I have a '89 Xtra Cab. The rear pinion failed at 334K miles. It will not budge as the pinion locked up the ring gear. It is currently sitting in front of my friends warehouse and I need to move it to my place. Qustion is:
I have a Hi-Pinion front diff in a bucket waiting for future SAS. I see no reason that I cannot just attach the FZJ diff , re-install the axles and have it towed to my place. Anyone see a promblem??? hanks

 

what do you mean by "have it towed to my house"?
If that means it's going on a rollback with a towing company you won't need to do anything, they'll drag it on and off the truck like they do all the time with wrecked vehicles.
If you mean you are hooking up a tow rope and towing it a mile or two all you really have to do is remove the center diff and put the axles back in, not good for the wheel bearings having the inner end of the axle unsupported, but you could go a short distance at low speed.
If you need to go a long way or on the highway you would be better off either getting a tow dolly or a trailer (try U-Haul). Most areas have limitations to the distance you are allowed to tow on a rope.
if it is a 4x4 you could install your hi-pinion diff with the rear driveshaft removed and drive it home in 4 wheel drive. Add gear lube though!

 

OK that confirms my idea. It is set up for flat towing behind my motor home. I can get my bud with his F150 to tow it home.

 

set up for flat towing? you have a rear full float conversion with locking hubs like FROR offers or you have a rear d/s disconnect kit?
if you haven't been removing the rear d/s and don't have something like a mentioned above its not recommended to flat tow a toyota 4wd.
the rear output doesn't get lubed. I found this out flat towing my 84 when I left Ft. Drum. after a cross country tow i replaced the transfer case.
10 years later when forums became more popular i found this confirmed by Marlin of Marlin crawler

 

good info. thanks.

 

Remove axles, remove third, move piece of metal that is blocking it's movement.

 

haha, i have seen chunks like that 3 times over the years in different trucks.
Had to pull the rear third and get rid of the chunks to make a 300 mile drive home when I was stationed in Alaska. Driving home in front wheel drive with the rear d/s removed was interesting..

 

Very nice. But when the broken end of the pinion is stuck between the ring gear and the housing.. it is a different problem.

 

Well I know just exactly what you mean! :beer: