Rear Diff

36k on the odometer so decided to do my diffs. Front was easy enough. Looks like the assembly plant torqued the rear diff fill plug to 7000 ft lbs. I'm decent with a wrench but there's no chance I'm getting this thing off. So much for following spec. Looks like the Mexico plant confused ft lbs with pesos.

 

That's been the case for years.
I literally had to use a 1/2 drive ratchet and cheater bar to get mine loose.
Once it breaks loose, watch out. It comes LOOSE.
Smacked myself in the head.

It will come loose. Be sure to use a 6-point socket if you can.

 

Yea I used a 12 point socket and could tell i would've just rounded the plug. Buddy has a lift gonna just bring it there. Nut is low profile too hard to get a good bite on it.

 

All fill plugs are 6 point socket

 

It's all I had in 24mm.

 

12 point will round the plug. I almost rounded at fill plug. Get 6 point

 

6 point socket, 1/2" breaker bar with a cheater pipe.

Put floor jack under cheater handle and jack, letting the weight of the truck be your power.

 

I did it at my buddy's place he had a breaker and a 6 point socket. All good now. I don't do much off roading and the fluid looked brand new in the front and just a little darker in the rear diff. No weird smells either. The plugs had very little sludge on the magnetic plugs. Thinking the 30k change interval is way way too early but Toyota knows best. I'd be comfortable going a little longer on the diffs the way I'm driving it and the condition of the oil.

 

I did mine a couple months ago at 35k and the fluid conditions were the same as you describe. I also did the transfer case. I'll probably wait until 80-100k to do them again.
A pneumatic impact made an easy task of removing the rear plugs.

 

Next time it should be easier since I torqued them to spec. I thought about doing the transfer case but I don't fall anywhere near severe use so figured I'd do it next summer at 50k.

 

What is the torque spec on the fill and drain plugs on the rear diff ? Not ready to do it yet but was wondering what the torque value is. I already got two new crush washers for the fluid change.

 

36lbs

 

Thanks for the reply. I already broke both plugs loose and then snugged them back up pretty good just to make sure I could get them off. 30,000 seems a tad early to change the fluid but since it I’ll be the first fluid change I’ll go ahead and do it. There might be some metal shavings in there from being new. I’ll probably go 50,000 mile intervals after this depending on what the fluid looks like.

 

Yes. Good plan. I couldn't believe how clean the fluid looked. Especially in the front diff. Almost zero sludge on the magnets. Paper thin coating on both. I've read other posts about the factory underfilling the diffs, transfer case and transmission. Good to get in to those things early for piece of mind imo. Transfer case and transmission I'll look at them next summer when I'm at around 50k.

 

The auto tranny is what puzzles me. I called two Toyota dealers and both said they will NOT service the tranny as far as a fluid change. I’m a bit hesitant to do it myself when it’s time. I got a ways to go before it will need changing. I was curious so I called two different auto tranny shops in my area and they said they have never done a fluid change on a Taco and told me to take to the dealer, what the hell !!!

Anyhow thanks for the input.

 

New fluids DIY are a good feeling.

 

I have a 24mm 6 point socket with the taper ground off for shallow bolts like the fill plug. That allows deeper engagement and less chance of rounding the bolt. An impact wrench is also worth a try. At least on the front diff it pops right off with impact (like literally less than 0.5 seconds). I haven't needed to use it on the rear.

 

I do this to wheel bearing sockets too.

 

You will need a short socket eventually for the transmission fill plug, to fit in the confines of the transmission tunnel.