Rear diff gear lash

Newbie to the forum, residing in the PNW. I just picked up a 17 SR 4X4, 2.7L, 5 spd. I've now got about 1500 miles on it.

I am having an "issue", one that I would attribute to excessive gear lash in the rear differential. I have searched the forum and found posts claiming this "is normal", but I am looking for more reassurance.

The more annoying issue is that I have to drive the truck extremely smooth, making clutch and throttle moves at a snails pace so as to not make a racket with the drive line, and slamming the gear teeth within the whole system. If I try to accelerate at a more rapid pace its near impossible to do it smoothly and quietly. Things get worse when wearing work boots.

I have yet to take it into the dealer for this issue, I am sure I can guess their response. I thought it may have been me getting used to the clutch engagement point and the trucks behavior, this has not resolved it.

When the truck is in neutral with the e-brake on, I can rotate the driveshaft and "clunk" the gears in the diff. Is there any type of measurement or tolerance for this that I can gauge my gear lash against?

 

Is this your first MT vehicle?

 

Are you grinding gears? Or is it hard to shift? Kinda notchy??

Maybe the dealer should check your gear oil. I have read that some are underfilled. Not saying yours was underfilled, but...

Welcome to TW...

 

Nope, definitely not my first manual. No gear grinding has occurred, the tranny is tight and smooth. I am just hyper focused on matching the rpm, my shift points, and the vehicle speed. When I don't get these things right, slop and clunk!

 

I would take it to the dealer and do the test drive with them to make sure it's replicated. You drive it and show them.
Edit btw did it do this on the test drive??

 

Do the 4cyl 3rd gens have greaseable u joints? Might want to pump some grease in them if so, whenever I start getting driveline clunks they go away with some grease in the u-joints. Also check the fluid in your rear diff...it should drip out if you take out the fill plug...if not, fill 'er up.

 

Brand new truck. Anything he touches could void warranty.

 

it's like dating a virgin and having to wait until marriage

 

Nice metaphor!!

 

Then you can only apply a little grease with your finger...You must hold off on the grease gun for now young man...

 

That stinks for sure, but at least you now have it documented. If/when they come up with a remedy, you have documentation. The only fix so far has been replacing the diff, but it returns for most.

 

Loads of slop in my rear diff and MT as well along with rear diff whine. I brought to Toyota 3 times and they say it's a normal characteristic.

More and more is becoming normal with Toyota.

 

Probably not, I have had the same experience. Will be regearing at some point in the near future and trying to fix the backlash issue in the process. I have the MT as well.

 

Shh. Dont post that here. Members without issues will accuse you of being a whinny bitch. Toyota told me mine is " normal" also. Even though a driveline shop said its not.

 

Yeah toyota said my driveline slop was 'normal', while my local driveshaft shop found that it was both out of balance, and spinning out of phase due to driveline angles. They were able to rebalance that day and then I got the axle shims installed a week or so later and have been driveline vibe free since

 

Drain oil. Drive it till it grenades. Make em fix it.

 

Yeah tell them it was a 'normal driving characterstic' that the oil leaked out of the leaky diff seal

 

I'm pretty sure them not fixing my diff has also caused my trans to start slipping. I mean I'm sure other things will wear out prematurely also.

They'll prob say that's " normal" also.

 

You're not wrong, thats why I took mine to the diff shop instead of trying to fight Toyota. Truth be told it wasnt worth the $70 bucks they charged me to spin balance it

 

Do you have yoke slip also?? I can feel a clunk coming from a roll to a stop sometimes. Also found a metal cast part on the drain plug at the shop. That's obviously not supposed to be in there. I was told it's from drilling holes in the third member, but they were so damn lazy they left it in there and filled it up and sent it on its way.