Ok... I have a problem... fill plug on stock 10-bolt???

[garydan]

Is the fill plug on a stock 10-bolt ('85 K5 Blazer) like a freeze plug? The fill plug is pretty rusty, and I first thought it was a threaded bolt. So I put in the end of a 3/8" extension. That didn't work. Is it a seal and not a bolt?

Now I know why the rule is ensure you can remove the fill plug BEFORE draining the fluid...lol

At least its not my daily driver. I did verify that it has stock crappy 3.08's which I suspected.

 

[sweetk30]

if you are talking the plug on the side of the diff just behind the pinion. thats the fill plug. sounds super rusted out.

i have installed a few new gm 10 bolt covers uphere in the heavy rust belt. gm now is selling them with a fill plug/bolt in the diff cover.

so if you cant remove the stocker go grab a new gm cover from the dealer.

in the past i have hammered in a bolt to the rounded out 3/8 drive hole and then welded the bolt to the plug. the heat from welding will help lossen the plug also. then you have a good hex to grab on to.

 

[garydan]

What is the stock dimensions of the fill plug? Should the 3/8ths extension end do the trick if it was a non-rusted plug?

 

[sweetk30]

yep 3/8 is the square size. so any ratchet or extension. i use ratchet only made closer to spec than extension.

 

[Happyjohn]

3/8" extension should do the job. you could spray the thread area
with a penetrant or rust breaker. If it still won't turn, set the extension
in the square hole, and rap the other end of the extension with a hammer.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Stick a 3/8 impact gun on it. I'm sorry I'm no help but I had to being a smart butt.

 

[garydan]

yep 3/8 is the square size. so any ratchet or extension. i use ratchet only made closer to spec than extension.

You're awesome. That was it. I had only tried a 3/8 extension. Just the ratchet worked fine and the plug is out.

Thanks!

 

[sweetk30]

ext are more round on the ends. the ratches are more square.

good to here . and good luck.

 

[dremu]

As noted, a square is best unless the drive part is deformed.

Also, the ball on the extension or impact may keep it from fully engaging, so you can use either a piece of 3/8" square steel, or a cheap extension which has had the ball removed so as to be truly square.

Once I remove those, I throw them away and put in a regular pipe plug, where the square drive sticks OUT and you can undo 'em with a wrench. IIRC they're 1/4" pipe threads, but they might be 3/8", I forget.

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

The stock plugs are 3/8" NPT and use a 3/8" male square drive to remove them.

 

[Capt.D]

Better yet replace the 10 bolt with a 14FF or D60...then the plug problem goes away....

 

[garydan]

Better yet replace the 10 bolt with a 14FF or D60...then the plug problem goes away....

No more plug problem... but I'm working on that 14FF.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Better yet replace the 10 bolt with a 14FF or D60...then the plug problem goes away....

You care to explain this? My 14ff uses the same plug as a 10 bolt, and 12 bolt axle.

 

[4xcrazy]

that "replace the 10 bolts with a 14bff and a D60" are just the normal standard phrase around here,,, haven't figured that out yet

should be the front page CK5 moto