Differential Plug

[djengr]

Ok, so I decide to change the differential fluid, but I can not seem to get either the drain plug or fill plug off. Hit it with PB blaster, used a breaker bar with a 2 foot cheater. Then got the air impact wrench out, no budge. Any ideas before I just take to a dealer or a shop?

Thanks in advance.
David

[NissanTech]

If you can't remove the plug, I doubt the dealer will be able to take it out without charging you an arm and a leg. Usually they will try to drill out the old plug and installed a new one. My suggestion is to remove the diff cover, get a new gasket and drill out the plug with the cover removed from the diff. I actually did that at my shop last week on a 1990 Q45, with out any problems, but I installed a used cover from the junkyard instead of drilling out the plugs.

[Npath]

Originally Posted by NissanTech

If you can't remove the plug, I doubt the dealer will be able to take it out without charging you an arm and a leg. Usually they will try to drill out the old plug and installed a new one. My suggestion is to remove the diff cover, get a new gasket and drill out the plug with the cover removed from the diff. I actually did that at my shop last week on a 1990 Q45, with out any problems, but I installed a used cover from the junkyard instead of drilling out the plugs.

Would it be bad to use a torch on the plug after the cover has been removed from the diff? I've learned using a torch getting it super hot and dipping in water repeately would work the plug out.

But then, if there's any paint on the cover, that'll get burned off and eventually rust, unless it's repainted with quality paint.

[djengr]

Thanks, looks like I am going to take off the cover and do like you said, drill it out and put in a new plug.

David

[NissanTech]

Originally Posted by djengr

Thanks, looks like I am going to take off the cover and do like you said, drill it out and put in a new plug.

David

Great, let us know how it goes.

[Learjet]

I couldn't get the drain plug out on our 2004 pathfinder either, I tried everything including impact wrench. Finally, I just siphoned out the fluid thru the fill plug. We no longer own that pathy.