Hi, just wondering if any of you know what size socket is required to remove the drain plug from the rear diff. The dealer wont tell me.

Thanks,

RoughRoad

Use a 1/2" breaker bar, no socket. Put the square end right into the hole of the plug.

I use a half inch drive extension w/ no socket.

RX

Thanks guys. I'll give that a go.

RoughRoad

OK, that's pretty pathetic if the dealer is so hard up for your money to replace the diff fluid that they won't tell you that you just need a 1/2" square drive!

:rolleyes:

So does anyone know the actual size and where you can get it? I'm trying with my 1/2 and i'm just messing up the bolt.

I can't confirm this, but according to this thread it is 13mm. 1/2" = 12.7mm

You may have come across the same problem I did - the last place that did my diff fluids used airtools to put the diff plugs back in and overtorqued the plugs. I stripped the rear fill plug trying to break it loose and (a few eeks later) Saltus helped me by welding an extension to the plug and then we used his airtools to get the plugs out. I needed the 200+ PSI line to get the front drain plug out.

The only plug I could get loose with a breaker bar was the front fill plug.

And if it's not already too late, make sure you can get the fill plug loose BEFORE you remove the drain plug.

So did you get them out using a 1/2" or did you find a 13mm square socket? I'm not going any further till i can find something that fits better. i would just give up and take it to a dealer but i am incredibly stubborn and don't like sending out work i can do myself.

I got them out with a 1/2" drive 6" long extension and 1/2" drive breaker bar (and air tools)

Mine was actually deformed by rocks before the diff skid. I tried every 1/2in I had as in breaker bars and ratchets. Nothing helped. Finally I bought two new drain plugs and removed the bad one with vise-grips.

Well 3 of the best local shops for tools and a snap on truck and i still can't find this bastard. i've found one online but its in europe. My gosh this can't be that hard. It really pisses me off that nissan would put such a bolt on that is impossible to find the socket for.

So just use the damn 1/2".

1/2 no worky for me. SO i just gave up and ordered the right tool.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=SKFD105131&btnG=Google+Search

interestingly enough i got it on the dodgetopia site.

At least its a good excuse to buy more tools....I always look for a good excuse to sell to my wife.....!!!!

Tim

Does the 06 take the same tool? For $8, maybe not a bad thing to have around.

Don't know, you'd have to hop under it and look. But since your so close you can come by and borrow if you want. Its ends up about $22 after shipping and low order fees:rolleyes. But just showed up so i'm about to go do it now.

Funny, it looks just like a normal drive end...?

Well, let us know how it works out, maybe shoot some How To pics.

Worked great, was thinking of how to halfway through but i was dirty and didn't have my camera. Pretty self explanitory though.

get oil (lsd additive if needed)

Front:
drop front skidplate
use 6" extension and 1/2 wrench (or 13.1mm pipe socket if the 1/2 doesn't work)
unscrew front drain bolt
unscrew bottom bolt
drain
replace bottom bolt
fill till oil is level with front bolt
replace front bolt.
reload front skid plate

Rear:

drop spare (just to have more room to work with)
undo fill bolt
undo drain bolt
drain
replace drain bolt
fill with oil to fill bolt (add lsd adative if you need it before oil)
replace fill bolt
reload spare

done

1/2" and some thin shims worked fine for me.

I have to do mine...a rock or two have made violent attempts at love with the plug in the rear, and there is no hole for a plug tool...just a smeared plug like crater in the diff.

I drilled a hole through it to drain the oil after taking out the pristine fill plug.



That was last weekend....soon, I'll torch the bugger out and replace it with the new plug I got a week ago.

What is the torque spec on the drain/fill bolts? Thanks

front 43-72 ft/lbs
rear 43-87 ft/lbs

for both filler and drain

Thanks!