Glenn1025

hey guys, i am a newbie here and need help. this is my first post. i have been hearing a whistling sound coming from the rear of my 1997 4Runner SR5, especially when slowing down~45-55mph. i took it to the dealership and they said i need a new differential assembly...$1,071.00 for the part. what exactly to they mean when they say differential "assembly" (rear) and any ideas where i can get one cheaper? what could cause this to happen? I have the 3.4 4x4....Thanks

rimpainter.com

They are probably talking about the 3rd member and R&R. I would get a second opinion. Did something happen to the truck that might have caused this? This is kinda rare.

User 051420

Ditto the second opinion. Check out an independant drivetrain shop, they can fix it for MUCH less..if it's broken.

Glenn1025

No, nothing out of the ordinary has happened to my truck. I stay on-road 98% of the time. Over the summer, I went to the NC coast and used 4wd in the sand but that's about it. Before I took it to the dealership, I had Colony Tire take a look, and they said something was definitely wrong with the rear end. They put it on the lift and said they could hear some rumblings in the "hogs head". I think I will get a second opinion. In the meantime, please let me know what you think.

BruceTS

When was the last time the diff oil was replaced?

Glenn1025

Good question. I have put 60,000 miles on her in three years and never replaced the differential oil, just added some here and there. I replaced the right axle seal about three weeks ago, and I was expecting to lose some diff. fluid but hardly any came out? I looked really thick so I figured that's why I didn't lose any.

arjan

Maybe your diff is damaged, because of old oil. Most junkyards will have some differentials for much less then a thousand. For that money you can easily buy one with the electric locker option. I've one here with 3.90 gears which needs some assembly. You're welcome to it for $75 + shipping, but you'll have to figure out which gear ratio you have. If you have 15" wheels then you'll probaly have 3.90.

Glenn1025

I have the 16" wheels, so I think I have the 8" diff w/ 4.10 gear ratio. I guess the junkyard is the best bet since I am low in cash. Thanks for the offer.

leebee

hey glenn!

i dont think the wheel size will make a difference, if you are changing out the third you can switch your gears onto the 'new' third with the elocker. then all you need to do is wire everything up and you should be good to go. you would want someone to set up the gears though, it sounds like a pretty good offer. just my .02.

lee

arjan

If the diff is making noise, I would think the gears are the primairy suspect. I wouldn't reuse the gears. I recently put an elocker in. It is very nice, but makes the project quite a bit bigger and more pricey due to axle housing modifications.

Adam F

You can get a used third from a junkyard for $100 to $200. And then you can install it yourself.

Next time, change the diff fluid regularly.

LarsDennert

Toyota dealers don't setup gears. They just swap the whole third. A good aftermarket shop could just put new gears and bearings from a master install kit in.

Did you go through deep water over the axle?

Glenn1025

No, I have never been in deep water or done anything out of the ordinary. I had the dealer that I bought the truck from fax me the service records and the diff. fluid was changed twice before 60,000 miles. I had the back brakes replaced around 95,000 and they also fixed a rear axle seal leak. Oil had leaked all over the left side brakes so I assume they added more diff. fluid. I really don't think old diff. fluid contributed to the problem. Let me ask this, I replaced the right axle seal a few weeks ago. Should I have lost some diff. fluid in the process....I didn't??

Robinhood150

Yup. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that you somehow didn't have enough oil in there and the gears burned up.

LarsDennert

Generally oil won't come out when you are changing a seal. This is because the wheel gets jacked up and is higher than the other side. The oil flows into the other axle tube.

bamachem

I have a 4.10 pinion set and carrier (no ring gear) if you want it cheap. You'll still need a ring gear and then have them put into your third though. To be honest, look for a 4.10 rear third member that's complete. You could change it out yourself in a couple of hours at most. When changing out the third, go ahead and add some Mobil 1 75W-90 gear lube so you don't burn up your new set.

Robinhood150

Ah that's true. When I swapped out my third member I jacked up both sides so had residual oil still came out. Didn't think about jacking up only 1 side.

KSTacoma

Just FYI as well, over on tacomaterritory.com there are some 3rd members for sale. Hey u might as well regear while you have it out