Filler plug differential, bit size?

[trabitom99]

Hi!

Just a quick question before I go off on holiday with a diff potentially low on oil What bit size do I need for the diff filler plug?


Cheers

Tom

[SteveP]

I seem to remember I just used a ratchet or breaker bar without a socket on it... might be 1/4 inch drive?

[Chris_C]

It's not 1/4"

Steve is right though, breaker bar in there. I reckon it's 3/8" as I'm pretty certain thats what I banana'd a cheap T bar on. Fwiw, if you have one Tom I'd put a 1/2" to 3/8" on a 2ft bar. I've seen these properly siezed and it *will* bend the tin plate unless you shock it or some other genius thing.

If you can't get it undone, make sure it's drained and rather than top up fill it up with exactly the right amount through the breather. It'll take you forever but it's better than low oil.

[SteveP]

FWIW the one's I've undone before have been alright and come undone with a small breaker bar... so don't be too scared! But yeah, if all else fails do as Chris says and fill it up via the breather. The diff locked on my black car with no warning due to low oil, so imo it's very important!

[trabitom99]

OK cheers guys ... In the end I went to the local petrol station, one of these old-fashioned places where the cashier locks down the till and waves you over to the workshop next door. It was a breaker bar job but there was still enough oil there.

Funnily enough, the last time I had it checked, they used a breaker bar as well, these plugs seem to seize up all by themselves

Tom

[macplaxton]

10mm square for a snug fit, I think. But it could be 8mm square. Certainly a DAF engine sump plug is 10mm sq. and a Pug 106 is engine and gearbox is 8mm.

8mm square + 10mm square tools.

I've got a Facom D.13A



Alternative is a Beta Tools 1496/C (this is flat whereas the Facom is bent in 2 planes.)



Or for a 3/8" drive socket, Facom D105-10 or D105-8

Funnily enough, the last time I had it checked, they used a breaker bar as well, these plugs seem to seize up all by themselves

That'll be them tightening it up with a breaker bar

[volvodspec]

i've allways used a proper 3/8 ratchet, this has a squared 10mm

at the v3c's technical days you allways see people hanging on a breaker bar, using 1m extension etc. and most of the time they don't even get it loose.. when we're asked to help i just use a short ratchet and a few soft blows on it with your handpalm and it simply pops loose; works perfect.

[macplaxton]

i've allways used a proper 3/8 ratchet, this has a squared 10mm .

Well yes, a 3/8" square drive is good enough for the job.


However, having just picked up my drain plug wrench and tried to shove the 10mm square end into a 3/8" socket: It was a no-go (as suspected). I'm sure I've measured it all before, but 3/8" is 9.525mm. and the end of the tool whilst not 10mm is somewhere around 9.7 - 9.8mm. Plus it doesn't have a ball sticking out of one side of it. Plus the other end gets used when working on French crap cars (like the wife's one).