Front diff fill point location help

[CoreyTroy Member Find all posts View Profile Close CoreyTroy]

I am going to change out the diff oil in my 99 Grande.
The rear is pretty straight forward as can be seen in picture 1, it has a drain plug at the bottom, and a fill hole 1/2 way up.

However, after removing the bash plates under the front end, i see a bottom drain plug (allen key head), but cannot see any fill plug 1/2 way up. See picture 2
Anyone know where to locate the fill hole on the front diff?
Don't want to drain the oil, if i can't find where to re-fill it from.

[CoreyTroy Member Find all posts View Profile Close CoreyTroy]

Ok, had a better look, and found it from the manual photo. Was up on the side.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

Just take it easy with the Allen key bolt. It's soft metal and a high tensile socket can mess it up pretty easily if the bolt is done up too tight. Then the job of getting the bolt out becomes painful. I'd recommend lightly greasing the thread of the bolt when you put it back in and don't do it up too tight. You'll be glad the next time you go to undo it.

[CoreyTroy Member Find all posts View Profile Close CoreyTroy]

Just take it easy with the Allen key bolt. It's soft metal and a high tensile socket can mess it up pretty easily if the bolt is done up too tight. Then the job of getting the bolt out becomes painful. I'd recommend lightly greasing the thread of the bolt when you put it back in and don't do it up too tight. You'll be glad the next time you go to undo it.

Many a true word spoken Brett.
I could not get the drain bolt out, the allen with a 4£ hammer or 15" shifter hanging off it, i could not budge it.
The fill plug let out a little clean oil, so assuming oil was a little overfull as it drained out a touch and was clean, so will be good.
May try undoing drain plug when hot to see if i can get it loosened.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

If you still can't get it off, just don't try too hard yourself or you'll bugger it up. Order a new bolt from Toyota and book the car into a mechanic first thing on a Saturday morning. Pay them to loosen it for you with their tried and true methods. They may prefer to actually change the diff oil for you to make it worth their while.
Urge them to grease the thread and only thread the new plug in lightly. Then tighten it yourself to how you want it tightened in the car park when you go to pick your car up. If they tighten it up for you to how they'd like to do it you'll never get it undone yourself again without welding a nut to it. Been there before.

[CoreyTroy Member Find all posts View Profile Close CoreyTroy]

Think i will invest in this adapter i found on ebay.
Has a 10mm hex one side and a 24mm hex the other side to get the plug out.
Then a 24mm hex head replacement magnetic plug. Not cheap at $58 for both, but saves lots of headaches later on i suppose.

[oceanracer Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanracer]

Can you post the link to look at them Thanks

[CoreyTroy Member Find all posts View Profile Close CoreyTroy]

Can you post the link to look at them Thanks

Removal tool and new plug http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Front-Dif...MAAOSwzgRWzOk2
>>> Waiting for confirmation the plug will suit 90 series though.
If the plugs don't suit a 90 series there is these replacement ones. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/141713755...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Removal tool only http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TOYOTA-HI...gAAOSwGotWqK~C

Don't understand Toyota's reasoning in the Allen key bolts in the front diff. The rear diff oil can be changed in 10 mins, cause the bolts are 15/16" hex head bolts, and undo easily.

[CoreyTroy Member Find all posts View Profile Close CoreyTroy]

Bought the removal tool, so will give that a go today.

Didn't get any reply about the compatability of the replacement bolts from the seller with the tool, so bought replacement bolts from the other seller.
Will post results when done later today.

[CoreyTroy Member Find all posts View Profile Close CoreyTroy]

Front diff fill point location help

Well, good and bad.
I must have rounded the allen key drain nut too much.
I hammered in the removal tool, but it just stripped the nut more.... Darn it...

So i grabbed a sharp chisel and tried to cut in a slot in order to get the nut to loosen. After several attempts, the nut freed up.
Have a look at the result
So all good now,,, so i thought.
When i went to put the new hex head nuts in, i discovered they were the wrong size.
Looking through the listing, i discovered i bought nuts to suit a KZJ95 Prado (9/99 onwards), where mine is a 1/99 (VZJ95)... Oops
So bought the correct nuts, and i suppose the front diff oil will be well and truely drained after a few days until the new nuts arrive.......

[RobboMC Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RobboMC]

I have a marvellous little 3/8" breaker bar, NOT a ratchet, that I use on these plugs, with a 3/8" square drive hex tool.

I can really produce some force to get the plugs out when they jam in. My first time was the most difficult,
once out they get anti-seize and only tightened up to the specified torque.

BUT the device earlier is so so true, NEVER remove a drain plug on anything until you have the filler plug out first.

[RobboMC Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RobboMC]

BUT the ADvice earlier is so so true, NEVER remove a drain plug on anything until you have the filler plug out first.

I don't seem to be able to edit my spelling mistake. LOL