Surprise found in diff

Doesn’t build confidence, time to change my fluids!

 

Update.

There is much more debris some of it is two or three times the size stuck in the bottom of the differential housing. Attempting to extract now. Pray for me Brothers

 

It's why they use a magnetic drain plug. To catch that kind of stuff.

Pouring some juice in the fill plug while the bottom is open may wash out some more. Use the right wt, just cheap stuff, as there will be little residual fluid left with this 'wash' method.

The reason they don't bother with a magnetic plug in the engine pan is because if you have visual metallic particles it's already too late.

 

If I found that when I change my fluids, I would be freaked out. I admit anybody who drains their diffs every 30K is a bit OCD.

 

You are still under warranty. May be worth making an appointment with a dealer.

 

This seems to be the norm for first fluid changes in 3rd gens I’ve done at work

 

there are mechanic magnets that can be bent to shape to grab things around corners and the like. At this point it might be worth asking the dealer about this, they may want to pull the 3rd member and flush everything out and inspect. That's what I would want if that much came out and there was more, larger stuff still inside. Who knows where some of that stuff may be stuck if that much was left in there from manufacture.

 

small pieces in BIG diff would not make me panic

they are where they are supposed to be ............................in the bottom

not circulating

dont know why anyone would be doing ANY Drilling .................??

the fluid does not look that bad

check again next time

 

How would Toyota (or the supplier) make all the necessary holes, bearing pockets, etc without machning/drilling/tapping/etc?

 

on assembly there is NO drilling

unless someone really doesnt know what they are doing

parts should be in order.............clear & clean

if U were to take it apart..................put it back together

would U do some drilling......................................short answer NO !!!

the diff itself requires NO drilling

in fact what is currently seen I suspect the detritus is from a bearing

if he is really concerned pulling down the rear end is NOT that difficult or big deal

 

I changed the rear diff lube at 10k miles on my 3rd gen and nothing there but minimal fines on the drain plug.
2nd gen the same.
Plan on doing the front diffs in the spring. The 3rd gen has less 300 miles of use on the front.
My 2016 JKU had one small shaving on the drain plug, looked like the last portion of a thread when it was tapped for the plug.
Hopefully the OP doesn't find a bunch more with magnet.

 

I wonder...are the carrier attachment holes blind? With a stud installed?

 

Bunch more shavings came out, I'm just going to save it all.

Filling it up now, will check again on next oil swap.

Should have everything filtered through at that point.

 

id pull the driveshaft.............

pull the pumpkin

check the outer wheel axle bearings

its not difficult everything unbolts

 

No shit. There are many processes that take place to make a rear axle before assembly. They don't just spontaneously materialize into existence.

Are you making the argument that someone missed something significant during manufacture/assembly or that you think that material is from a wearing bearing?

It's under warranty. Pulling it apart would just screw him over for any warranty consideration.

 

This thread is gold, Jerry, gold!

 

welding on shock mounts

studs........drilling for bolt is NOT done at assembly

parts are prepped & checked then moved to assembly

 

That's why the plug is magnetic

You mean like treading holes? Carrier bolts, ring gear bolts, drain/fill plugs, bearing bores and so on?

 

The vent fitting is drilled and tapped post casting, as are the bolt holes for the 3rd member. Lots of drilling and tapping on a Toyota differential housing. Some of this detritus got missed in the cleaning process.

 

Somebody’s missing a 10mm socket. You just found it.