Rear Diff Leak Help

[RaisedByWolves]

Banged the rear diff on a rock while on the trails. Can see scrapes on the drain plug.

Can someone please shed some light on the best way to determine what needs replacing before I go to the stealership?

I am a bit over 30k so I was going to drain and replace anyways but before spending $75 on oil and gaskets I want to see if I can confirm the diff isn't damaged to the point where it'll all just leak out and throw the coin away.

Thanks

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Help a brother out

 

[philsey]

Looks to me like you've fractured the weld (or the press fit) of the plug carrier. The dealer will likely want to replace the whole shebang.

Wondering if you could drain it, clean it and repair with JBWeld, or some such.

Maybe a local trans shop would have an idea.

 

[reaper2332]

Looks to me like you've fractured the weld (or the press fit) of the plug carrier. The dealer will likely want to replace the whole shebang.



Wondering if you could drain it, clean it and repair with JBWeld, or some such.



Maybe a local trans shop would have an idea.

I would also say if you handy enough, drain it and take the cover off and inspect from the inside. That way you'll have a better idea if there's damage internally.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Crap. Thanks guys. What I feared.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Stupid question... did you try tightening the plug?

The factory washer is a hollow crush-style, so my guess is that it was hit hard enough to compress the washer a bit and allow fluid to seep out. They aren't torqued down super hard so there's a little room for the washer to compress more usually.

The same style washer is used on the fill plug of the front and rear diffs, which is why when they're stuck you can usually tap them with a hammer to compress the washer and get them to break free easier.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Stupid question... did you try tightening the plug?

The factory washer is a hollow crush-style, so my guess is that it was hit hard enough to compress the washer a bit and allow fluid to seep out. They aren't torqued down super hard so there's a little room for the washer to compress more usually.

The same style washer is used on the fill plug of the front and rear diffs, which is why when they're stuck you can usually tap them with a hammer to compress the washer and get them to break free easier.

Thanks dude. Traveling this week will give it a go

 

[Emile]

So where the leak was from? Just did a similar scrape and it's leaking. Did tightening the plug was enough or you had to replace some parts?

Thanks

 

[catrains]

So where the leak was from? Just did a similar scrape and it's leaking. Did tightening the plug was enough or you had to replace some parts?

Thanks

this is why the forums are not good when a member asks questions then never responds to how he/tech fixed it ..

my guess is they replaced the plug and the gasket.

 

[1000MPH]

I'm not the OP but I had a similar leak that I did fix after re torquing a second time with a bit more ft-lbs. I still get a slight weep but not enough to drip overnight. I've checked the fluid level twice and it has been to spec.
I'll try to post a couple pics.
Edit: pics upside down as usual. As you can see it still weeps but in the second pic you can barely see the fluid level is still at the threads of the fill hole.

 

[Emile]

I adresse the leak today by doing a rear diff oil change. I had a scrape very simillar to the one shown in the OP. When i came to unscrew the drain plug I noticed it was not very tight, I was able to remove it by hand. So I guess it came loose when it scraped and maybe a bit more with vibration over time (1 week). So I have new oil with new gasket on both plugs and torqued to spec. I hope it was only that, Ill check in the next few days if the leak don't come back.

 

[rochmpr]

I have seen the Toyota drain plug fall out from being drug across rocks while wheeling. The design has not changed in decades. Marlin started selling the Allen head magnetic drain plugs years ago due to this reason. I believe the drain plug in the front diff will work in the rear and is the allen head type.

 

[1000MPH]

For a follow-up on my leak...I've still been getting minor amounts of weeping from the drain plug but I checked the level several times and did not need to add any.
This weekend after only 20k on the fluid I decided to change it out and double-check the plug and gasket.
Looks like the gasket folded under itself (and ovalized).