Rear differential fluid

I am just over my schedule rear differential fluid change. I haven't had it done yetvbecayet the dealer said it was something like $350 to do it. Any input on doing it at home. I'm very handy and own a good set of tools. Is it something someone can do or is it something a local shop can/ should do. What should I expect to pay to do it myself vs a local shop?

 

This is a piece of cake to do yourself.

There is a drain and fill plug on the rear diff. Remove the fill plug FIRST. Then remove the drain plug, clean the magnet while you wait for the fluid to drain, then put it back in and refill it with some

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

75w-90 or i like Lucas 85w140. Fill it till it starts running out of the fill plug onto the ground, and you're good to go

 

Here is a how to. I recommend a 6 sided 24mm socket
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/changing-differential-fluid-a-step-by-step-how-to.24545/

 

Just pop off fill plug first

Then drain plug. Drain fluid, replace drain plug.

Fill with cheapest or most expensive fluid you want. Replace fill plug

 

Depending on your diff - the system holds from 3.2 - 3.6 qts gear oil - so you'll be charged for 4 qts. I could buy about 40 qts. of gear oil with $350.00. The dealer you dealt with is nuts. If you do not feel up to doing it - take your truck to an independent repair shop.

 

As everyone said, it's super easy. $350 to do it at a dealership is highway robbery. Just make sure to put down some rags or a tarp folded under the diff if you're doing it on your clean driveway or garage floor. No matter how careful you are, some spills out!

 

Awesome. I think I can do it. I asked the dealer why so much and how long would it take. They said half hour of labor. Which is probably 50 bucks. The rest they told me was the cost of the fluid. They service writer said that the price of the fluid has gone up a lot. Haha.

 

You can get good synthetic fluid like Red Line for about 25 bucks a quart shipped

 

If you don't want to do it yourself then just tell them you'll provide your own diff fluid

edited: Just checked back in and saw you have an lsd for which the fluid I linked is no bueno for. Ensure you grab the right fluids.

 

That's where they make their money on small jobs like fluid changes...which is why if you brought your own fluid in they would probably double the amount of labor time it would take. Or some places just flat out won't let customers bring in their own parts or fluids (that sounds weird).

Diffs, t-case, trans and engine oils are so easy to DIY though that there's no real reason to take it in for that...save yourself the money

 

Your profile lists 06 TRD. That could be a sport or an off road. One of your other posts mentions a painted rear bumper. That would indicate that you have a sport. If all that is true, you have a LSD rear axle and you need to add the LSD friction modifier additive.

 

And to help you confirm the presence/absence of an LSD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0DeTzQWNBQ

 

Wow! Great detective work. Yes I do have TRD with a painted rear bumper. No rear sliding window. No clue what LSD is tho. Man do I feel embarrassed.

 

If you have an 06 TRD Sport then yes you have a true, mechanical LSD (limited slip differential) and need to use gear oil that has the proper LSD additive in it, or buy the additive separately and add it in yourself.

 

What would happen if the additive was not added to an lsd diff and it was ran like that
?

 

LSD “Limited Slip Differential”. 2005-2008 Sports came from factory with it. Off Road models have the electronic locker. 2009 later Sports use the nanny system or ABS for its version of LSD.

 

Easy to do and brand of fluid doesn't matter just get the correct type-viscosity. Get the cheapest one.

 

22mm socket on a breaker bar, a drain pan and 3qt of lucas 85-140w conventional. Easy.

Synthetic is NOT recommended


EDIT, 24mm

 

https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/gen...dont-use-additive-limited-slip-rear-ends.html

 

The drain/fill plugs on my rear diff use 24MM - maybe others are different.