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need yalls opinion on a front diff problem and possible 4.88's (in a bind right now )

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 03TRDtacotrucker, Feb 22, 2011.

  1. Feb 22, 2011 at 10:12 AM
    #1
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

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    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    know I just posted that I wasnt going to do 4.88's but just got a quoted price of 1100 for front and rear installed, which would be better than the 2500 quote from toyota for a new diff assembly installed.....got a junkyard that can get me a front diff for 700 after shipping. story with front diff is pass axle seal leacked all fluid out and the diff locked up on me while driving home in the icey weather. front end will barely move in 4x4 and grinds and pops like hell when you try (thats if it goes forward at all). what would yall say is broken in there the spider gears or you think throwing a 4.88 ring and pinion in there will solve my problem? not sure if you could tell from the problem which is probably broken. Any suggestions on what i should do, or what I should buy instead?
     
  2. Feb 22, 2011 at 12:37 PM
    #2
    ywen

    ywen Well-Known Member

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    since your front diff is shot why not just take it out and open it? The truck is out of commission with or without the diff in it anyways...

    That's the only way to be sure of the total damage.
     
  3. Feb 22, 2011 at 2:27 PM
    #3
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

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    Alex
    North Richland Hills, TX
    Vehicle:
    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    truck still drives fine in 2wd been driving it for the past couple weeks with no problems.
     
  4. Feb 22, 2011 at 5:47 PM
    #4
    mixaro

    mixaro Well-Known Member

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    maine
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    02 ext cab cat-back exhaust, k&n replacement filter, 5100 billy's, hellcreek 1.5" rear spring packs, 882 OME coils, Toytec 2" AAl, stainless brake lines, Light Racing UCA, 1" diff drop, BPV bracket, 4" deck plate mod, 886 fog light backup light mod, tom woods one piece drive shaft, spider trax 1.25 spacer.
    i may be wrong but, even in 2wd the cvs are still spinning thus making the ring and pinion spin. so it's odd that it wont move when you put it in 4wd, but will in 2wd.
     
  5. Feb 23, 2011 at 7:01 AM
    #5
    Supra TT

    Supra TT Supercharged Lifter

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    Just take the diff out, you can still drive it... If you remove the right components. Such as don't leave the cv's just floating in there, take that out too haha.
     
  6. Feb 23, 2011 at 11:08 AM
    #6
    ywen

    ywen Well-Known Member

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    When you take out the CV axle, what's on the in-ward facing side of the hub? stuff exposed?
     
  7. Feb 23, 2011 at 2:52 PM
    #7
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

    Joined:
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    North Richland Hills, TX
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    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    went ahead and got a quote from 4wp to install 4.88s fornt and rear, also bought front spider gears from someone on ttora and going to have them install those along with new pass side inner and outer axle seals....hopefully thats all ill need :/...ill post an update when i get it out of the shop.
     
  8. Feb 28, 2011 at 11:02 AM
    #8
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

    Joined:
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    Alex
    North Richland Hills, TX
    Vehicle:
    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    well still waiting on parts for the 4.88s, got bored this weekend and jacked up the front end to check it out, grabbed a hold of the driveshaft and was able to wabble it around where you can see there is alot of play in the pinion bearing so im guessing that its for sure that pinion bearing going bad that caused the front end to lock up know I saw a post about common problems with there not being enough fluid getting to that pinion bearing with the angle the 6" fabtech lift puts the front diff at. So guaranteed if there was almost no fluid in the diff that the bearing would for sure get burned up. still going to post a further update when its out of the shop but for now this is my current opinion on the problem.
     
  9. Mar 3, 2011 at 7:45 PM
    #9
    ywen

    ywen Well-Known Member

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    wait you drove the truck in 2wd with zero oil inside the diff?
     
