Magnetic drain plug upgrade for transfer case and rear differential

[bjowett]

Maybe folks over here will care?

Here's a simple mod/upgrade just about anyone can do..

While changing the gear lube in the transfer case yesterday, I noticed that the fill and drain plugs lack magnets (others have mentioned this too) ... no good in my book. So while I let the remaining lube drip out of the case, I went looking through my parts to see what I had remaining for magnetic drain plugs. A couple FZJ80 Land Cruiser differential drain plugs appeared. These plugs have a large protruding magnet, rather than the small little recessed magnet. It didn't look like there was enough clearance behind the drain hole for the big magnet to fit in the t-case due the drive chain being right there, but I threaded the plug just to see. A couple threads shy of seating the magnet met the chain. I pulled it back out and noticed a some small metal flakes and bits already stuck on it... so now I'm thinking this DEFINETLY needs a magnet. Hmmmm.... so I need a low profile magnet. Thinking thinking... duh! The rear differential has a low profile plug. So I swapped the big magnet plug into the diff, where the larger size sticks further into the circulating fluid... then stuck the low profile unit into the drain on the case. Done, now one can speculate that both the transfer and rear axle will last longer.

The part number for this big magnet plug is 90341-18040 and retails for a little under $7.00.

[Toxarch]

Good info. Was this on a gen1 or a gen2? Are the plugs the same size on both?

[bjowett]

This is on a Gen 2. Most of the gear oil plugs are 24mm and have the same thread size and pitch.

[Wallygator]

Good info man! I think I'll buy another rear drain plug and stick it in the transfer case.