DIY: Change the Rear Differential Fluid in 07 Tundra w/pics

[jjsells]

Originally Posted by bilztrd

I'll change mine around 10k. If I can find it, I'll use Dino, unless I find out the factory used syn.

I have never lost a rear end on Dino.
Got a 65 ply with 300k plus on the original rear end. It only had dino.

The factory used syn.

[zpaul]

OK, got my 4 quarts at the door from amazon, which turn out to be cheaper then at local Salvo parts store.
This Saturday was a very nice weather here, around 65, so I put the driver side on the curb instead of jack and bricks, just to be on a safe side. With a 24 socket got under the truck. When I opened the drain, the oil smelled pretty bad, almost, and it's only after 21k. It was black as I expected, plus there was a lot of stuff on the magnetic drain bolt. So after the clean up, put the Mobil in, couple loops and added some more. Very happy. $48 (oil + oil pan in my case), can beat that. And only 15 minutes to do, spent more time searching for the socket
Thank you for the post

[CLToy]

would love to see some pics of the front change. will be forking over cash for amsoil

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by CLToy

would love to see some pics of the front change. will be forking over cash for amsoil

Good choice. Will it be the severe gear 75w90?

This is what went in my truck at 15k miles, and it's the best you can get IMO.

The front is kind of hard to get to, but if you have a helper it isn't too awfully bad to do.

[CLToy]

Originally Posted by Only Toyota for me

Good choice. Will it be the severe gear 75w90?

This is what went in my truck at 15k miles, and it's the best you can get IMO.

The front is kind of hard to get to, but if you have a helper it isn't too awfully bad to do.

yes. severe gear 75w90, just need to find a supplier.

i posted this in another area but was hoping for your input

have 32+k on mine and would like to see pics of the front change...a bit nervous about it since this will be my first, but i will be getting amsoil and doing front and rear.

being wet axles, why jack up one side...and then lower the truck to fill...and be sure to completely fill both sides on level ground...why jack up only one side at all? maybe jack up one side then other during drain and then level to fill?

thanks guys. any pics or words of wisdom from others?

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by CLToy

yes. severe gear 75w90, just need to find a supplier.

i posted this in another area but was hoping for your input

have 32+k on mine and would like to see pics of the front change...a bit nervous about it since this will be my first, but i will be getting amsoil and doing front and rear.

being wet axles, why jack up one side...and then lower the truck to fill...and be sure to completely fill both sides on level ground...why jack up only one side at all? maybe jack up one side then other during drain and then level to fill?

thanks guys. any pics or words of wisdom from others?

If you know how to do the rear, the front is the same but a little more hard to get to. You don't have to remove the skid plate or anything. The front is offset of center, on the drivers side. I got a funnel with a 1/2" clear tube attached from walmart, then i had my boy hold it in the diff while i poored it in.

I never jacked up the truck at all. But they say you can get a little more fluid out if you do.

Sorry, no pics.

[CLToy]

Originally Posted by Only Toyota for me

If you know how to do the rear, the front is the same but a little more hard to get to. You don't have to remove the skid plate or anything. The front is offset of center, on the drivers side. I got a funnel with a 1/2" clear tube attached from walmart, then i had my boy hold it in the diff while i poored it in.

I never jacked up the truck at all. But they say you can get a little more fluid out if you do.

Sorry, no pics.

Thanks for the advice. I just want to make sure that I get enough fluid back in the diffs.

[rsalkeld]

Anyone know what tool and size is required to pull the front diff plugs? Do I need a hex. I though my 3/8" ratchet would do the trick but it does not fit.

[CLToy]

Originally Posted by rsalkeld

Anyone know what tool and size is required to pull the front diff plugs? Do I need a hex. I though my 3/8" ratchet would do the trick but it does not fit.

Front differential: 10 mm allen wrench for drain and fill plugs
Transfer case: 12 mm socket to remove four cover bolts, then 24 mm fill and drain bolts
Rear differential: 24 mm socket for fill and drain plugs

Best of Luck !

[zpaul]

Originally Posted by rsalkeld

Anyone know what tool and size is required to pull the front diff plugs? Do I need a hex. I though my 3/8" ratchet would do the trick but it does not fit.

You have to get some metric stuff

[Mr. Creosote]

I just did all three today. Very easy, except possibly refilling the front axle. That filler hole is somewhat shrouded by all the mechanical stuff and it was a little awkward to use a squeeze bottle and hose to refill it. Next time I will use a drill powered pump and it will be a piece of cake.

The rear axle oil was terribly black and definitely looked like it needed a change, but the transfer case oil was relatively clean.

[Zhukov]

I'm wondering how useful it is to jack up the truck on one side. From the pics, the drain plug is only slightly askew off center. Whatever tiny amount of oil you'd get to drain out from that might just end up down the axle. If so, it would seem like you could get a more complete drain by just leaving the whole thing level.

How much old oil could you possibly be leaving in there anyhow?

[Mr. Creosote]

I did that while they were all draining, but only because it was easy and the floor jack was close. I would say another half a cup came out of each reservoir.

[Zhukov]

I just re-read the OP, and I guess he drained first, then jacked up the side of the truck. I guess that's OK. Kind of hard to do it that way if you use ramps.

[Zhukov]

Just did it on my CMSB 2WD yesterday - it was super easy. Biggest socket I had was 22mm, so I had to grab one at Autozone when I picked up the gear oil. I ended up using Mobil1 75W-90 @ $9.29/qt. Just under 4 quarts fit in there.

I ended up not bothering to try to tip the driver's side up; it didn't seem like it'd be worth it, and I would think that the little amount of fluid left in there isn't going to be a problem. Makes me wonder though: Why not put the drain plug dead center on the bottom of the differential?