Front Differential Fill Plug Removal?

[Geotrash]

The local quick lube shop near me stocks replacement plugs because apparently they have to booger a lot of them to get them out.

 

[donjetman]

heat then an impact.

 

[EddieC]

Wouldn't you know it that when it was in our sometimes mechanic's shop for something else I asked him to take a stab at the plug.
He said he put the socket on it and it came right out, no sweat. No damage so he put the old one back in and now I have a new spare.
I must have loosened it for him, right?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Wouldn't you know it that when it was in our sometimes mechanic's shop for something else I asked him to take a stab at the plug.
He said he put the socket on it and it came right out, no sweat. No damage so he put the old one back in and now I have a new spare.
I must have loosened it for him, right?

Of course you did.

 

[rdezs]

If it's an all-wheel drive, you warmed up the differential case on the drive over there. That can make a huge difference.

 

[EddieC]

If it's an all-wheel drive, you warmed up the differential case on the drive over there. That can make a huge difference.

It was dropped off the night before and worked on the following afternoon.

 

[EddieC]

I took it out today to change the gear oil and it was pretty tough again.
The threads were clean so I am thinking where the resistance comes in is where the plug (flange) overlaps and makes contact with the case.
If the plug is cranked down tight there must be quite a bit of friction where the plug flange contacts the case.

By contrast, the drain plug popped right out and it is separated from the case by what looks to be a plastic washer so that type of metal to metal contact doesn't occur there.

I'm glad I changed it. Although there was very little debris on the drain magnet but the oil was gray color.