  10. Mar 3, 2011 at 7:48 PM
    #10
    Yoytoda

    Yoytoda The Little Truck That Could

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    completely stock
    thats what hes said... but you can buy a master rebuild kit and replace all the bearings
     
  11. Mar 3, 2011 at 7:49 PM
    #11
    ywen

    ywen Well-Known Member

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    how does it even turn without oil?
     
  12. Mar 9, 2011 at 10:56 AM
    #12
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

    Joined:
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    Alex
    North Richland Hills, TX
    Vehicle:
    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    the rear axle is fine it was just my front diff that had no fluid in it and locked up. so was completely fine to drive in 2wd.
     
  13. Apr 8, 2011 at 6:48 AM
    #13
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

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    Alex
    North Richland Hills, TX
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    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    well got the truck back yesterday with the 4.88's installed in a new rebuilt front end, the 4.88s are worth the price, RPMs are lower at all speeds and the pick up at low end is great.
     
  14. Apr 8, 2011 at 7:10 AM
    #14
    especk

    especk Nothin' Special

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    4.88s give you lower RPMs??? :confused:
     
  15. Apr 18, 2011 at 12:57 PM
    #15
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

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    Alex
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    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    ya they did with mine about 200-300 lower at all speeds, its awesome feel like i barely have to give it gas to go anywhere compared to having to floor it everywhere before.
     
  16. Apr 18, 2011 at 7:19 PM
    #16
    especk

    especk Nothin' Special

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    If you went from stock to 4.88s, your RPMs will be higher - no way around that :confused:
     
  17. Apr 19, 2011 at 2:16 AM
    #17
    SPOTSONTROUT

    SPOTSONTROUT Well-Known Member

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    What gear ratio were your stock ones?
     
  18. Apr 19, 2011 at 8:12 AM
    #18
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

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    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    stock were 4.10s, but ya mine is in fact lower RPMs may be higher around 60-65, but I know I drove at 70 mph to work everyday at 2500 RPM now I do 70mph at 2300 RPM. know im going 70mph cause I used my gps to track my speeds. Also didnt drive my truck for about a month and a half before the new gears so not exact on the other speeds just pretty sure, but know for sure 70 is in fact lower. Getting avg of 16.5mpg city/highway mix compared to 14.5mpg before. Have a road trip to CO springs here in july so curious to see what the straight highway mpg are now.
     
  19. Apr 25, 2011 at 10:57 AM
    #19
    03TRDtacotrucker

    03TRDtacotrucker [OP] No Road. No Problem.

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    Alex
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    03 SC double cab TRD SR5 4X4
    TRD supercharger, URD 7th injector, Map 3 ECU, 2.2 URD pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Bear River tru performance hi flow cat, 18" Magnaflow muffler, 6" fabtech lift, 33" Goodyear wrangler tires, the old all pro tube rear bumper, ARB front bumper with smitty built 8k winch, pro comp krawlers 87 series wheels, roof rack, 60" hi-lift jack, K&N intake, grey wire mod, front and rear diff breather mod, G2-performance 4.56 gears w/ royal purple oil, red top optima battery, PreRunner Tiregate with full size spare, Radflo front coilovers, Custom home made front skid plate, rear bilstein 5150 series shocks, Elite sliders w/o kick, Camburg UCA, mech grill with old school TOYOTA logo, ash tray removal Cobra CB radio w/ Firestik - List as of 1-17-18
    here is the pictures of the front diff ring and carrier, pretty bad no wonder the diff would not turn. Forgot to post these before just saw them in my phone, but the 4.88 install with master install kit fixed the problem, except for the fact that the pinion bearing welded itself to the diff housing so had to buy a rebuilt diff anyways.

    front gears case destroyed.jpg
    gear box destroyed.jpg
     
  20. Apr 25, 2011 at 11:00 AM
    #20
    ywen

    ywen Well-Known Member

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    where did your source your rebuilt diff? I thought about buying a used one from the forums but there is no guarantee that one doesn't have any existing issues.

    Was the rebuilt one you bought warrantied?
     

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