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WTF is this crap in my diff???

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Twatwaffles, Jun 9, 2014.

  1. Jun 9, 2014 at 9:57 PM
    #1
    Twatwaffles

    Twatwaffles [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So my right rear axle seal started leaking - this after changing the left rear one about 6 months ago. Disassembled the brake components, pulled the axle...and found a ton of coiled metal shavings sitting at the end of the axle. I can't tell if they're new or not; last time I changed the left seal I replaced the diff oil - this was about 15,000 KM ago. The diff oil looks almost as good as the day I put it in. The truck isn't abused, towing stuff or taken offroad much. In addition to the shavings, there's a metal, springy seal-sized...something in there (you can see it in the first pic) that was also just sitting loose when the axle came out. No idea what it is, and didn't see one when doing the left side. The truck has 70,000 miles on it, TRD Sport 4x4 (mechanical LSD rear). Can anyone shed some light here?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2014
  2. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:09 PM
    #2
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Those are short & curlys... wow , you have a locker ?? well probably not anymore.....:eek::eek:


    actually not sure where they sit but there are some springs in the diff, but they're usually in place.. that sux
     
  3. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:11 PM
    #3
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Holy retake batman those are shavings ??
     
  4. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:12 PM
    #4
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Leave it to the smart girl with the nice butt !!! Hi Jasmine long time sweetie:wave:
     
  5. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:13 PM
    #5
    Twatwaffles

    Twatwaffles [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yup. The seal-sized metal loop thing - I don't know what the hell that's from, and I can't find it in any OEM parts fiche. All the little metal bits at the bottom are shavings of some sort.
     
  6. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:26 PM
    #6
    Twatwaffles

    Twatwaffles [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Crap. Awesome, thanks.

    I bought the truck with 70,000k on it; changed the diff oil shortly after buying it. It was dirty, trace amount of (microscopic) shavings in the last few drops of sludge, but nothing to worry about. This is new, and f*cked up. The only slightly reassuring thing is that the ridges in the axle tube would prevent these shavings from moving into the differential, and probably why I didn't notice them in the last two diff oil changes. I'm REALLY hoping these don't show up again - I'll change out the diff oil in the next couple thousand km's and see if there's anything there.

    This is me being optimistic.
     
  7. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:29 PM
    #7
    hitmans.army

    hitmans.army Just a guy.

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    You sir, have a lathe inside your diff. Time to open her up and see what got milled down. I'd definately find out what happened instead of cleaning out what you see and keep going. But, then again, I would rather replace a couple components than replace the whole thing due to a catastrophic failure.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2014
  8. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:37 PM
    #8
    Bennett707

    Bennett707 Station707

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    70,000,000 miles? Damn.
     
  9. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:43 PM
    #9
    hitmans.army

    hitmans.army Just a guy.

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    70,000KM
     
  10. Jun 9, 2014 at 10:44 PM
    #10
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    I'd be scouring the local classifieds for a replacement rear end and be done with it.
     
  11. Jun 9, 2014 at 11:09 PM
    #11
    hitmans.army

    hitmans.army Just a guy.

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    I will not. I will neither confirm nor deny that I might or might not be under the assumption that the OP may or may not be from a country that could or could not be presently or formerly known as Canada.
     
  12. Jun 9, 2014 at 11:59 PM
    #12
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    How very vague of you...well done
     
  13. Jun 10, 2014 at 8:41 AM
    #13
    hitmans.army

    hitmans.army Just a guy.

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    ˙ǝɹǝɥʇ ɟɟnʇs pɹıǝʍ op ʎǝɥʇ ˙ɐuɐʇuoɯ ɯoɹɟ ǝq sʎɐʍןɐ pןnoɔ ǝɥ 'sǝıɹɹoʍ ou

    OP, if you do take it down to find out what happened, please post pictures. I'd really like to know what it was that caused that.
     
  14. Jun 10, 2014 at 5:38 PM
    #14
    landphil

    landphil Fish are FOOD, not friends!

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    If the diff is quiet, I'm quite confident that those are shavings from machining the axle housing. No internal failure will cause that, and as said the larger round spring is from a seal. If the spring is missing from the axle seal, you've found the source. Put in a new axle seal, fill with new oil, and carry on with life.
     
  15. Jun 10, 2014 at 6:27 PM
    #15
    hotrod53

    hotrod53 Well-Known Member

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    I agree with the round part being part of the seal. I can't imagine where those shavings came from, they look too much like lathe shavings. I tend to agree with a good cleaning and a new seal if it was quiet. It is however amazing to me that they didn't get ground up.

    I've blown rear ends in cars before, you usually have no doubt when it's on its way out. My last blown diff sounded like a guy hitting the drive shaft with a ball peen hammer like a hunchback ringing the bell in the tower!
     
  16. Jun 11, 2014 at 5:57 AM
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    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    yeah those shavings are highly suspicious. looks like they were in there from the get go...

    if that happened internally they should be much smaller and broken up. there is no room for something to peel off and spiral like that while on the road...afaik...

    but if it was my rig I'd drop the whole rear axle and pumpkin on the floor and open it all up and check everything
     
  17. Jun 11, 2014 at 6:22 AM
    #17
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 Wheel Bearing Master

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    I agree with the general consensus here: Better to take completely apart and inspect NOW, rather than face a potential failure while on the road, 50 miles or more from home. The spring is from the seal. I bet if you look at the seal you pulled out, the ring there is missing. As for the shavings, I also agree that those look like machining whiskers. I don't see a typical failure causing that. To be safe a full cleaning of the housing would be best. I would venture that one of those shavings got caught up in the seal, pulling the spring and causing the new leak.
     
  18. Jun 11, 2014 at 6:26 AM
    #18
    landphil

    landphil Fish are FOOD, not friends!

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    ^^ I agree with Bill if there is any abnormal metal on the magnetic diff drain plug - pull it, inspect, and clean. If the magnet is clear, I'd remove the shavings from the axle tube with magnet, and leave it at that.
     
  19. Jun 11, 2014 at 6:29 AM
    #19
    Large

    Large Red

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    What year is the truck? And you already are replacing both rear axle seals?
     
  20. Jun 11, 2014 at 6:56 AM
    #20
    username

    username Fluffer

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    Did the end of the axle shaft have any wear marks on it? There is a janky oil splash gaurd in the newer taco's that slips out of place pretty easy. If it did and the axle ground on it, that could be the source, maybe.
     

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