Front Diff and Transfer Case Oil Change Howto

@Norton Thank you!

 

Yep!

 

I did this about a week ago and had no issues, but noticed today that my front diff was weeping a bit around the drain/fill plugs. I used all new gaskets, replaced the drain plug with the Lexus hex head plug, and torqued everything to spec.

No wet spots on my skids or driveway so seems like a mild seep, worth retorquing or pumping more fluid in?

 

Might just be oil around the plug and/or that squirshed out of the threads when you tightened things up. If it continues to form drips, then I'd re-do the crush washers.

 

Fucking drain plug. Ended up losing the battle. Before I completely stripped it, I took my lexus plug and brought her to the shop to have them throw it in while they inspected the truck. Feels good. Thanks M8s. Also silver boy passed for another year @ 153k so cheers.

 

Well, at least it is good for a while now. I swapped mine for the Lexus plug on this first change, can't imagine what it would be like at 153K.

 

Today is the day for me to lose my differential virginity. Should I start with the rear differential as a warmup? TC last?

 

Rear is pretty easy, TC is pretty easy, Front is most difficult in my view. Youll need a pump for TC and front. Hardest part was breaking the drain plug on the front diff. Spray some penetrating oil on it an hour or two beforehand.

 

Yeah, got rear done (only had 4 qts, probably should fill a bit more if it's really 4.2?) and TC (that was the easiest since I had 2 qts and it only needs 1.6).

Got front skid off and front fill plug which was hard enough but no dice so far on front drain. Probably going to have to save that for another day and move on to MT fluid.

 

Getting ready to do mine. Why I'm being nosey.

If the oil ran out of the plug, you probably will not be able to get much more in. Slightly below the plug is supposed to be FULL anyway.

 

TC overflowed b/c I had 2 qts and it takes 1.6 but rear diff did not overflow and I only had 4 qts. I'm guessing I'll just buy another one and add?

 

Yep, I would. Unless you can verify the depth below the fill. I believe that it's 1/8" below = FULL??

 

Just got the front diff done...love the smell of gear oil in the morning!

Magnet was covered with crapola.

Torquing the fill plug is awkward and next to impossible without a swivel bit, if the truck isn’t on stands or a lift.

Strange thing: the front diff oil was dark as one would expect. The transfer case oil looked brand new. Did someone sneak into my garage and change just the transfer case for me?

 

Does anyone know if the torque specs for the front diff are the same on a 3rd gen? I'd vote for this to be a sticky in the technical cause it's helped a bunch already.

 

Per

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference.406712/

48 ft lbs drain, 29 ft lbs fill.

 

You're a life saver. My phone is thanking you for keeping my dirty mitts off of it lol

 

You’re welcome, good luck!

 

I bookmarked and subbed that thread. Everything went well. Cracking the front bolts was relatively easy with a breaker bar. I did find though that I wasn't getting any "overfill" spilling when filling back up yet I definitely put in the required amount of oil. I need to top off the the rear one since I only put 3qt's.

 

You’re a better man than I if you were able to meter out the precise amount, I just filled until overflow began dripping.

 

I have an 05 4x4 TRD Off Road. Every

$28 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 oil I see online has LSD additive. Will it hurt my front/rear diff + transfer case if I use it on my non-LSD truck?