wistecke64

Hello all, new to this forum. I've been a mechanic for years, but I primarily deal with domestic and Brit cars. This week I've been dealing with a craigslist nightmare 4Runner a friend of mine purchased and need some advice....

Vehicle: 1998 Toyota 4Runner Limited

Customer Complaint: Growl/Roar from 15mph+

We knew the truck needed stabilizer links, struts, and ball joints. Replaced these, and was in the process of checking the axles and wheel bearings when I turned the axle to find a really loud/rough gear sound coming from the differential. Fluid level was slightly low, plug showed quite a bit of magnetized material... Most people are telling me the spider gears and ring/pinion do not fail on these... bearings seem fine. Feeling/sound I'm getting is consistent with the feeling I got driving the truck down the road at highway speeds.

So, I suppose my question is this: Where can I get internals for a relatively cheap price? In my area the differential units are selling for 375++ a unit and the customer isn't able to afford that.... and most of the (very sparsely available) rebuilt kits I can get are 500++... any advice? Any parts sources to check out? I've google'd the heck out of this and everyone I'm finding has performance only parts and they're pricey.

**edit** - 4.30 gear ratio, 16" wheels, locking rear diff, not completely sure if front is equipped with auto disconnect... i do not think so but I'm not sure how to tell the difference. Looks like the regular old vac actuator they've used for eons.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

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Bill S, Eagle Automotive/Parkway Auction Service

1990 Dodge Grand Caravan SE - 1.13m miles and counting!
1991 Toyota Corolla DX Station Wagon - "The Red Rocket" - 390k 4AFE/5SPD