O.T. - Toyota P/U rear differential

I"ll make it as short as I can.

1994 Toyota 1/2-ton pickup, 4x4, 157,000 miles.
The rear differential housing rusted through and leaks (previously repaired, new leak). Pinion seal also sprang a leak, did not see it at first.

The other day wife was driving truck home. All of a sudden the rear end locked up on her (dragged the tires in a skid). Long story short, diff. case empty, smoking hot. Rear end locked up, won"t move in neutral.

We got some 90 oil, put it in. After a while diff. loosened up. She drove it home, grinding noise coming from diff. case.

Next day I replaced pinion seal, drained case, looked inside. No apparent broken parts, everything seems to be moving smoothly (did not take diff. assembly out yet). I put it back together, took it for a drive. Grinding noise still there, truck also seems to lack power accelerating uphill. Grinding noise also increases when truck is allowed to coast (as opposed to the gas pedal being depressed)

I am thinking that a bearing (or multiple bearings) is damaged. I am also wondering if when the truck locked up, it could have damaged the clutch or the transmission. I am going to tear into the rear axle (probably the only way to find out what is damaged), and I am looking for advice from folks who might have had a similar situation.

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Along with the bearings I would think the gears (r&p) would be toast.

Save your time. The rearend is now junk. Look on www.car-part.com and just replace it.

Maark is correct!

how the hel- can you think it should be ok after it locks up and is smoking from being hot and has no oil in it . just junk the thing or change the rear end

Get on craiglist or pirate4x4, you need a rear diff. A 2wd toyota rear axle of that age is about 150$-250$ for a good one. If you have a 4 cyl it would have a 7.5" but you can swap to an 8" like a V6 or a 4wd has.

And everyone says to buy American !

Well if you try this with a Ford,GM or Dodge it would of never moved again.

(quoted from post at 12:13:10 09/19/11) And everyone says to buy American !

Well if you try this with a Ford,GM or Dodge it would of never moved again.

Click to expand...

Ever known of a Ford, GM, or Dodge that had a rusted through differential housing? Me neither. BUY AMERICAN!!!

no,they just have oil pans that rust through .

There is no saving anything in there . Look for used rear end with same ratio to swap in . Cost you an arm and leg to try and rebuild what you have , guessing $1500 -2000

know of many chevys to rot all the brake and fuel lines off in under 10 years. this is ny state there is salt my 2005 ford has rear bumper rotting through and wheel wells showing a few bubbles. all washed very regularly. but driven in winter. road salt rots all vehicles. nothing to do with mfg.

OK guys he ask for advice on what to do, not if Jap made trucks are better.


I would do as others have said and find a good used axle. Running it dry to the point it locked up means all new bearing plus the ring and pinion gear have got to have some damage. Only other option that I can see as affordable is scrap it and find anohter truck. You try doing a patch job repair on that axle and it's just going to fail on you again.

Rick

Find another axle. By the time you rebuild it will cost more than a u-pull-it part with 50,000 miles...

CT

I have seen many very crusty and seeping.

My Dodge ruined the side diff. bearings even clear full of oil !and less then 90,000 miles. Jeeps had this problem too.