Sunday 9/20 - Sucker Pond Trail, Bennington VT

Snapped the stem above the valve core, that's lucky right there.

 

Still need to go through my pictures on my camera

 

Swapped the oil on my rear diff no problem today, looked a little murky and dark but nothing crazy. Went to do the front, got the fill plug off no problem but the drain plug is starting to strip. I ordered the next size up bit and I'm gonna try to hammer that in and at least get it off, but in the likely event that fails what should i try? Also does anyone have a part number on new plugs for the front?

 

If the Gen3 is like the Gen2, the front diff has a high breather and you shouldn't have gotten water in the front diff.

 

If the drain plug is stripped, use a fluid transfer hand pump (which you need to fill the diff anyway). Stick the draw end deep into the diff and pump the diff empty. Then swap ends and fill it back to full. You may leave ~10% of the old fluid in there but no big deal. Just change the fluid next time 5k sooner.

 

I'll be hitting 60k this week so it was in the cards regardless

Theres an idea, thanks!

 

There are various ways to get the front drain plug out.... when you do get it, install one of these. I think I need to order more...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-diff-drain-plug-alternate-part.668013/#post-23436688

 

This is exactly what I was looking for when I did pop the old one out, same size on the fill plug or is that a different part?

 

Fill plug is a regular sized M18... it usually doesn't have the strip out issues.

 

If your going to replace it anyways use a pry bar and hammer to chisel a flat into the plug. Then tap using the flat with the pry bar to get it off. I had to do this with mine. My dealership had the plug right in stock.

 

If you have access to a welder you can tack weld the bit to the plug, but not sure what angle it's at so make sure you can keep turning when it's attached.
Or you can tack weld an old socket to it.

 

Take a ball peen hammer and hit the drain plug a few times. Hit it flat to the surface of the plug. Smack it as hard, not little taps. Should back right out after.

Only a few out of the 500 or so I’ve taken out I’ve needed the air hammer for and that’s only when they are so rusty the hex part is gone.

 

Doesn't hurt to soak it in penetrating oil and repeat this process for a couple of days prior to removal either.

 

I'm reminded of the Sucker Pond trip every time this pops up in my Facebook timeline, even though it was a MTB meme.

 

You should print, laminate, and attach to your vehicle
That would be awesome!

 

Well if you had any idea what we were going into a lot of people wouldn’t have had the opportunity to really test the absolute limits of a factory spec truck.

 

Yessir, got me over a lot of the hesitations I had about wheeling real quick haha

 

Coming through a mud pit with the parking brake on:

 

But I see no image

 

I can see it
direct link:
https://imgur.com/wOxvYhm