Hey guys,

So I changed my tranny fluid last night without any hiccups.

I then tried to change the rear diff fluid but I couldn't get the fill plug or drain plug opened to save my life. I tried everything but it seems as though the plugs are way to tight to remove with basic tools and the car up on jack stands.

I was wondering if anyone in the SF area or neighboring cities could possibly help me with this? Anyone with an impact gun or something? Would rather get help from someone on here than bring it to a shop and shell out $$$ for labor. PM me your number if you can help and we can work from there?

Much appreciated,
Austin

 

Spray around the plugs with some pb blaster, wait a couple hours. Youll feel like the inredible hulk. Are you using a breaker bar?
If that doesnt work. Let it sit overnight.

I know that with my rear end up in the air the diff is pretty high up. Enough for an 18" breaker bar to do its job.

 

I had the same issue on my 05 STI. Sprayed with WD-40 and waited about 30 min. and it broke loose. FYI- Use a 1/2 Drive breaker bar. the 1/2 Drive fits perfect in the plug.

 

+1 PB and leverage are your best friends. As SW stated, PB blast first, lift car as high as you can, set on jacks securely, shake car to make sure it wont fall, then get the longest breaker bar you can in there and she'll break free. sometimes you just need that swinging room for the breaker bar, and the longer the better/easier. GL!

 

I had this issue with a strut bolt. Worked all day to free it up. Even went and borrowed an impact gun, then it broke the impact socket (cheap) and stripped the bolt a little.
Before we decided to grind it off....we sprayed it with pb blaster, had a beer, and went back in with a breaker bar and it popped free!
Only one of 8 bolts was siezed!

 

+1. trust me, seized bolts are nothing compared to shaved bolts. My subframe had a couple bolts that were literally flattened from being so low. #datlowlyfe! spent couple hours shaving the bolts back to hex shape just so i can get a 17mm on there and take bolts out. lol

 

Remember to break the fill bolt first if you get the drain off and can't get the fill then you're kinda screwed

 

I damn near used a quarter of a can of PB blaster on that thing and waited over an hour before tackling it again with my breaker bar with still no luck

Got the rear end of the car as high as the jack could bring it. There was even enough room for a buddy of mine and myself to both give the breaker bar (using a 12 inch bar) a pull and it still didn't budge. I wanted to stick a longer pipe over the bar but then there wouldn't be enough room to swing it around...

Yeah I made sure of this...but it got to the point where the fill plug was being so stubborn I tried the drain plug just to see if it was me doing something wrong, or if the plugs were seized (desperation kicked in).


I really don't want to bring it to a shop. I called into a few earlier today and labor for each one was ridiculous for such an easy job .

 

Longer breaker bar....trust me it matters, use less pb blaster and more waiting. Realistically you only need a little squirt since its a penetrating oil.
You could also use a jack under the breaker bar to apply more force.

Last ditch effort, mapp gas & a good torch head from home depot.

Sometimes they put locktite on that shiz and the heat helps break it loose.


Also last time i checked the dealership in santa cruz wants $50 to change the diff oil. Not insane but very simple job.

 

Get some leverage. use the end of the jack pole handle), and then put your wrench in it and try to break it open.

 

Invest in some spinach and perhaps a 10' breaker bar. Eat spinach, snap the bolt loose in no time. If not, get a shop to do it for you.

 

bottle jack [carefully] under the breaker (as long as you can fit) and slowly jack it up, use the weight of the car to pop it... You don't wanna round out that plug!

 

I would try this first.

 

I'm surprised it took this many posts for someone to post this. I did this when I did my change, makes it super easy.

 

I've done it the other way 'round, where you rest the breaker bar with the jack handle on it on a piece of wood and then lower the car down so that it's weight is on the breaker bar/jack handle until it pops off.

If even that fails you're stuck using the "propane torch and hope" method. You could also use some ice cubes or blast a little canned air upside down so it shoots ice cold liquid into the plug hole to shrink the plug after heating the cover around it.