Flushing Diffs/TC/PS/Brakes Questions

[mhall10407]

I was talking to the dealer today to set up my 90k service and he mentioned that I should consider flushing the following:

1. Flush/Replace Power Steering Fluid- Cost $99.95
2. Flush/Replace Brake Fluid - Cost $ 124
3. Flush/Replace Front/rear diff and Transfer Case Fluid - Cost $269.95

I had not thought about doing anything to the PS or Brake fluid but was going to replace the front/rear diff and transfer case fluid?

What are people's thoughts on flushing these systems as opposed to just replacing the fluid? Should I even worry about the PS and brake fluid? Just wanted to get some other opinions since I was just wanting to replace diffs and TC fluids and move on but wondered if this service guy had a valid point or not.

Thanks,

Mike
Rock Hill, SC

 

[spressomon]

If you are mildly handy and have jack/jackstands/ramps and a differential fluid filler (looks like a grease gun with plastic hose on the end) you can easily do the diffs and t-case yourself for less. Brake fluid is another easy one with Speed Bleeders. IMO I like to do the brake fluid once a year and the diff/t-case every 30K...possibly less often if you are not spending lots of time off-road and/or in water up to the diffs etc.

I don't know about the PS pump fluid refresh...I thought I remember reading this has potential of being problematic if refreshing at higher mileage?

 

[Jim_Chow]

[snip]

I don't know about the PS pump fluid refresh...I thought I remember reading this has potential of being problematic if refreshing at higher mileage?

I did a pseudo flush on my 4runner's PS fluid after 16 yrs...still no leaks 60K mi and 4 yrs later. IIRC, I used Valvoline ATF w/ Dextron III/mercon. I was lazy and used the turkey baster method to siphon as much of the old fluid out of the resevoir, pour new fluid in, start engine & turn steering lock to lock a few times, turn off engine, repeat. The old fluid (original) was practically black w/ a slight maroon tinge. Not a 100% flush, but only $2/qt for the ATF vs how much for the stealership to do it? You could get more ambitious and remove the soft hose at the bottom of the resevoir and drain it, then refill n times.

 

[rph74]

Definitely do the TC and both diff's yourself. Very easy on these cars, since they're so high off the ground. I used a gear oil pump to fill all three of these very easily. Just make sure you remove the filler bolt before the drain bolt, or you may be sorry!

I've never changed brake fluid or PS fluid before, so I can't comment on it.

 

[98LXand99LC]

Definitely do the TC and both diff's yourself. Very easy on these cars, since they're so high off the ground. I used a gear oil pump to fill all three of these very easily. Just make sure you remove the filler bolt before the drain bolt, or you may be sorry!

I've never changed brake fluid or PS fluid before, so I can't comment on it.

I just paid Toyota about $150 to the T Case and both Diffs on my wifes LX. I'm going to do it myself on the LC. Can you tell me where I can get an appropriate pump/extractor? I looked briefly online and there seems to be a lot of different ones available.

 

[rph74]

I just paid Toyota about $150 to the T Case and both Diffs on my wifes LX. I'm going to do it myself on the LC. Can you tell me where I can get an appropriate pump/extractor? I looked briefly online and there seems to be a lot of different ones available.

I got mine at my local O'Reilly's auto parts store. I actually had to buy a bottle of gear oil that was not for my truck. The parts guy had a pump for that particular bottle in the back that he sold me. I dumped out the gear oil and filled the container with the proper gear oil for the LC.

Basically the thing is just a bottle with a screw in pump that operates just like a bike tire pump. The job would have been a lot more difficult (if not impossible) without the pump.

 

[hoser]

Typical gear oil pump looks like this:

http://automotive.hardwarestore.com/11-20-pumps/sta-lube-gear-fluid-oil-pump--648771.aspx

 

[NMuzj100]

From hoser's link

avoid those that look like a grease gun w/ a tube. Very messy.

Diffs and TC are very easy to change fluid in. Unlike the transmission and power steering you are getting almost all the fluid out when you drain so I don't think a flush is necessary.