How bad did I break it?

Went for what was supposed to be a nice scenic drive with the wife that turned into anything but.

got to the top of the scenic road just to find it gated for the winter and decided to take the side road that was marked as a campground. The thought was I’d find some cool spots for another time and be able to turn the truck around. Well, there weren’t any good turn out spots and we found ourselves on a snow covered trail with a steep drop off on the passenger end. Proceeded to slide into a rut and get stuck against a rock and my sliders. (Thanks CBI for the protection for the body of my baby).

In the process of getting unstuck I think I really did some damage.
The truck situation was this:
Passenger side low and weight against a rock.
I was able to dig out and place traction boards behind the wheels.
Some friendly hunters in a Yamaha UTV came along and helped winch me back.

We got the truck unstuck but in the process of getting it back forward on the trail bad things happened. I had the truck in 4L with the rear differential locked. Put it in drive and was getting very little. All of a Sudden BOOM and I felt something in the truck change. The face of the man helping about crushed me. I jumped out and looked and there’s some sort of oil or synthetic looking substance leaking around the skid plate. There’s no Power being delivered to the front wheels. Im thinking I just blew my front differential.

we were eventually able to get the truck back on the trail and had to continue forward down a ways to get to a turn around spot. Going in reverse in the snow is a no go because I have no power to my front wheels. Had to get a ride out tonight and planning to go back with some friends tomorrow to try and tow it out.

Give it to me straight, how bad is this? This is a first for me but I’m willing to learn from my mistakes.

I tried to shift it out of 4WD but it won’t seem to get off the blink 4WD light so I don’t think it has been successful into shifting it officially into 2WD

 

Hard to say without pics, specifically with the skid removed.

 

Understood.
Hopefully I’ll be able to get pics tomorrow when I get it out of there and back to where I can get under it and take it apart

 

Sounds like you blew the front diff up....

 

I’ve broke shafts before (and that shit was loud). I’ve broken them on the outer joint where the ball bearings came out haha.

I’ve also had diff fluid push thru the breather and that freaked me out. It’ll either do this if the breather is clogged, water/condensation builds in the diff, or the diff is simply overfilled.

It’s possible the diff went with all the other factors, but I’d hate to assume right off the bat without pics. These electronic controlled trucks could have a bunch of causes, versus the ol reliable J shift 1st gen tacomas

just keep us posted

 

That’s what instinct is telling me as well.
Having never done this before. Will driving it out the mechanic cause more harm? Should I just get it to a road then call a wrecker? Seems to do okay and no signs of engine trouble or anything

 

Definitely don't drive it out. Without knowing the problem you could seriously hurt your truck!

 

don’t drive it till you know what it is. Tow the truck - the tow bill will be cheaper than causing more damage or, something failing miserably and causing you to crash or hurt someone else. I work in the Fire Dept and pending on the type of accidents I respond to, that’s my realistic go to line to members of the community

 

I’m not really familiar with these trucks, but blowing apart a differential housing seems less likely than a CV shaft. My guess is it bound up in 4Lo and the weakest point has to give. Usually that means tires slipping but in your case, maybe a CV joint. Regardless, get it up on a flat bed and go from there.

 

Whatever it is that you’re leaking could be all be leaked out by now, so even without seeing any physical damage I wouldn’t drive the truck.

 

Probably your ADD tube or cv axle.

 

Following....

 

I would have thought something else would let go before the differential gearing disintegrated, but you never know!

Good luck OP. If it's broken, then fix it. At least you were out there doing what these trucks were designed to do.

 

Maybe try to rotate front drive shaft between tcase and front diff, does it turn freely? Good luck. Stuff happens...

Sounds like it's the front diff gears.

 

OP: Is the truck lifted? How much lift?

 

I was expecting a "I drove in 4x4 about 4 seconds on pavement" thread.

That's a real bummer OP. Hope it all doesn't cost an arm and leg.

 

Ha! Me too!

 

I doubt it's the diff gears, as them going would likely not cause diff oil to leak (the housing would contain all the carnage). The CV axle is meant to be the weak link in the front drivetrain, and when they go, they make a loud popping noise. It is quite easy to break one of these, and is the reason some keep a spare with them. It is possible that if CV did go, the release of energy could have allowed the portion in the diff housing to pop out, thereby allowing diff oil to leak.