Stripped My Front Diff Drain Plug

Use a fluid extractor like this one:

$85 OEMTOOLS 24389 Manual Fluid Extractor – 5.3L Oil Extractor Pump for Engine Oil, Transmission Fluid, Coolant, and More | Heavy-Duty Automotive Vacuum Pump Tool

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-24389-Fluid-Evacuator-Gallons/dp/B00LCEWR4A/

My friend uses one to do engine oil changes without jacking up his car.

 

Why they use that style plug most likely some Engineer said it would save a few seconds on the line when building the trucks.

I can`t remember if these plugs are the same size and can be swapped .

I think I always do is make sure all the dirt is cleaned out so the allen hex can get completely in the plug so all the surface area is used

Once out if it is mangled it gets replaced and never seized

 

^If they wanted to save money/time, they would have used the same size plug for drain and fill. I think it was the conscious decision to use a larger 24mm plug for the drain, either just so they can put in a larger magnet, or the faster flow when draining helps flush out contaminants. For what it's worth, Subaru uses an even larger 26mm drain plug for the front diff, but they had the good sense to use a Torx drive instead of Allen.

Now take a look at this http://www.drainplugmagnets.com/toyotalexandnissaninf.php

 

The drain plug has a big flanged bolt head on it... take a very sharp tap and hammer and lightly tap the plug in the counter- clockwise direction on the outer perimeter of the bolt head. It may take several minutes, but it will eventually start turning if you can get a good bite with the tap. I put a propane torch on it for a minute or two (not long enough to damage/melt any seals), then I turned a can of computer duster upside down to cool it rapidly. I did this to thermally "shock" it. I sprayed some PB Blaster on it a few times too.

It worked and I didn't damage anything except the old drain plug which was fucked anyway. The new drain plug is pretty cheap and it includes the copper gasket.

I had to do this to mine. I got sick of pumping the old fluid out of the fill hole, so I tried this ^. Hey... it worked.

Edit: Didn't see it before, but @lotsoftoys has the right idea. Do exactly this.

 

Old thread... oops

 

I hate the stock hex bolts (like on the right). They round off, they get boogered on rocks. I've had a corner get caught on a rock and turn the plug loose enough to leak.

So I replace them with the Allen key type (on the left). The actual application for the part is, I think, a Rav4 or something.



If you want to convert them all to use Allen keys the Toyota part numbers.

Drain (magnetic) plug: 90341‑18021
Fill (non-magnetic) plug: 90341-18016

O-ring for aluminum (transfer case, manual transmissions):

$7 90430-18008 , Used for Change Transmission Fluid

90430-18008 (O-ring is a Toyotaism, it's the flat metal washer)
Crush gasket for steel (diffs):

$14 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010

12157-10010

The only outlier is the front diff drain (the one in question in this thread), which is that special monster bolt and gasket.

 

On the first time I drained my front diff, it was already stripped by previous owner or shop(s). I ended up drilling a hole all the way through the plug, then pounding a torx head socket into it, then using a breaker bar to finally get that f**king thing off. A good hour of time just to remove a drain plug. 15-20 minutes trying to figure out ways to remove it with tools available, luckily I was at a shop that loaned tools and had lifts. For how stripped it was I figured, it was probably regularly serviced. Not according to how black and thick the oil was. It was as if previous person used an impact to put that plug in. Anyways I don't like how soft the metal is on all the drain plugs on my Tacoma. Only the transfer case drain plug didn't look stripped, so I replaced them all with GoldPlug's. This is the one for the front diff, http://goldplug.com/shop/ap24/
but they sell them all for every drain plug. Strongest magnet available for drain plugs.

 

I Have Started work on My Dads old Truck 2wd Differential Front and Back. After Close inspection I could Find no plugs any were on the Transfer Case. Can some on poof me a diagram of 3.4 liter 2wd Tacoma transfer case Plugs,and Best place to get replacement Plugs?

 

A 2wd drive doesn't have a transfer case or a front diff

 

Thanks yea I figured that out looking at a pic of the Axles.All I have to do is the rear then?

 

Correct

 

Can anti-sieze be used in the threads on these applications?

 

It can be used, but shouldn't be required if the threads are in good shape and clean when installing the plug and you use the proper torque for the plug.

If you do decide to use anti-seize use it sparingly to prevent pushing any into the housing and contaminating the fluid.

 

Thanks!

 

I know this is an old thread but THANK YOU, SIR for posting the website of a company that makes "real" drain plugs for our Taco's. The stock plugs just flat suck. They are too soft and not tall enough for a wrench or socket to get a decent grip on. That's why they round off so easy.

For those that have the rounded off problem? I rounded off the fill plug on my rear diff. Took it to a buddies house to have him put the vice grips to it since he is much younger and stronger than I am. All he did was take a 15/16 socket, put it on there and it came right out with no real resistance at all. Anyone who has a rounded off 24mm try a 15/16 American socket or wrench. It might work.

 

Old thread, but this is what I did on my old car. If you can remove the fill bolt, you're in luck. Get a fluid evacuator or suction gun and suck the fluid out via the fill bolt. If you're paranoid or if the old fluid is very dirty, get some cheapish fluid, drive around the block and repeat(since you likely wont be able to get all the fluid out) and just change it a little more often.

 

I know it's an old thread but seems helpful to keep it updated rather than starting a new thread. But I'm currently experiencing the same issue. I gave it shot a few weeks ago and decided to put pb blast on it a few days each week and tried it again yesterday.

I heated that sucker up and hit it a couple times and sure enough it stripped beautifully. So I'm gonna go to a local machine shop today or tomorrow and see if they can weld another bolt onto it so I can try again. Hoping they'll do it for $20 if I supply the bolt

 

you should be able to get it if you keep working on it. Spray it with pb blaster everyday for a week or so. I used a cold chisel and a hammer to spin the drain plug out.

I’d be surprised if a shop would even think about welding for anything under $100.
Good luck!

 

For those of you with rounded drain plugs you might be interested in this:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-diff-drain-plug-alternate-oem-part.604989/

 

Front diff drain option I haven't seen before... I think I might order one. I've had good luck with the Aussie stuff.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Diff-Front...-KUN26-Prado-90-120-150-FJ-LC200/191867467634

Direct link to their website:
https://www.kaon.com.au/front-diff-tool-and-24mm-drain-plug-to-suit-toyota