Mystery boltheads in diff.

[RichB]

Hi all, today I changed the oil in the diffs on my Jimny Alto Hatchback, 2005, the first time since buying the vehicle 2 years ago and which has now got 70,000 kilometers clocked. Upon removing the drain plug to the front diff, two sheared 11mm bolt heads also fell out. I've attached a picture of the bolts, along with the drain plug. Has anyone any idea where these boltheads could be from? Could they have been put in there deliberately in order to increase the magnetic attraction of the magnetic drain plug? I really can´t think of anything else. The magnet on the drain plug was quite clogged with debris with only a few tiny bits of metal ¨shavings¨attached...so nothing major I reckon.

Sheared 11mm bolt heads.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

[Jordi]

Unlikely they have been put in there deliberately, that would be utter stupidity.

Sadly i’d say something in the diff isn’t as well bolted together anymore as it was originally.

Probably worth stripping the diff for a look inside, i know i would be.

[ScottieJ]

That’s not a good sign, I would get the diff out ASAP to inspect, sheared bolts are a sign of loose bolts and any loose bolts in a diff are an exploding diff ticking time bomb.

[RichB]

Thanks for the comments guys, looks like they may be from the crown in the diff, have the matter in hand, thanks again.