recommendations for removal of 200 front diff drain plug

[jafo9]

hi all. i was changing the diff fluid the the wifes '11 LX570 and i couldn't get the drain plug to loosen from the front diff. i tried every trick i could, breaker bars, extensions, etc. its not easy to get leverage on and i eventually started to round the hex plug. any advice on a shop i can take it to get the plug out? i'm in b'ham. or my other option would be to try and suck out the old oil through the fill plug and just leave it alone. thanks.

 

[ton504]

I usually place my small brass hammer on the face of the plug and hit the back side of the brass hammer with another hammer. The plug comes right off after one hit.

 

[mct75]

It's not proper, but I've used a bottle jack to shove a ratchet into a shallow hex head before. Logic being that slipping off the head causes all the trouble, not the twisting action. Just a suggestion.

 

[BamaHeel]

Have you tried placing a socket on it and just striking the back side of the socket? Not crazy hard but sometimes tapping it will cause it to come loose.

 

[Mrtwooooo]

I'd make sure you're using a 6 point socket also.. then replace the hex nut with the one on the right in the picture. since its starting to round off.

 

[jafo9]

It's not proper, but I've used a bottle jack to shove a ratchet into a shallow hex head before. Logic being that slipping off the head causes all the trouble, not the twisting action. Just a suggestion.

Are you saying use the jack to force the hex end of the socket deeper into the female hex part of the plug? That's something I didn't think of. I tried to hammer it in, but there just isn't much room to swing a hammer. If I ever get that joker off, I'll definitely switch to a more traditional plug.