Front Diff and Transfer Case Oil Change Howto

Bolt head stripped? Vice Grips.

Threads stripped? Drill / tap / helicoil

 

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Definitely going to spray PB blaster on the bolt head before I even try and get the bolt off. I needed to do that with the rear diff drain bolt, let it soak, and then put a breaker bar on it and gave it some taps with a hammer. Then it decided to budge.

 

I did the rear diff, transfer case, and manual trans a few months ago with new OEM drain/fill plugs and crush washers from Toyota. I thought I had ordered the right parts for the front diff, but apparently not. I have a drain and fill plug that are the 24mm style but I see that the front diff takes the 10mm hex socket. Is it possible to swap those out and use the 24mm plugs that are on everything else in the front diff? I don't want to start it without the right parts.

 

Why don't you use the old fill and drain bolt, and just replace the squash washers? Those should last the life unless they're goobered up.

 

Definitely a good idea, but I'm a little worried that I'm gonna strip it out when I go to remove. It's super rusty. Just want to be prepared in case I can't use it again.

 

I got ya. Prepared is good. I'm thinking it'll be fine though. If the bolt is tighted enough that it'll snap coming off... then you probably already have stripped threads on your casing. I'm thinking that's probably not the case, so you should be fine. I had original bolts on an old 1984 C10 I restored. The bolt head had some surface rust, but the threads were perfect since they had always been internal.

 

Thanks man great write up just what I was looking for. This dumb chiton book showed no signs of where the front differential was at, as this is the first time changing my fluids on my 08. Bought it used a couple months ago. Great info thanks again.

 

Great write up thanks for the help! I am getting a "new" to me 07 Tacoma in the next few days and this and all other fluids are first on my list! The pictures were a big help.

 

A few tips that should be said again:

1. Remove the fill plugs first. You don't want to be in a situation where you drained then you can't get the fill plug out.
2. Front diff, don't use an Allen key, use an Allen socket on a 1/2" wrench. You want to put steady leverage on those front diff 10mm Allens, not yanking on them hard. I've found those front diff 10mm Allens are usually overtorqued by whoever installed them.
3. Use six point 24mm sockets, not eight point. Like #2 above, I've found the 24mm's are usually overtorqued by whoever installed them. Eight point sockets tend to strip the plug bolts.
4. Don't overtorque the plugs when you install. You'll be surprised how little torque is needed to make a good seal whether you use crush washers or not. You can always give the plugs another 1/8th turn if you notice a leak. Clean the mating surfaces, snug them up, then a 1/4 turn is fine.

Also, anybody that volunteers to be the first that replaces the 10mm front diff plugs with 24mm hex plugs is fine with me. I'll try it next time I replace the front diff fluid.

Using Amsoil however, that will be about 10 years from now since the recommended change interval is 90,000 miles or 10 years.

 

Cool thanks I will be finishing up the changes of the fluids this week, today I changed the front coil over shocks and the rears the other day. The write ups for help on these types of things are great as I've only had my tacoma for about five months and I'm trying to get ready for my early trip to canada for walleye fishing. Thanks again.

 

Hey guys I know this is a stupid question but I'm new to 4×4's in general. I have a prerunner and was just wondering if it had a transfer case or front differential. I'm pretty sure they don't just wanted to make sure. So all I would have to change is the rear differential oil right?

 

Rear diff is all you have bud

 

Right on man. Just hit 30000 miles. About time to change the oil. Thanks again.

 

Yup same thing. Not fully stripped. Going to run it by a shop see if they can do it. Y the hell did they design it like this. Should be just like the transfer case and rear end. Y the special stuff. When it is off...is there a plug like the transfer case ones I can put in and make it easier in future?

 

If I remember correctly, it's a different diameter than the rear plugs. I know the washer is different.

 

Got the right washer. Headed to dealer in morning for new plug.

 

Updated washer part numbers on first page post for correct numbers as of 06/19/2015. Total cost including washers for manual transmission is approximately $13.00.

 

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Two things. Where do you find those hand pumps? I tried Part Source and another auto store and they didn't have any. The next question is, will your front diff oil get nasty if you don't use 4x4 often? I changed my rear diff but haven't changed the front yet. Should I?