Changing my differential fluid.

That may be it; I really don't remember. Sometimes I use it; sometimes not. But that makes more sense. How do I check/fix that?

 

Forget about Mobile 1, use ONLY Royal Purple or AMSOIL. I treated the entire drive-train including zerks, brake and clutch, power-steering and fuel system (Amsoil PI) with the top of the line Amsoil. I can not be happier the truck runs better than new.

 

I ended up using AMSOIL Severe Gear 75w90 in my T case and front and rear diffs. I have 3 quarts of Redline MT90 sitting in the shop for next weekend when I do my tranny.
Thanks for everyone's input.

Paulie- my driveshaft is next in line, what grease did you use? I hear some people say you have to follow the manual and go with NLGI 1 and NLGI 2, and others say it don't matter. What did you do?
And does anyone else have any input on this?
Thanks everyone.

 

Red Line 57904 (75W90) Synthetic Gear Oil

 

A friend of mine works for Toyota dealership. I had to call him for ideas when i couldn't get the front diff filler hex plug out of the carrier. Tried the usual Kroil and PB blaster, didn't help, and tried heat.

He said to pound right on the filler plug with a brass or plastic hammer, wait a minute, and try hitting it again. Took a while, but it finally came out.

Don't risk stripping the hex because then they have to do a repair, and it's not cheap

 

I run Lucas 75W90 in my rear diff. Was using 80W90 but switched back to regular gear lube. I agree with others about expensive stuff. If you're not racing or doing something that generates high heat, regular fluid is fine. And use Toyota axle seals when the time comes. Their design and quality is better than aftermarket. Just my experience.

 

Can anybody call the size on the hex for the front diff drain and fill?

 

I recently changed my rear diff (prerunner) fluid at about 35,000 miles. Replaced it with plain old Valvoline 75w90. I don't offroad, I tow once a year, but I do load the truck up sometimes, maybe once a month. This truck is a street truck only used for commuting to my office job. It came out almost as clean as the stuff that went in, and there was almost zero residue on the drain plug magnet. Honestly I would have no problems going 60,000 miles for my situation. It didn't even smell that bad.

I'm not sure if this helps anyone, but hey, it just might. Haha

 

99.99% of them are 10mm. I have seen one 12mm. It was a "fill" plug and the drain on the same diff was 10mm. It was likely aftermarket, some cussing was involved.

 

i've used mobil1 synthetic

$30 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 for the past few years and no trouble... changed every 30-35k and comes out generaly as clean as it goes in. never had very many if any shavings on the plug magnet. 242,xxx on the gears and bearings. alot of mild off road and a lot of city w/ about 50% highway.

 

Thx. That's kinda what I found too. Possibly both 10mm and 12mm on the front diff.

 

mine are 10mm...dont cheap out and try 3/8'' it doesnt work. just makes for more work.

 

I used mobile one synthetic in front and rear diffs as well as transfer case and royal purple in the tranny. The rear diff was very dirty the front diff wasnt too bad. The tranny I did for good measure because I wasnt sure if it had ever been done and is very notchy 1st to second. I was very pleased with the royal purple in transmission. It helped a lot in trans but didnt totally take away notchyness but have found this is a common characteristic of these trucks. I am a 5 speed 4cyl by the way.

 

Yeah I got a 1/2" drive 10mm and 12mm on order. I think my 1/4" drive 10mm probably won't cut it.

 

I recently changed all of the fluid on my manual 3.4l 4x4. Everything went smoothly except for that darn 10mm Hex drain plug for the front diff......just wouldn't budge. I ended up buying a siphon tube (HF) and siphoned as much of the old oil as I could from the fill plug and refilling it with new gear oil. It was the best I could do. Hope you have better luck w/that darn drain plug!

 

Did you strip out the hex with the wrench or was it that the threads were frozen? I'm hoping that a 1/2" breaker bar with a 10mm/12mm hex socket should do the trick.

 

Sorry, I started to strip the head of the bolt so I decided to leave it alone. It appears as though it is a common problem on our trucks.

 

same here.

i even tried acetone/ATF mix and pb blaster on mine...even with a proper size socket it wouldn't budge. butane pencil torch and a brass BFH to hit the plug while turning on it with the allen socket worked after much effort...3hrs worth in my case.

 

I used

$30 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 Lucas in front & rear diffs, and tranny. Easy to remember.

 

Sorry late post. But, can you use all the same oil 75-90W in all parts? Front/Rear and transmission??! Sorry but, just curious I thought the trans and gear oils were different? I've read them that they were the same. In particular Redlines MT90???? Anyone chime in please I'm about to do it this weekend!!!