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Drain plugs upgrades

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by BlackSportD, Sep 23, 2021.

  1. Sep 23, 2021 at 10:12 AM
    #1
    BlackSportD

    BlackSportD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Icon/TC Mid travel, TRD S/C, PNP Greddy EMU, 625cc injectors, 2.2 pulley, Hayden tranny cooler, AEM wideband, TRD boost gauge.
    What is the popular combo of plugs to upgrade all of the 1st gen 4x4 diff/cases/etc drain plugs? Fixing on replacing the beat up allen style ones with good ole' hex nut style. My OEMs are so beat they need air chisels to get taken off.

    I have a 90341-24016 for the front, but curious what people have for the others. Heck for the fill ones too.
     
  2. Sep 24, 2021 at 7:24 PM
    #2
    Partsman@dtla

    Partsman@dtla Humachine

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    The reason they're stuck is age and whoever worked on it last. I would go with oem Toyota bolts and washers. They don't require elbow grease when bolting on, hand tighten them and quarter turn with the socket.
     
  3. Sep 24, 2021 at 7:27 PM
    #3
    Sicyota04

    Sicyota04 Slowly but surely.

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  4. Sep 28, 2021 at 11:37 AM
    #4
    BlackSportD

    BlackSportD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Icon/TC Mid travel, TRD S/C, PNP Greddy EMU, 625cc injectors, 2.2 pulley, Hayden tranny cooler, AEM wideband, TRD boost gauge.
    Right, when everything is done correctly, there isn't an inherent issue with the bolts. But this is real world, for my vets out there, I'm looking for sailor proof, not "if you followed the instruction..."

    I already have the one I listed, it is Toyota OEM, has the right thread, pitch, length, magnet etc, but simply is a bolt head style and not allen. Looking for the rest. Sailor/Soldier proof. Murphy likes to be in my life way too much, so I love me some mitigation.
     
  5. Sep 28, 2021 at 12:31 PM
    #5
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

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    I don't think you're going to get much traction here. Most people leave the drain plugs well alone, and they aren't an issue. People who have to change their front diff oil more frequently swap out the allen plugs for the ones you've already linked to, and some people install a drain plug with a valve to the engine oil pan to make their oil changes easier.

    Maybe you could paint them orange so you can find them easier under the vehicle?

    What cases are you envisioning needing to sailor/solider proof the drain plugs?
     
  6. Sep 28, 2021 at 1:28 PM
    #6
    BlackSportD

    BlackSportD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Icon/TC Mid travel, TRD S/C, PNP Greddy EMU, 625cc injectors, 2.2 pulley, Hayden tranny cooler, AEM wideband, TRD boost gauge.
    Any plug (fill, drain) that is allen cause in less than perfect conditions they lead to headaches (over torqued, bad angle etc stripping the allen). I'd just like good ole' bolt heads. I guess I'm off to a good start with the one I already have.

    The older I get the more I like mitigation. Honestly kind of irks me 'if you do this, and do that, then it shouldn't be an issue' is like that young kid that sweeps someone with a gun and when called out, 'well if the safety works it doesn't matter'. Nah, lets apply layers here- finger off the trigger, do not sweep, ensure its unloaded etc etc, compound controls so 3% chance changes to .00001%. I don't want a clean room, high dollar tight tolerance allen tool, perfect angle of my arm, perfect feedback through my nervous system that I have a great contact and depth of the tool into the bolt, good torque from previous person that tightened etc to lead to easy removal. I want to mitigate that. I'm making vets cringe.

    ORM!

    There, I SAID IT!

    edit- context: Obviously not the 1st owner of the truck and the bolt is already pretty hosed. No trusting I can get it off at all I took it to Frank at South Bay Truck & Four Wheel- if you local here you know this shop- great great shop. He had to use an air chisel to get it off. I don't want a repeat of this with my own dumb bear hands as I've had my own bad luck/bad practice with allens. So I'm looking to replace any and all allen type drain and fill plugs. If I recall right there is a fill plug as an allen so if you derp and drain first, and then can't get the fill open, you are up sh*t creek.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2021
  7. Sep 28, 2021 at 1:38 PM
    #7
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

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    mmmm

    Front dif - allen drain and fill
    Transmission (auto) - hex head drain, fill from the dip stick
    Transfercase (4x4) - hex head drain and fill
    Rear diff - hex head drain and fill

    engine oil - hex drain, oil cap fill
    power steering - reservoir drain and fill
    radiator - valve drain, radiator cap fill
    AC - evacuate and fill via schrader valve on High and Low lines
    gas tank - no drain, tube fill

    ... So If you've swapped your front diff plugs, you successfully mitigated your drain and fill plug situation.
     
    BlackSportD[OP] likes this.
  8. Sep 28, 2021 at 1:43 PM
    #8
    BlackSportD

    BlackSportD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Icon/TC Mid travel, TRD S/C, PNP Greddy EMU, 625cc injectors, 2.2 pulley, Hayden tranny cooler, AEM wideband, TRD boost gauge.
    Imma sleep easy now.
     
  9. Sep 28, 2021 at 5:56 PM
    #9
    beez

    beez Well-Known Member

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    I used Toyota parts to replace the fill and drain bolts on my front diff while I had it out and empty. Can't hurt.

    PXL_20210811_020749031.jpg
     

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