I went to change the diff fluids last wknd. The rear went fine but the front drain plug wouldn't budge. Heated that thing up and it still wouldn't move for me. The hex plug started to get boogered so I stopped. Found some solutions online and bought an extractor set and the lexus drain plug. The 7/16 extractor did the trick. It bit so hard that i now need to find a way to free it from the plug. LOL. Anyways the new plug will make this a lot easier next time.
Stuck front diff drain plug - victory
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T4R_Canuck
Member
I had the same issue with mine, its somewhat common I guess.
I ended up spraying mine with penetrating fluid over the course of a couple days then shocking it with a hammer until it started to budge. I put a touch of never seize on it before reinstalling. Managed to save the OEM plug.
Nicely done!
I ended up spraying mine with penetrating fluid over the course of a couple days then shocking it with a hammer until it started to budge. I put a touch of never seize on it before reinstalling. Managed to save the OEM plug.
Nicely done!
Louisiana Overland
New member
I have the lexus plug already, but recently discovered that there is a special tool to remove the factory plug. It is not an allen wrench!
NWsuperwhiterunner
New member
What's the special tool ?
smeerun
New member
Do tell!
I have a socket allen set and there is zero play once it's fully seated.
I use a 10mm hex bit and it seems to be a solid fit. curious what the toyota special tool is.
Louisiana Overland
New member
It looked like it would fit a 3/8 ratchet and was a hex bit protruding from a large flat washer like surface …. Basically to ensure the hex bit is squarely loaded. Ill see if i can find it again.
Louisiana Overland
New member
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/4000177399799.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail
It adapts a hex wrench or socket to 10mm but has a wide mating surface to ensure the hex is evenly
$49 bucks for a drain plug and allen key is pretty steep. :fear:
I read a lot of horror stories on a couple different forums regarding stuck front diff drain plugs.
Did mine a few days ago and wacked the drain plug fairly hard with a brass hammer and surprisingly the plug was just finger tight.
Didn't even need the allen wrench at all.
It definitely had never leaked, the iron casting was bone dry and clean.
It had an alum crush washer on it, maybe wacking it crushed it a little more.
Did mine a few days ago and wacked the drain plug fairly hard with a brass hammer and surprisingly the plug was just finger tight.
Didn't even need the allen wrench at all.
It definitely had never leaked, the iron casting was bone dry and clean.
It had an alum crush washer on it, maybe wacking it crushed it a little more.
Dynamo
New member
When I did the job on my previous '13 FJ Cruiser I had to use my pneumatic impact wrench. I broke a hex key socket so had to buy impact rated sockets. Even with the impact wrench I had to work it for 20 seconds or so before it broke free. I could not believe how tight it was. I need to change the front diff fluid soon on my T4R, hopefully it won't be so tight.
Billy Beansss
New member
Mine was a 10 allen. Why does yours look different? Is that what you put on after you got it off? Since the extractor was stuck?
Louisiana Overland
New member
The drain plug for the lexus 460 has a hex head rather than allen type fitting and is less likely to strip when removing. Many of us have swapped to that plug rather than risking the torture of chiseling one out later.
blksubykid
Member
Thought i stripped my rear diff fill bolt today…smh
Does anyone have the part number for this?
