Taco down!!!

So I took the Taco out this morning in the middle of the snow storm and had no issues driving 30 miles through some nasty stuff, then back. After sitting home all day we decided to run up to the store for a few things. Coming home I was having trouble getting out of the ruts to get onto our access road so thought I'd go up to the next neighborhood and turn around to try it from the other direction. Getting turned around we hear a THUNK and can't move. After trying to rock it out, having someone try to pull us out, etc we notice that the rear wheels are not moving.

BUSTED THE FRONT AXLE!! WTF?!?

I crawled under the truck and find the rear half of the axle (U-joint and all) on the ground. It's still connected to the rear Diff and the rear wheels are locked up. I think my rear diff locked up and when I tried to get out it ripped the axle. Sound about right?

Now while we were having someone try to drag us out of the road so traffic can get by I noticed that the front is starting to sound really weird. I'll be calling Toyota tomorrow on the warranty but this just doesn't make sense to me. Anyone know what might have happened? I was in low 4wd, but not locked when trying to turn around. Locked the rear when I got stuck sideways to the road and only tried to pull forward. Wasn't on any solid surface at all so can't understand what could have locked the rear up.

Just needed to vent! Really liked being able to pull people out today with the Taco and end the day with a busted truck, stuck on the side of the road, and no idea what happened. Not good. Going to get drunk now...

 

Tacos are dropping like flys around here

 

X2. This snow stuff is brutal.

 

seriously... i'm almost scared to drive mine and its not even snowing here!! haha

 

Ya, I have noticed a lot are wrecking, this is crazy. As for your truck, I have no Idea.

 

So...did you blow the rear axle or one of the fronts? Some of your post leads me to believe you might've twisted off your driveshaft....I'm confused...

 

Yeh. I've seen the "I wrecked my Taco" threads but I am a ridiculously slow driver in this type of weather. Worst part is the truck is just barely out of the way of the path that people have kinda made but not truly off the road. When the plows come through I'm not going to be out of their way and with the rear wheels locked up I can't get pulled out of the way.

Planning on jacking her up tomorrow and trying to rotate the rear wheels to see if they can be "un-stuck" so I can pull her home like a front wheel drive car.

 

Rear. Snapped off at the rear part of the front half just inside the seal. U-joint is intact.

 

I just noticed that they are all 2nd Gens.

 

It's been no secret for quite a while that the first gens are more bullet-proof...and have less towing, payload, and power...and more frame rust.





Pick where you want your advantages I suppose. I'll drive any Taco, as long as it's mine

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$=2nd gen.

 

so you mean its the 2 piece driveshaft that snapped? then thats whats locking up rear wheels... take the bolts that hold driveshaft to rear flange out then strap the driveshaft up out of way if you can and slowly try to drive it home in front wheels dirve or take shaft out if possible (dont know the 2nd gens well)

 

crazy..what actually broke, man i am confused..did you break a front CV halfshaft..twisted the rear driveshaft..or broke an actual rear axle..i agree with posting some pics..they will tell all hahaha

 

the way he said "Snapped off at the rear part of the front half just inside the seal"

makes me think 2 piece driveshaft came apart

 

Sorry guys... I was so frustrated I kept typing "axle" when I mean drive shaft. The front half of the drive shaft is connected at the diff but not where the 2nd U-joint meets it. The U-joint is on the rear half, as it the rear part of the front drive shaft. I've hung it from the chassis so it's not dragging but is free to turn and is at about the same angle as it would be if connected. There is about 15 to 20 degrees of slack if I manually rotate the drive shaft in the rear diff and the rear wheels will not rotate more than about 20 degrees either direction before locking up.

Now that the alcohol is starting to kick in it's not quite as hard to think about. The frustration level is much lower (for now) and I can actually say something to the wife about the truck without ending it with a "F#@k!".

Edit:
Oh yeh... Planning on getting pics in the morning when I head up to try and "unstick" the real wheels. Gonna be fun climbing the driveway in the tracks with 20-some inches of snow on each side and a couple inches of compacted snow in them...

 

Correct, its rare you hear complains from 1gen Taco owners. Toyota Warranty should get you up and running.

 

Good excuse to upgrade to a double cardan one-piece...but if you're under warranty, yeah, I'd go that route...

And thanks for clarifying. After your response to me above (which made no more sense than the first post) I just decided I'd give up and let other people figure it out.

Twisted the driveshaft off huh? Almost sounds like the axle or a wheel was stuck solid on something.

 

Sorry to hear what happened. By any chance, were the wheels spinning at all when you locked up the rear differential?