Front differential drain plug

[bloc]

Tapping the outer perimeter of the factory bolt with a small hammer, which lightly compresses the copper gasket, does a great job of unsticking it.

 

[grinchy]

I had to weld on a nut, twice.

First one was for me to change the fluid (probably first change at 210k miles or so). 2nd was after I had gears added and the shop overtightened. The 2nd was the lexus plug (hex head) that they overtightened.

Now I just run the weld nut plug, it's ugly, but it'll always come off.

 

[LX4x4]

I'm glad I got the drain plug off my 2020 LX. It was not stuck at all, it was actually under torqued and loosened with almost no effort under a breaker bar.

 

[v8tuff]

FYI I am getting ready to do my Diffs and came across this info, thought I'd write it here if it helps anyone wanting to replace their plugs with new OEM stuff or order up some gaskets.

• OEM magnetic RR drain plug (1x): 90341-18035
• OEM magnetic FR drain plug (1x): 90341-24014, -24016 for the LX version discussed above
• OEM magnetic fill plugs (2x): 90341-18021
• OEM diff plug gaskets (3x): 12157-10010
• OEM diff plug gasket (1x): 90430-24017
• OEM transfer case plug gasket (1x): 90430-18008

 

[bloc]

Hi, I'm trying to order some parts before I get into the job and I'm not with my rig right now. Are the drain plugs for front and back the same part number? How about the fill plugs? Thanks

Part numbers I have so far:

90341-24016 (front drain), 90430-24017 (copper washer)
90341-24014 (I THINK is the part number for the undesired drain plug)
12157-10010 seems to be another drain plug gasket? but it's not copper colored. Not too sure about using these ones.

Rear diff fill, drain, and front fill, are all the same gasket. Rolled steel, usually a silver color. Front diff drain is the larger copper one.

Correct. -24014 is the front drain plug that gives so many of us trouble. You probably won't need to replace the front diff fill or either rear diff plug.

If your front diff drain is stuck, hammer solidly around the edge of it. This will compress the copper gasket and free it up. I've successfully done this a few times.

Note that if you do your transfer case around the same time it is a different gasket.. same size as rear diff and those would probably work in a pinch, but these are made of aluminum vs the rolled steel. That part number is 90430-18008

 

[v8tuff]

Rear diff fill, drain, and front fill, are all the same gasket. Rolled steel, usually a silver color. Front diff drain is the larger copper one.

Correct. -24014 is the front drain plug that gives so many of us trouble. You probably won't need to replace the front diff fill or either rear diff plug.

If your front diff drain is stuck, hammer solidly around the edge of it. This will compress the copper gasket and free it up. I've successfully done this a few times.

Note that if you do your transfer case around the same time it is a different gasket.. same size as rear diff and those would probably work in a pinch, but these are made of aluminum vs the rolled steel. That part number is 90430-18008

Thanks for the fast reply, I updated my post after finding a list of parts on crusierpatch.com. Adding your part number for the xfer case too!

 

[Hullabaloo]

Need help here. Drain plug was stuck & mechanic had to cut the bolt out. That slightly damaged the outside of where the plug seats
Put a new plug & crush washer in..still a slight drip
Going to try another crush washer, but also thinking some gasket sealant might help in this. Is that a viable option or should I not do that?

 

[KLF]

Need help here. Drain plug was stuck & mechanic had to cut the bolt out. That slightly damaged the outside of where the plug seats
Put a new plug & crush washer in..still a slight drip
Going to try another crush washer, but also thinking some gasket sealant might help in this. Is that a viable option or should I not do that?

This sounds like a problem for the mechanic that f'd it up to solve.

A schmear of RTV under the crush washer will probably get it to stop leaking, but it will make it tougher to remove later.

 

[Hullabaloo]

The front differential drain plug can be problematic to remove. The issue lies in the large 24mm thread size and smallish 10mm female hex required to remove it. The short of it is that it can round out, and frequently does. For those looking to get rid of the problem, Lexus installs a plug on some front diffs that has a male 14mm nut on it, so a regular 6 point socket or wrench can be utilized to remove it. The part number is 90341-24016. I'll be keeping a few of these on the shelf, or you can buy right through Lexus, Toyota does not supply through their dealers.

When I look on the Lexus parts website, it says that part number does not fit the gx460…

 

[Hullabaloo]

This sounds like a problem for the mechanic that f'd it up to solve.

A schmear of RTV under the crush washer will probably get it to stop leaking, but it will make it tougher to remove later.

Understood. He’s a friend of mine and knows his doing is what did it…I’m just double checking here what you guys think of his proposed solution
I’m at 62k, so shouldn’t need to drain/fill for quite some time after this.

 

[turbo8]

You can try to hit the drain plug with a hammer and then tighten it some more. This forms the crush washer into the deformations of the aluminum housing.

Any pictures?

 

[Hullabaloo]

You can try to hit the drain plug with a hammer and then tighten it some more. This forms the crush washer into the deformations of the aluminum housing.

Any pictures?

 

[gaijin]

View attachment 4209367

I could be wrong (or just crazy), but are you sure you have the correct gasket on there?

I thought the front differential drain gasket was a crush washer, like this:

Where the flat side goes toward the differential housing and the curved side goes toward the drain plug.

Sorry for any confusion.

HTH

 

[bloc]

I could be wrong (or just crazy), but are you sure you have the correct gasket on there?

I thought the front differential drain gasket was a crush washer, like this:

View attachment 4209470

Where the flat side goes toward the differential housing and the curved side goes toward the drain plug.

HTH

Front diff drain is the odd one out, being a large diameter copper crush washer.

The ones in your pic are correct for front diff fill, and both plugs on the rear diff.

 

[gaijin]

Front diff drain is the odd one out, being a large diameter copper crush washer.

The ones in your pic are correct for front diff fill, and both plugs on the rear diff.

Thanks. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[vwynn]

Was able to remove my front diff drain plug the other day after having my wrench slip.... This was after hammering the drain bolt.

The 2nd time around i decided to Hammer more + Heat with torch + Hammer + heat + spray with PB or something. Bolt came off later with a bit of elbow grease.