tacoma gear fluid & hex plug

heres info i couldn't find online and learned from doing it yesterday. Im posting this to help anyone since tacoma world helped me so much.

2009 Tacoma FRONT DIF--
the 10mm fill hex plug (that rusts and strips) in the front dif is the SAME THREADS as both the rear dif & transfer case plugs. It can easily be replaced with a 24mm wrench plug!

Yesterday i put the stupid fill/check plug that was in the front dif into the check / fill hole on the rear dif , so now i can order a new rear dif plug asap it will be easy to swap the rear dif check plug asap and throw the hex one in the trash. When I finished the front dif fluid change, I used the rear dif check plug (24mm head) up front. (posted a pic of the hex front dif plug where it is now temporarily in the rear dif)

For the front dif drain , I replaced it with size M24x1.5 plug from Amazon that has a way stronger magnet and a 22mm head. - posting a pic.. (I'm not smart enough to make these pics show up where i want them but they should be here somewhere). .... just nd a socket with a short extension to get at this new front dif drain plug.

Also, posting a pic of the front dif now without those garbage hex plugs. I had to heat the hex drain plug with a torch to remove it because it wanted to strip!!

another thing, the rear dif specs say 3.1qt but its really 4qt

 

the front dif fill plug is definitely the same threads as both plugs on the rear dif. THERE! now this info is on the internet

 

front dif drain = m24x1.5

front dif fill plug, both rear dif plugs and both transfer case plugs = m18

once the mail comes today , i'll confirm what size to replace the hex transmission check plug with

 

ill just roll the back wheels onto some 4" blocks or boards (to avoid losing fluid) and get that stupid hex plug out of my rear dif once this comes in the mail. Ill get another one for the transfer case too just because it has a magnet and neither of the existing transfer case plugs have magnets. at the next fluid change , ill put it in the drain port

 

The Lexus front diff drain plug I bought takes a 14mm socket. I like the idea of a 22mm socket better.

I bought a couple of the Dsnaudo stainless steel oil drain plugs to replace some originals that were buggered by oil change shops. They are nicely made and fit very snug. They also come with a few different types of gaskets.

 

& YEAH , you can simply replace the transmission 5mm hex check plug with a regular 14mm head trans drain plug. same threads and washer. The guy at the dealership lied to me about this, then told me the check plug is on national back order.

 

Hmmm, my rear diff (2015 SR5 4x4) took 3 qts, and 6 qts total for F&R diifs +T-Case.

 

I would stick to the owners manual specs. An over fill of thick gear oil can't be good.

 

i thought you fill it til its level with the fill hole

 

For mine it was 3 qts, and it just started to seep out the bottom of the fill hole, Tacoma was on level ground too.

 

Is that so…
This one?
https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/toyota__TACOMA/Transmission-Drain-Plug/4176354/9034110011.html

 

i think you found the right one, the check plug threads are the same as the drain plug anyway , i got this set since i have 2 toyotas

$8 Rexka 2 Sets Transmission Drain Plug with Gasket 90341-10011 & 35178-30010 for Toyota Lexus 4Runner,Sequoia,Tacoma,GX460,ISF,IS250,IS350

https://www.amazon.com/Rexka-Transmission-90341-10011-35178-30010-4Runner/dp/B07R1PGGVF

 

thats better!! no more hex plugs anywhere . i guess a magnet on the fill plug wont be a bad thing to have

 

All shiny too!