Seized Differentials & Repair Questions:

Hello Everyone:

Within this past month of driving, I kept noticing a tinging sound coming from underneath my 98 Toyota Tacoma SR5; but I was not able to localize the noise. From what I could tell, the sound initially appeared to be coming from the front...however, I would be proven wrong.

Getting right to the point, the rear differential had seized up while I was driving, rendering my my back wheels completely useless. Ultimately, my truck was towed back to my house, where it currently sits.

With the help of the local Toyota dealership, I was able to source a used differential, from a reputable salvage yard, given that the OEM part is no longer in stock and as of late, I've been watching videos on Youtube, regarding how to replace it.

The upshot here is that the procedure seems pretty straight forward; but then I got to thinking. Seeing the differential seized up at 35MPG, will I also have to replace both axels as well?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMTbgY1xQKk&t=1550s

 

I wouldn't buy any other parts until you tear it apart and see what you need.

 

the question is why did it sieze... if from lack of lube, where did it go? If the lube was so bad then axle bearings "might" be in order. Like 02hilux said, wait until she is apart.

 

If you're going to go part way, you should go all the way. I doubt that the axels themselves are faulty (other than wear at the bearing points), but they need to be pulled for a thorough visual, and replacing the bearings is a no-brainer. As others have said, you need to do a forensic analysis to determine WHY this happened. Any glitter in the diff fluid (or, better question: Any diff fluid?)?

 

It was a used truck that I bought off of Craigslist about two years ago and more likely than not, I "think" that it might have seized up due to a lack of lube; but like everyone is saying, I should tear into it before coming to any conclusions. This leads me to my next question.

Would there be any way that I could un-seize the backend, so that I can move the truck to level ground? At the moment, it's up against the garage on a deep slope and it be foolish to attempt to stabilize the truck on jack stands.

 

Hard to say without know how it's seized. My inclination would be to try a set of

PeakTow PTT0101 Black Heavy Duty 6000 LBs Total Capacity Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Dolly with Double Ball Bearing Caster Wheel Pack of 4

wheel dollies (if it's safe to do so) or you even need to get a tow truck in to move it.

 

Wheel dollies may be the way to go. I'm just going to have to find a buddy to help me guide it down the ally and into the street. For now, the plan will be to tear into it and diagnose the actual problem...pictures will follow soon.

 

New problem everyone. The so-called reputable salvage yard that I was directed to from the dealership, does not appear to have my differential. I was however directed to LKQ, Jasper's, and Powertrain; but in spite of all of these suggestions, they also don't seems to have my part. So the question is, what other options do I have?

For example, I am open to buying a remanufactured differential, or having my part rebuilt. In other words, is there any place on the internet that anyone can recommend? As always, thank you.

 

Where are you located? I just swapped out my complete rear axle for an e-locker. 4 ;10 gears 216,000 miles, no known issues.

 

I also have a rear axle and front diff (if 4wd) for sale if you’re close, 3.91 gears

 

Just so you know wheel dollies might be very interesting .

With the weight of a truck the smallest stone will stop any movement.

In the garage it must be so very clean I can`t picture a going down a alley yet into the street.

Have you pulled things apart yet ?.

Be good to know where your at ??

What is so strange that no one has your differential??

 

Actually yes, I got under the truck today; but but I think I might have a different problem than what I originally suspected.

The first thing that I did was to drain the gear oil from the differential. That's when I noticed that the gear oil appeared to be cleaner than expected and there weren' t any metal shavings or glitter on the drain plug. In fact, the pan that I was using to drain the gear oil was clear of any debris.

The next thing I did was to raise the back end on the passenger side to change a flat tire. That's when I noticed the wheel spinning freely. From there, I decided to replace the gear oil that I had bought from Amsoil months back, before deciding to push the truck down the alley.

As, I was rolling the truck down the alley, I noticed that the tinging noise became a much louder grinding noise, however it was emanating loudly underneath the front end of the truck.

At the end of the alley, a neighbor had seen me, and offered to hook a chain up to my truck, so as to pull it in front of my house. While I was waiting for him, I noticed that the truck would not keep from rolling once I put it into first gear.

Finally, as the neighbor was pulling me up to my house, the grinding noise got significantly louder from the front portion of the truck . It's at this point that I'm suspecting that my transmission may need to be replaced...Any thoughts?

 

So what we have is a problem that started off as a slight noise to the point it locked up the rear axle.

Have you tried to turn over the truck or see if it starts??

Something from the fly wheel/ flex plate back. Manual or Auto?

Even something as small as a bolt coming out getting in the wrong spot can cause every thing to come to a grinding halt.

Even a broken starter drive jammed in the teeth .

Then come free and things move for a time.

 

It's a manual transmission from a 2.4 liter Toyota Tacoma SR5 extended cab and to answer the question, I have the turned the the engine over. The problem is that the vehicle won't move either forward or backwards when put into gear.

 

With everything that you've mentioned above, could any of that possibly destroy the transmission or just the clutch, starter or other individual components?

 

Yes No Maybe !!

all of the above .

The engine turns over that means the front shaft of the transmission is turning

Can you still shift the transmission ??

Is this a 2wd or 4x4??

Was the transmission popping out of gear a good sign a bearing is going bad??

Did you hear a loud bang before everything stopped??

No clutch slipping giving that sweet smell of burning clutch ??

 

It's a 2.4L 2wd and in terms of being able to shift gears, that's more or less a yes and a no...I'll explain.

Upon the moment when it happened, I was driving 35 miles per hour down the road when suddenly, the truck abruptly lurched forward, as though I had ran over something big, along a huge bang. In fact, the corresponding jolt felt like something big had gotten stuck underneath my truck.

I then hobbled to the next block over and pulled to the curb to inspect what I thought was a foreign object stuck underneath my truck. Quite obviously, nothing was there; but when I got back into my truck, it would barely move forward once I put it into gear. In fact, the truck dragged forward as though the parking brake was on, when surely it wasn't.

I was only able to make it past the next driveway over, when the truck came to a complete stop in spite having it in gear. I then put my foot down on the accelerator, in addition to engaging the clutch, while to shift through all of the gears; but the back wheels would not move. It was at that moment, that I made the presumption that my back end had locked up.

Up to that point, the transmission had never slipped out of gear. While in that moment, I did not notice any leaks on the ground, or the smell of a burning clutch.