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

do you need the lsd additive for the offroad?

 

No only the sports and certain SR5's have an lsd.

 

Thanks for the info!

I'm gonna do mine today It's been like 60,000+ miles since I changed it

 

Holy Hell, just read all 39 pages of this thread in one sitting. My eyes are blurry, but i feel prepared to tackle this job on my 1st gen as soon as the rain breaks. Can't say enough good things about the information available on this forum.

I just wanted to take the time to personally thank brian, chris and everyone else that contributed to the thread.

 

The milky metallic stuff that the magnet on the drain plugs catches, what is that? Fine grain metal shavings? My plug had just as much as BrainR's picture in the first post. Curious. Great write up!

 

So why can't I find the fill plug on my front diff?
Could it be in a different place? I see the drain plug as in the photos,
but there is no fill plug behind the axle.
Thanks for the help

 

I just went back to check the fluid - make sure it was still level with the bottom of the fill plug whole, and as I was loosened the plug I could hear pressure escaping and once the plug was removed oil started running out. The truck has been sitting for over an hour. I did the original maintenance immediately after getting home from work. So why was I able to put 3.5 q (what owners manual calls for in a 2.7L) in right after draining the old oil and now, a week later, checking it while the truck has cooled off, it appears I put too much?

 

Did my rear diff today, and found these pretty big pieces of metal shavings. Everything else looked okay. How alarmed should I be? Should I take it to the dealer immediately to be checked?


Thanks!

 

holy crap, your serious? that's some big debris. Thanks for clearing that up though Chris, I was in a bit of a panic when I saw those metal shavings.

Any ideas why this happens?


Thanks again

 

About to do my front and rear diff, as well as tcase fluids tonight. 30k on the clock Spark plugs and MAF/TB cleaning as well. Thanks for all the writeups guys, makes it helpful to know what tools will bee needed beforehand.

 

I am about to do this tomorrow and i have an 05 sr5 it says lsd on the rear diff do i need to add the additive. I dont know if its mechanical or not

 

You need the additive

 

thanks

 

you might wana use that on the tranny to not much room 4 those dumbass 1 quart jugs

 

i just changed my tranny oil lats nite i filled till it ran over i also had 4oz left no big deal better a little low then 2 full

 

I was looking today at the royal purple stuff. If the rear fluid is for LSD already, do you need to add the additive? Im just double checking here.

 

Spent nearly an hour under my rear diff, soaked the damn nut in PB blaster and took a socket wrench and a hammer to it, still not luck with the fill plug, and haven't even tried the drain plug. Any ideas?

Edit: Never mind. I beat the shit out of the head of the nut, and finally got it off

 

better off to use the additive too. supposedly the rear diff will chirp if you dont.

RP is good stuff.. I was actually trying to buy some at that auto store the other night when I was waiting for you but they only had castrol. not gonna use that.


But just to reiterate.. the mechanical lsd is like 08 and earlier. If there a box with hard line coming out of it on top of the passenger side wheel well, you dont have a mechanical lsd and do not need the additive.

If the OP could add that to the write up that would be extremely helpful.