was a pain in the ass to break the fill bolt loose.. it is a 17mm bolt and i have to attach two extensions and use a breaker bar to get it off... then the drain bolt just attach a half inch ratchet straight into the bolt... no need for socket... it would have taken only half hour but i let it drain for 20-30 mins and i didn't buy enough fluid, so had to go buy more... i will def do it again soon seeing as how i think this was the first diff oil change in 100k miles and the oil was black and the drain plug was full of fillings...

oh yeah i been having shaking from the axles at 55 mph... the oil change def helped it alot... suggest this to anyone who hasn't done it...

 

if it wouldn't be too much trouble, do u think u could take some pics of this DIY and/or write a description of the process. Looking to do a somewhat "major" service on the TL come mid-Febuary. Plan on replacing tranny fluid and mesh, coolant, power steering fluid, and bleeding brakes, so I wouldn't mind adding this diff fluid change to the list. Any info, pics, and part numbers/details would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

all you need is a new crush washer and 2 bottles of diff fluid.. i used valvoline sythetic blend... 80W90...

i didn't have cam with me but can write a DIY... will get to it tonight...

 

A good tip for getting the fill plug off is putting the closed end of a combination wrench on there and hitting it with a rubber mallet. Much more effective than using a ratchet. It's good to hear there's someone else that is aware of our final drive having its own fluid.

 

i tried.. it didn't budge.. maybe i wasn't hitting it consistently.. i ended up jacking up the car really high enough for the breaker bar to clear, and i put an extension on it... that sucker budge in a sec... will do the DIY tomm...

 

2 quarts?

that's not correct.. only 1 quart is needed..

i use a 4ft clear plastic tube to fill it..

 

oops, i was talking about 2.5.. not 3.2..

 

well it was not 2 full bottles.. it is actually 1.05 liters... and i only bought 1 litre... had to buy another bottle for a little more...

 

What size tubing did you need? (3/8, etc.)

 

My Jeep and Tacoma were so easy to swap diff fluid. I've been too lazy and discouraged to do it yet on my TL... Maybe next week on my day off... probably not though... maybe if you write that DIY...

 

IF I get my car back, I definately have to do this.

Any difference in smoothness/gas milage/noise/anything?