GREAT FIND ON THE GEARS!! your gonna love 4.56's i know i do!!

 

I had printed this chart out for my dad before he looked at it on Saturday: http://www.brian894x4.com/Gearratiosanddiffs.html. And the door code said G254

 

Well this sucks. A couple days ago, I took the drain plug out of the axle to let it drain out so I could work on it. There were some metal pieces on the drain plug. So I thought something was up. Today I got around to taking the entire 3rd out of the axle and come to find out that the ring gear is totally trashed. Just about every other tooth is chewed up.

I don't know if I should just swap in the gears I have now into that carrier or get brand new gears. I mean, I have no idea if the gears I have now are in good shape or not. I won't know until I take it out.

As for the front diff, I'm going to assume that it's good, just because 4 wheel drive isn't usually used on a daily basis. However, once I finally take delivery of it, I'll open it up and take a look just to be safe.

 

I was looking at a couple places for gears. I found a set of 4.56 gears from USA Standard Gear on Amazon for $150 I think. I also saw a set from Randy's Ring & Pinion for $150. But I've been reading up on Randy's Ring & Pinion and they get poor reviews. But the reviews are mainly for their service. My dad is going to set me rear end up for me so I don't have to worry about that. Has anyone had any issues with their products?

EDIT: Turns out the gears from Randy's are manufactured by USA Standard Gear.

 

Took this when I pulled in the driveway after school. I kinda thought it was a neat angle. It hasn't been washed in about 5 months which is probably why it decided to self-destruct on me


Sorry for the cell phone pics. I couldn't find my camera. Here's the ring gear from the donor axle. Woof...

 

Looks like the pinion wasnt set right lol

 

Ooooh, ouch, thar beeee carnage, argggg! Lol. How are ya buddy?

 

Hey Chef I'll be better when I can drive my truck again

Just ordered a new 4.56 ring and pinion from USA Standard Gear. I also ordered the differential setup kit from WabFab. Hopefully it will get here soon so I can get it back on the road. Currently I'm driving my dads Dodge Stratus and it just lacks that certain awesomeness that a Toyota brings

 

Might as well put a locker in there too why your at it, atleast it said on your details u dont have one already do you?

 

I agree 100%.... If its practical, lock it up

 

I'd love to, but a locker is just not in the budget

I got my ring and pinion in yesterday, just waiting on my setup kit

 

So it's been 2 weeks since I purchased that rear axle. When I purchased it, I decided that I wanted the front diff too. So the guy said he'd take it out of the 4Runner and I could pick it up the next day. Like an idiot, I prepaid for it. Two weeks later, I still don't have a front diff. Last weekend, I called him to set up a time to pick it up. He told me he'd text me on Monday because he was busy. Never texted me. I then texted him a couple days later and he said I could pick it up noon on that saturday. My dad drove to his house since I was at work. He wasn't there. The person that was there didn't know anything about it. They took a look around the house and garage and everything and didn't see it anywhere. Saturday night, I text him and he replied saying that he would drop it off at my house sometime Sunday. Last night I text him wondering what's going on. He replied basically saying that he didn't have it anymore and that he'll give me my money back first thing Monday (today). So we'll see...

EDIT: Since it looks like I won't be getting the front I've come up with a couple options:

1. Put my rear 4.30 gears into the new carrier to match my existing front. Problem is that I don't know if they're still good.
2. Buy 4.56 gears for the front since I already have the rears and sell the front 4.30.
3. Send the 4.56 gears back and buy 4.88s for the front and rear.

I'm leaning towards option 2...

 

sorry about your troubles. that really sucks that he sold it out from under you. i vote for option 2 or option 3

 

Oh my smash someones face in, Batman! KNOB!!!! Was this a C L thing? BE SURE to do a posting of SLAMMING of this guy and warning to all, etc, with his city, etc....

I'm really sorr man! Really rotten to do that. I've had thongs take me longer due to things out of my control.... , but aI STAY IN TOUCH, OFTEN!

I'm with u, doing 4.56, unless ur V6 auto? Hmmmm, anything over 31's and the V6 auto combo, u might be happier 4.88's, no?

 

I'll take 4.88's for a thousand Allex.

 

He told me he took everything out that I needed the day after I paid for it. But then he sold the entire rig. He wasn't there when the guy picked it up so the guy must have taken it with him.

It was a Craigslist thing. As it turns out, it was a guy I went to school with. I really don't think he was trying to pull a fast one on me. I think once he found out that the other guy took the diff with him, he went into panic mode and was trying to stall me so he could find another one. I got my money back last night. I asked him why he kept texting me saying that I could pick it up when he didn't really have it. He didn't really have an answer, and frankly, I didn't want to hear it. I got my money back and that's all that matters.

I have the 5 speed manual and the more I think about it, I think I might send my gears back and get 4.88s. That way I could do 33s comfortably or even 35s if I want to. With 4.56s, I'd have to regear AGAIN to do 35s if I ever wanted to.

 

Crawled under my truck yesterday to be absolutely sure it wasn't a u-joint. Sure enough, I have a bad u-joint. It's the one connecting the driveshaft to the differential. I don't know how I didn't feel it before. Both me and my Dad checked them before and didn't feel anything, so I feel kinda embarrassed, especially since I've spent about two pages of this build thread dedicated to this issue. We're going to install it sometime this weekend. I'll actually feel better if it doesn't solve the problem so I don't look like an idiot

 

Installed the u-joint last night. Problem solved

 

The front end squeal from a couple pages ago has come back and is more unbearable than ever. I'm currently doing research for new ball joints (yes, again!). I'm mainly looking at Moog's, but also heard Beck Arnleys have the 555 casting. However, they don't have grease fittings. I don't want anything that doesn't have grease fittings (EDIT: Wow, that makes me sound like a bratty child ). I've been doing some searching around here and many say that Napas ball joints are pretty good, so I might go price them after work tomorrow.

The words "That seems like a good deal" while searching eBay for ball joints will haunt me forever...

I'm also looking into sending those 4.56 gears back. Still waiting on my setup kit from WabFab.

Anyone have opinions about Napas ball joints?

 

The guy needed money to set up a buy and sell of some herb or something? Used u like Bank'O'93 and then recouped his cash and paid ya back..... maybe? Hahaha.

Hope u get it all worked out....

I got downey mega travel upper bj's which are no more.... but lowers from dealerdirectparts.com , which was pretty reasonable for OEM... ALSO got CA bushing kit while there... and I think u can add a nipple to the OEM uppers.... mine have taken pretty extreme abuse and look like new. Maybe u can nipple the OEM lowers too? I think there is a bolt there.......hmmmmmm, lol. 4.88 and 33's w/manual or 31's and up with auto is the ticket!