Diff Plug Tool
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:14 pm
As the following information is spread across multiple threads by multiple people, I figured it would be best to have just one thread to make it easier to find...
Tools:
ESM: Drain Plug Tool - Differential (Fits Original SQUARE Hole Plug) - This is painted red.
ESM: Drain Plug Tool (Universal) - This is painted blue.
Draper No.1 - This is the original Draper universal drain plug tool (only available second hand).
Draper 7179 - This is the modern equivilent of the No.1 tool (available new online).
Additionally I have heard/read of some people using a 3/8" square socket.
While I had found no posts about ESM's universal tool (which shows no branding in the site photos) I did find at least one person who had to sand their Red Tool down to fit and likewise others who sanded down the Draper 7179.
There were no complaints of the Draper No.1 and having just purchased and used one, mine at least was a perfect fit.
As a small note, others have mentioned in other posts that you should clean the gunk out of the plug hole before starting as the build up of old oil/dirt can stop the tool fully going into the hole. A small screwdriver or even your fignernails (not recommended) can suffice.
Also depending on how tight the diff plug is, you may require a hammer or rubber mallet etc. I found holding the rubber mallet's head and hitting the lowest plug head (which was a good surface area) at the other end of the wrench effective as my filler plug was very tightly done up (took 10 minutes to get it to start turning) compared to the drain plug (took a few seconds, but was still quite stiff).
Tools:
ESM: Drain Plug Tool - Differential (Fits Original SQUARE Hole Plug) - This is painted red.
ESM: Drain Plug Tool (Universal) - This is painted blue.
Draper No.1 - This is the original Draper universal drain plug tool (only available second hand).
Draper 7179 - This is the modern equivilent of the No.1 tool (available new online).
Additionally I have heard/read of some people using a 3/8" square socket.
While I had found no posts about ESM's universal tool (which shows no branding in the site photos) I did find at least one person who had to sand their Red Tool down to fit and likewise others who sanded down the Draper 7179.
There were no complaints of the Draper No.1 and having just purchased and used one, mine at least was a perfect fit.
As a small note, others have mentioned in other posts that you should clean the gunk out of the plug hole before starting as the build up of old oil/dirt can stop the tool fully going into the hole. A small screwdriver or even your fignernails (not recommended) can suffice.
Also depending on how tight the diff plug is, you may require a hammer or rubber mallet etc. I found holding the rubber mallet's head and hitting the lowest plug head (which was a good surface area) at the other end of the wrench effective as my filler plug was very tightly done up (took 10 minutes to get it to start turning) compared to the drain plug (took a few seconds, but was still quite stiff).