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

Excellent write up... I am going to do this, but want to make sure I do it right. Would someone kindly explain to me, like I am 6 years old, the whole locker thing (or even a link to a thread that will)?

I have a 2005 TRD Off Road and there is no switch in my cab for any sort of locker--just the clutch cancel button.

I don't believe I need the differential oil with additive.

Thanks in advance!

 

Do you have an "LSD" sticker on the rear diff?? If you do, then you DO need the additive. If you don't, then NO, you don't need the additive. See the second pic of the OP

 

I suppose a previous owner could have slapped the stickers on there, but it says off-road, and the only switches are for the clutch start cancel and fog lights...

 

That is strange.. according to your picture you also have the offroad hood, chrome grill, and door handles. Do you have a chrome rear bumper?

 

Yes.

 

^ that pretty much explains things...

 

So, riddle me this, Batmen: I don't have an e-locker and I don't have LSD. What do I have?

 

Spindle lift ;-)


Open

 

Yeah, ignorance is bliss, isn't it? But I'm trying to quit

 

I don't have time to look through 63 pages.....my question is are the part numbers for the crush washers listed above also good for the first generation Tacoma's?

 

Sarcasm

Your answer is Open as in Open-non-locking differential.

 

No sarcasm regarding my mechanical ignorance. Sarcasm intended saying it's bliss, but I have been asking questions when I can't find clear answers, so I'm trying to quit my ignorance.

Thank you for the clarification, though.

The other question I have is are you guys jacking up all 4 "corners," so to speak, to keep it level and changing all the fluids at once or just the end of the vehicle you're working on. Is there a "best way" to do this?

 

Ai gotcha. You profile on the left says you have a 05 TRD Off-Road, do you not have a locker, what switches do you have?? My brother has a prerunner Off-Road and even that has the locker. Look for "RR Diff Lock". I'm just confused here.

If you have an Off-Road 4x4 model do you not have enough clearance to crawl under there? Otherwise you should be fine to jack it up, just make sure you aren't leaning it so that it won't drain.

Pro-tip: for the rear drop the spare tire for more room.

 

So call me an idiot but this is my first 4WD. I've got a switch for 2WD, 4HI, and 4LO, A switch for the inverter, and A switch for the fogs. The truck has TRD Off Road stickers on it but I am not the original owner. Does this mean I DO NOT have an electronic locker? I'm assuming I don't. I see no LSD sticker (or any stickers for that matter) on the rear chunk so I'm assuming I do not have a LSD differential. I'm planning to put RP 75-90w in the front diff and transfer case and conventional Lucas 75-90w I'm the rear? Sound like a solid plan Tacoma gods? Greatly appreciate the write up, Chris.

 

I have an SR5 Off-Road sticker on my SR5 and I have a Diff lock switch

 

4wd selector is different from the Diff lock button.

 

I am curious to as what this sticker says on the LSD, does it actually say LSD on the diff? cause i have a 2012 tacoma SR5 and i have a LSD according to the window sticker, but no sticker on the actual diff stating this.....?

 

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