and 12 mm for the drain. Not just repeating this, I have had them both out. And they didnt strip, but I had the time to spray them the day before and the day before that."

After searching Youtube and watching 10 vids of guys doing front diff, and searching Toyota forums and here for an hour, this comment is what I need.
My 1998 3.4L V6 front differential takes a 10mm for the fill, but the drain (which is clean and crisp), is something larger that I don't have in allen hex. Before I went to buy one, wanted the size. I'll believe 12mm based on how the 10mm hex looked in there...
I don't see the comment from Sadcon you quoted, but I'm DAMN glad you did, and FYI... on a 1998 truck, 4 year old threads doesn't mean squat-- good info could easily be from 20 yrs ago when someone was working the same spec truck as mine and wrote it down correctly. Most of us try to keep from creating new threads, instead adding info to older good threads, so it's easier for others to search later.
Thanks!

 

On my 2001 tacoma it actually takes a T55. I used a 10mm hex to take it out, but once out, I could clearly see it takes a T55. The T55 made it much easier to re-tighten. Some other things: after taking off the skid plate a trip to the car wash helped before changing any fluids; used a breaker bar almost 3 feet long.

 

Will not be stripped out "righty-tighty". Heat it up and break it free clockwise. Then back out ... worth a try.

 

Harbor Freight pipe nipple extractor set does a good job with the stripped ones...hammer one in and use a wrench on it. Then replace the drain plug with one for a Lexus GX460. Summit has this one: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIkPW7zfCM7QIVAhx9Ch0u2gg3EAQYBCABEgL-qfD_BwE

 

Well the bottom drain plug I ended stripping out, I cleaned it before hand and had to use the 1/2” drive
because it’s seized in there, no luck,
I will try the harbor freight extraction now, I used heat too and had no luck.

I did bit the bullet and ordered two Lexus drain plugs with the bolt head design,
I’m not going down this road again with hex bit design

 

You might have to ream out the original drain plug a bit to get one of the nipple extractors to fit. Just hammer it in until its solid.

One advantage of the Lexus drain plugs is the magnetic tip...I don't remember if the Tacoma one is magnetic on the front diff.