Taco down!!!

I was thinking about the "something solid" issue and unless icy snow qualifies, not a chance. It took me 10 minutes of digging to get the wheels close to pavement. I was completely stopped, stepped on the brake, and in neutral before I hit the locker. That being said, I'm convinced that it has something to do with the locker and that once the rear diff became stuck the rest of the drive train got stressed until the shaft broke so I'm going to have to insist with Toyota that they do a full check of the transmission, front diff, etc. Nothing we did was out of the ordinary, extremely strenuous for the truck (or shouldn't have been), or done in a reckless fashion. I had my wife in the truck with me so you know I was taking it easy.

I've also been thinking that the way Toyota handles this will determine if I chalk this up to unfortunate random issue or if I fall into the "2nd gens aren't worth it" crowd and look to trade this one in on a RAM 1500 or sell it to get a 1st gen. I bought the truck for use in these type situations and if I can't depend on it working like it should I will absolutely get rid of it. REALLY don't want to cause I love how it handles and what it has been able to do so far but am only as loyal to a brand as they earn with my personal experience. Here's hoping Toyota comes through and this is the last issue I'll have to use the warranty for.

 

Just got back from checking things out in the daylight. Nothing surprising. The diff is junked. Jacked both sides of the rear up and was able (with a little force at first) to get both tires rotating. Of course they only rotate in opposite directions so there's still no moving her. The drive shaft doesn't turn (manually) past the 15 to 20 degrees and I can't get it to turn further even when I spin the wheels at the same time.

Also, there are some very nasty noises coming from the front end when I give her any gas. The wheels spin on the ice freely at idle (since the rears are locked she won't move) but she starts bucking badly if I give her any gas and there is a loose metallic noise with the shudder. Gonna be a big ticket. Hope Toyota picks up the bill.

 

That really stinks. Hope you can get her off the road and to Toyota so they can get her all fixed up for you.

Isn't there a 1-800 number you can call to have them pick her up now, rather than having to wait?

 

Shit that sucks. it doesnt sound like anything out of normal operating limits.

Pics would be really helpful if you can

 

Finally got some pics...





Ugly. Also very disappointed at the very small diameter that appears to be what was holding these pieces together. Looks like about 1/8" actually tore (hard to see in the pic) in the center of the larger diameter. The rest of the face is very smooth. Looks like it was machined that way.

 

Looks like the center bearing failed. So you didn't feel anything (like a strong vibration while accelerating) prior to this happening ?

 

Nope. I had actually been posting on FB to a couple friends in the area how nicely the Taco handled the weather and for them to let me know if they needed to go out to get anything. Just jinxed myself I guess.

 

Looks like the diff seized and the drive line found the weakest link.

 

Yep but I can't believe that the weakest link is the drive shaft. Can't imagine that the trans didn't take a beating, transfer case get banged up, etc to break a drive shaft. Unfortunately I didn't know that the shaft had broken for about 15 min of trying to get un-stuck so the front drive started sounding funny too. I'm going to ask for a complete drive-train replace / rebuild so I can feel confident that some other link isn't going to break in a year or 2 due to the stress it got yesterday.

 

i think you will have a hard time getting that covered under warranty. at least completely covered... for the most part, whether it was or wasn't, driveline damage such as that will almost always be pinned on driver abuse

 

im lost too

zip it 1st gen guy. lol. leave the retarded 2nd gens alone.we have enough problems.

 

Get a lawyer.

 

That is one of my concerns but the dealership I use is very fair so I'm hoping for the best right now cause my wife tells me I have to...

 

LMAO. 5 of my closest friends are lawyers and 3 of them are licensed in VA so I can get free consulting / strongly worded letters if necessary...

 

looks like this is gonna be a good one

 

x2 on that.

 

^^x2

 

wow, that's the first late model taco drive shaft that i've seen break!

edit: right now..lets say if the rear wheels were off the ground, can you spin the wheels? all this has me thinking, i wonder if you broke the rear ring and pinion gear and didn't know it. maybe a broken piece from the broken ring and pinion bound everything up inside the third member preventing the wheels from turning..you not knowing what was going on kept on the gas..something had to give...if that's the case, then i would be glad the the drive shaft did what it did. and not something else breaking like the trans or what not.

 

Sounds to me like you rear end is fine. Atleast from my knowledge of my Chevelle, my rear wheels always rotate in opposite directions when spun by hand. Or am I missreading something in this thread? Which is very possible.

 

^ no way haha..sounds like another rear ring and pinion bit the dust..

to the OP..do some research before you take it to the dealer. if the rear ring and pinion gears are broken you have a solid case to plead for warrenty...this is a common problem with our gen Tacomas and FJCruisors thats well documented between all of the toyota forums