PLEASE HELP! DRIVESHAFT REPAIR/ADVICE

Alright guys,
So if you’re actually reading this thank you so much for taking to time to actively taking the time to try and involve yourself with helping me. So I recently damaged my truck, I have no idea when the exact time was as it could have been either from driving in a snowstorm for 150+miles to get to work or it could have been from going back and forth over a snowbank at the end of my driveway a few times to assist my girlfriend in getting out. EITHER WAY. After I disengaged my truck from 4x4 (roughly about 3 weeks ago) it had developed a very slight rattle noise whenever I was in reverse and sometimes in low rpms in 1st/2nd. Fast forward to this current week, the sound was BAD. I’m talking a terrible clunking noise in reverse and a very loud whining/grinding noise moving forward, not just in gear anymore either but also when my truck was in neutral. Now, I had slacked a little lately due to the New England weather on my maintenance so I was about 500 over on my oil change and since the truck only has 35k, I’ve had the rear diff changed at 30k but I was planning on doing the front difff, trans and t case when I did the oil. I eventually brought it to a dealer for repair as they were able to get me in a rental and I needed transportation for work. Here’s what they told me. APPARENTLY, something must have got lodged under my truck because my gas tank shield was basically bent at a 90 degree angle towards my rear driveshaft boot and it trashed it. They also said that the rear boot is part of the assembly so I can’t just replace it individually and quoted me about $1500 altogether for repairs. My truck is. 2015 tacoma 2.7 4x4 with a 5 speed stick. Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated.

 

For that much you could get a one piece Tom Woods shaft (about $500), buy a new gas tank skid plate (about $250 or so aftermarket and a real skid plate), and go skiing for a weekend...

 

Second Tom Woods. Good dealings with them.

Replace DL and balance it!

 

Tom woods shaft is the way to go - my 2009 has one and solved the inherent shuttering/clunking/etc of the original factory junk one.
Just a note that anytime in the future you have any driveline problems under any Toyota warranty they will want the factory shaft in to "analyze" your truck - they pulled that on me and I had to laugh at them and went to a driveline shop when my rear diff was falling apart plus rear axle bearings.

 

If its u joints theres a recall on them

 

Nevermind. I misunderstood your post.

But it is true they are not required to troubleshoot aftermarket modifications. I wouldn't either in their place.

 

What is it?

 

You can probably get your drive shaft repaired at a drive line shop. They can replace U-joints the dealer says can't be replaced, you have to buy a whole new drive shaft.

 

I guess I should say its a warentee extension, don't have the years in front of me but it is 2 GEN, call your local dealer, ask for your VIN to see if its covered, there going to want your mileage, take it in, they remove the drive shaft, check all the u joints and replace the bad ones, Ive done 2 so far at work

 

So U joints can be replaced if toyota is paying but not when the customer is paying?

 

Exactly...