Front diff fluid

I need to change my front diff fluid and I see a sticker on the front that says something like 75W-90 GL5 ADD, but does anyone know how much fluid the front differential takes?

Oh and does the front differential use the same crush gaskets as the rear differential?

The rear differential took about 2.6 quarts of gear oil so I imagine the front is similar.

 

Pretty sure I only used about 1.5 quarts give or take.

Make sure you remove your FILL first before you remove your DRAIN.

Some people remove their drain first, only to butcher it leaving them unable to remove their fill plug which would leave someone with an empty front diff.

While you're at it, replace both your plugs with Lexus equivalents giving you a metric head versus the allen key type.

Part numbers for those replacement plugs are 90341-18060 and 90341-24014.

Part numbers for the crush washer and gasket are 12157-10010 and 90430-24003.

 

Helps saving pictures, could always refer to this stuff at a later point.

Fluids, maintenance, and whatnot is stuff I always recommend people take care of upon immediate ownership of any used vehicle.

 

I save every receipt for anything put on or in the car (apart from gas), along with a written description of any job I do myself and any observations (like metal particles in oil drained ect.)

 

Remember the torque spec is only 20 fp.

 

I don't have numbers off hand but the drain is nearly double that of the fill isn't it?

Couldn't recall if it was inch/lb either.

I'm on mobile atm...

 

I couldn’t get my drain bolt loose. So had to suction from the top bolt. Got “most” of it looked good

 

Haynes

 

20ft/lb and 36ft/lb

Knew they differed. I have a cheat sheet I keep in the glove box but was at work.

 

The trick is using a pick to scrape any and all dirt inside the head. Gunk accumulates and it can prevent from your tool being fully inserted.

The fact that it's shallow doesn't help, so once you've got it cleaned and your tool in the plug, whack the end of the tool with a small hammer several times to break loose the bolt.

Then have your way at it.

Always works.

 

Use a breaker bar and if you do not want to pop for that $$ use a piece of pipe to extend your handle. Don’t forget to purchase the gasket kit they are cheap.

 

Well mines never been off-road really it’s clean clean. BuT I did notice the drain plug (after I stripped/filled it)not only had a Allen 11mm I think but it had a Torx bit at the bottom, almost like a special torx/Allen combo socket is needed.

 

Better pic. maybe if I scrape around it and use a torx I can get it?

 

Do not use a breaker bar as mentioned earlier as you really want a hand behind that socket pushing against it, ensuring it stays seated.

Do not use a torx; I don't have it with me but it uses a specific-sized allen...10mm or 12mm?

Do as I suggested above and get yourself a Lexus equivalent plug, then proceed to whack said tool directly behind the plug to loosen it.

 

Even if you've never been off road, the underside of your vehicle will be dirty and you will have a ton of dirt in that plug. It's inevitable.

 

Bizzare. I think from looking at pics that what you stripped off was nothing important just a mod to the plug that many seem to have done. The weird thing is that the OEM plugs are Allen not torx. After cleaning out the torx hole insert the bit and hit a couple of times with hammer to loosen. It should come out.

 

Hand on socket is good. Breaker bars turn with one hand too.

 

Yeah, agree.

I hear breaker bar and I picture a long ass bar cranked with 2 hands

 

Kwikvette,
Look at what he had there and what he stripped off. It indeed seems to be a torx underneath, not the original plug.

 

That’s the original 1996 SR5 Limited drain plug.

 

I changed it 15 years ago. Must of reused crush washer and over torqued it.

 

What is that piece you stripped off?

 

It looks mangled

 

I forgot to buy a 11mm Allen so we cut off a full Allen wrench with a grinder and fit it into a socket. I did not see the torx until after I was done and looked at the pic later. It was dark and in a hurry
The diff has never even been wiped off yet. I know it’s a little dirty.

 

That's just it, the factory did not use a torx nor did they use an odd number.

Some year Tacomas were 12mm (95.5-00), whereas others were 10mm (01-04). I may have gotten those backwards...

Our 4Runners use the same exact diff so with the exception of the year difference, yours would only be a 10mm or 12mm, not 11mm.

 

Yes, 10mm then we just found one that fit and made a socket. This is a rare Japanese import. I’m sure some things on it are a little different.

 

Well, they're all built in Japan so I don't understand you...

Are you saying you have a Hilux Surf and not a 4Runner? Do you have a 5VZ, 3RZ, or 1KZ?

Cause otherwise, you'd have a different drive-train from Bonitobob and I, otherwise they're identical to yours.

 

I’m just gonna swap out to the bolt you posted. Thanks.

I was just thinking to myself. Why did we cut the Allen wrench to make a socket for the drain plug. It was a hardened straight bar chisel or something, exact fit.