Front Diff Drain Plug SHEARED?!?

So some point along the way my front diff plug got replaced with a regular bolt (not 12mm Hex). It looks like it used to have a magnet in it as there is a spot for one to go. No longer is there a magnet in the old bolt and when I went to replace the bolt it sheared on the first turn after hand tight. Luckily I was able to get everything out pretty easily.

The bolt that I replaced it with was just a regular M14x1.50 and I'm looking to go pick up a new OEM bolt from the dealer today. I spoke with my uncle who is a fuel system engineer and he said not to be too worried about the magnet in the diff and to just make sure I get another magnetic bolt to clean anything out.

Anyways, I'm just looking for a whole host of opinions so lay em' on me guys

 

Welcome to TW!

 

@Taco critter

 

Replace with the Lexus drain plug, I’ll see if I can get you the part number as I just posted it in another post

 

Here you go-
Get a Lexus plug for the front diff so you don't have to use allen keys.

Toyoya 90341-24016 PLUG, STRAIGHT SCREW

90341-24016 on Lexuspartsnow.com
Also you should replace the crush washers each time. I had a plug I almost strip, there was no crush washer on it. Every drain/fill plug on our trucks (except oil) has a crush washer, and it’s considered one time use. In reality you can get a couple uses out of one, but eventually you have to tighten the plug so much that what you are experiencing happens.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

I see the forum automatically added an Amazon link. Beware, I’m not sure that is an OEM part

 

I think this might have been what happened, there wasn't a crush washer on it when I did the fluids with my CV joints and I was much less experienced then.

what are your thoughts about the potential magnet floating around in the differential?

 

Magnet probably ground to dust.
I'd drag a magnet through dirty oil to check for it.

 

I had the same thing on a new to me front diff, drain plug was tight as hell.

magnet would probably be attached to the side of the diff if it’s still in one piece. If it ground up...I’d add a magnetic drain plug to get as much of it back as possible. I know they aren’t used as much in industry, however I think on a truck that’s used hard, a magnetic drain plug is a no brainer. I pull stuff off of mine every time I do an oil change.

 

Thank you guys, I don't think I'll be messing around with my gear oil as this will be the third time in two days that I will have drained the front differential. Going to pick up the magnetic differential plug right now.

 

@MikeWH yikes! I went in the dealership and the OEM plug with magnet is a M18x1.5 plug. Mine is a M14 plug, does anyone here have an idea of whats going on with my differential?

The fill plug is stock and the sticker on the shaft to the passenger looks legit? So the passenger side of the housing is the only thing that looks different.

What a mess for what should have been a quick drain and fill.

 

It is a Toyota you find strange and interesting parts that got swapped in.

Possible you got the wrong part it happens till you get them trained .

 

Wow! Yeah that looks like the correct axle, down to the date sticker and oil sticker, looks the same as mine. Can you post a pic of the drain plug area?

Did they strip it and put a helicoil type sleeve or something in? If you wire brush near the drain plug can you see an insert in place?

 

@MikeWH
Here you go I don't think it's an insert... While the bolts line up the housing around them doesn't seem perfect. I'll grab some better pictures of the full thing in the morning.

 

If the threads check out, I like the idea of the Lexus bolt. That said, When I do my diff fluids I be sure to be very careful not to over tighten that bolt.

 

@JJ04TACO It's looking like they're not so I'm going to get a custom one from Gold Plug. I just went one hard push tight with a shorty ratchet, The torque spec on that thing calls for like 48 ftlbs.

Don't worry, I'm a girl I can't wrench too hard without the right tools.

 

Just get a Lexus drain plug with the magnet

 

Lol I wasn't implying you went crazy with the torque . Sounds like you just got unlucky. And trust me, even us guys can't wrench too hard without the right tools, or learned not to. #bustedknuckles

Just so you know, the drain plugs on the front diff call for 20 ft/lb's. The rear is 36 and the transfer case is 25. Per my Haynes book. Good luck fixing it up!

 

@1997tacomav6 I definitely would but unfortunately the drain plug on my differential is somehow an M14x1.50 it's also a pretty shallow bolt so the magnet ones from the shops scare me.

I'll be posting pictures of the cleaned up passenger side of the differential, in the morning maybe you can give me some insight to where it might have come from because it certainly didn't come from a 1996 Toyota Tacoma.