front diff drain bolt stuck

[jgue467]

I can't get it off, yet. Haven't cheated on it, kinda afraid to mess it up and then be stuck w/o a dealer part only on weekend, so I'm gonna wait. I'll order the fill & drain bolts then try again. Any suggestions? Get diff little warm, lots of warm or maybe heat up area around bolt? thanks...

 

[KidVermicious]

Pb blast, lots of heat, and a six point socket..

 

[jgue467]

Thanks for the ideas - will try soon. Forgot about PB been using liquid wrench.

The bolt is a 'star', i have a tool that fits properly for the most part. I say most part because when i look inside the bolt deep in the middle its got a few more indents where a tool could have extra teeth to grab onto, probably for a toyo tool only? This is the drain plug, the other one is a normal 6 sided bolt just like all the other diffs. Why would Toyo do this one differently? Errrr......

Fogot to ask, this star bolt wouldn't happen to be threaded in reverse (japanese)??

 

[Nervo19]

Did you make sure the "fill" bolt would come off first? A previous owner used JBWeld on my rear dif fill plug rather than a crush washer. A really big guy at my oil change place finally got it free with a torch and a BFH. They stock replacement bolts and crush washers. I think the bolt cost about $6.99. I gave the guy a $20 tip. Two other mechanics were unable to free it. This guy was built like a weight lifter. He was working from a pit rather than having the truck on a lift so he could really whack it. They did say that if it were the drain that would not come loose they could pump out old fluid and new fluid in through the fill hole.

 

[02SE]

Toyota had a running change along the line as to what they used for drain and fill plugs on the front diff. My '97 has a 10mm Hex (allen) plug and a 12mm Hex (allen) plug.

My Sister's '01 has 12mm Hex plugs for both.

I'd get a quality Hex bit in the proper size, a breaker bar, and they should loosen easily enough.

Edit... If the plug has a star looking fitting, someone could have used a plug with a Torx head on it at some point. I don't believe that Toyota ever installed Torx head drain and fill plugs, but stranger things could happen I suppose.

Take a picture of the plugs, so we know what you have.