Help Getting Front Diff. Drain/Fill Plugs Out.

I changed the oil in transfer case with no issues and also got 3 out of the 5 grease points re-greased on the DS. Now I am trying to change out the front diff. oil and I can not get the drain and fill plugs to come loose to get them out. I doused them in WD40 so hopefully that works. Any other ideas?? Thanks!!!

 

I can't believe you asked that? Lefty Lucy, righty tighty.

 

I was going to try a breaker bar, but am afraid I'll destroy my 3/8 ratchet. That is the only size ratchet I could get in there without using a extension bar on the ratchet.

 

I picked up a 17" 3/8 breaker bar. Going to try and get the plugs out again at some point, but with it only 9 degrees right now I am not venturing out into the garage. In my previous point I should clarify that for breaker bar I was referring to sliding a piece of pipe over the handle of the 3/8 ratchet and using the handle extension as the "breaker bar".

 

Well I tried getting the plugs loose again and no go. They will not budge. I need to find someone with a lift so I can really crank on it. Up on ramps you are limited to the angle of attack.

On side note, I did get all the u-joints on the DS greased.

 

When you do get the plugs out, make sure you don't tighten them nearly so much. I got mine undone with a regular allen wrench!

 

They were this tight from the factory, that's what scary. I have not taken them off before.

 

Yikes.

 

I have to ask, If your on your back and lookin up at the drain plug it reversed on how you think its goin to come out right?

 

I am trying to take them out counter clockwise (lefty loosy). If I am pulling on the wrench the handle is going to the right or toward me, depending how I have the crawler situated. Come on guys I know I how turn a wrench

 

this might be one of those times where you have to take it into the dealer..If they break it, then they have to fix it.

Just watch them and make sure they actually change it, and not crank down on the plug again

 

My front diff was a pain! It would not budge. I started to strip it...

I got a hammer and gave the drain bolt a good whack. I again tried to loose it and it turned right out.

 

Yikes!!! I have been pulling pretty hard and mine has not felt like it was going to strip at all. Were you using a 10mm hex socket? That is the size it takes.

 

I bought my truck used. The owner before me didn't use the right size. He messed up a couple of the drain/fill bolts. I went to Toyota and I bought 9 new drivetrain bolts and replaced all of them. It cost me $75.00 for 9 bolts! It is worth it though because i won't have to worry about it now.

 

Try tapping the diff with a hammer as Tengo suggested. You can try tapping the wrench with a hammer too, but I think your using a 3/8" ratchet and it might break.