Cant get the front diff drainplug out

Park

Park

New member
I swapped both my cv axles out yesterday and now I'm trying to open up my diff to get some more fluid in there. Only problem, the thing w not budge. When I was trying to get it out it jumped, so I stopped trying to remove it for fear of stripping it out. What the hell was Toyota thinking? There needs to be a plug I can get out with a wrench. What choices do I have here? I think I might just cave and take it to the dealer. :shrug:
 
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Toyota was not thinking at all on that. No idea why they didn't use a normal plug like everyone else. Here is what I found that worked. I got a breaker bar from Harbor Freight for a few bucks and the proper socket with the hex head that fits the plug. I then jacked the 4Runner up as high as possible and used jack stands for safety. The height let me pull down on the breaker bar and apply leverage on that plug. It also seems to freeze no matter what. I have always tightened it with a torque wrench to the spec but it seems to then self tighten to about 100 ft pounds before I remove it the next time. Good luck
 
If you have access to air tools it will make it a whole lot easier. CLEAN out the inside of the recessed area real well with some spray and a pick, then when it is absolutely clean hold your allen socket into it and give it a couple blows with a hammer so it seats really well. Then impact or ratchet it off...make sure you get the fill plug loose first of course.

I was having trouble with mine until I just recently did a diff drop and while it was hanging I did this and had them both out in a minute or two.
 
PB Blaster, rap it with a hammer. lather, rinse, repeat. Give it a few minutes to soak. Looking to shock it and break the bond. I've had success tightening it. Breaker bar, or in this instance with an allen wrench a length of pipe for leverage. Back and forth, loosen, tighten, loosen, tighten. counter clockwise, clockwise, etc. All it needs to do is move the least little tiny bit and you're on your way.
JSwain is right on when he says to fully CLEAN the recess. Blast the hole with PB Blaster, scrape out with little screwdriver, blast again. You need the allen wrench to be fully seated.
Swing by a garage, explain, ask if they can please put it up on the lift and loosen it. Give em $20, say thank you. Drive home, proceed with task. Should not take them more than 5 minutes, literally.
 
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I know its been awhile but I thought I might go ahead and update this post for information sake.

I ended up stripping the hell out of the Allen wrench plug and had to tap it out.

For anyone who is in my shoes I highly recommend that you replace the factory plug with one from a newer Tacoma; they use a socket instead of an Allen and they screw right in.

Thats all folks!
 
Park said:
I know its been awhile but I thought I might go ahead and update this post for information sake.

I ended up stripping the hell out of the Allen wrench plug and had to tap it out.

For anyone who is in my shoes I highly recommend that you replace the factory plug with one from a newer Tacoma; they use a socket instead of an Allen and they screw right in.

Thats all folks!
Click to expand...

Do you have a part number by chance?
 
Mgyver1 said:
Do you have a part number by chance?
Click to expand...

I just went to a Toyota dealer. They will very likely have them in stock. Basically any newer model Tacoma, so '05 and up. I cant remember the exact price but it was around 10.00
 
Park said:
I just went to a Toyota dealer. They will very likely have them in stock. Basically any newer model Tacoma, so '05 and up. I cant remember the exact price but it was around 10.00
Click to expand...

Well I pulled up a 2008 Tacoma (TRN245L), got p/n 90341-24014, and it looks like this:

90341-24014-Plug-Oil-1c.jpg
 
TheDurk said:
Well I pulled up a 2008 Tacoma (TRN245L), got p/n 90341-24014, and it looks like this
Click to expand...

Well you may want to consult with your Toyota parts dealer on that. Toyotas early drainplug design used an allen wrench. Later they redesigned it to work with sockets

Here is a comparison shot of the two different drainplugs. I hope this helps

<a href="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/Park2103/media/drain%20plugs_zpsoxy6ain0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r531/Park2103/drain%20plugs_zpsoxy6ain0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo drain plugs_zpsoxy6ain0.jpg"/></a>
 
Get an allen head socket and put a ratchet on it and then get a piece of pipe and put it on the ratchet. Easy as pie.
 
This is one thing I learned when I was working with R/C cars. All Allen bits are not created equally, basically you get what you pay for. I cheaped out and got a set of "chinese" allen drivers which did nothing but round off and cause the allen screws to do the same. After cursing and blaming the screws I purchased a really good set of MIP drivers and all my stripping issues resolved themselves..

Moral of the story, being cheap with leave you with chinese strippers...
 
That plug with the hex cap on it looks like the fill plug for the rear diff. Maybe it will work for the front as well.

Torque the new one to spec and one won't have any trouble down the road. Use a new crush washer as well.
 
does anything need to be removed to access these plugs? I can't find any pictures on the forum of where they're located
 
I like the idea of the magnetic plugs for both drain and fill. And I bought a made in USA 10mm Allen socket so I now have a quality hex bit. Humm..
 
I've probably posted this a dozen times, and the genius who posted it for me saved me having to drill it out. Too late for you but, for the next person.

Before you even try to use the allen head which will likely strip the head. Use a cold chisel and make it bite into the edge of the plug and pound it counter clockwise to loosen it. All it takes is a couple taps and it will spin loose.
 
I'm pretty close to giving up on getting the plug off and likely going to just pump out what I can for the time being. Is it ok to fill to almost seeping out like the rear diff or does it need to be precise amount of 36 oz?
 
Algiers said:
I'm pretty close to giving up on getting the plug off and likely going to just pump out what I can for the time being. Is it ok to fill to almost seeping out like the rear diff or does it need to be precise amount of 36 oz?
Click to expand...

I gave up on mine and just pumped out and in the fluids.

Just measure how much you've pumped out and put that much in.
 
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