hold me fellas

Go buy a Dial indicator with a magnetic stand. Put the magnetic stand on a stable surface (axle housing), move the arm with the dial indicator against the bolt flange. Check for a gross over or under reading. If this is the case and not a bearing issue, replace axle. Find a wrecking yard and get you one.

If it is a bearing issue, remove the wheel, disconnect the brake line and the parking brake, loosen 4 nuts on the back, pull axle out. Remove snap ring that is up against the bearing.

Get the bearing part number off of the bearing. Either find a bearing supplier or order one online. You will also need the O-ring that seals the the 4 bolt flange to the axle housing. Find a machine shop or someplace that has a hydraulic press. Press the old bearing off. Have them press the new one on, replace snap ring, replace the O ring seal, lightly apply some RTV silicone around the 4 bolt flange. Slide axle in, line up the 4 studs, put nuts on, tighten. Reinstall all brake connections, bleed brakes, install drum, wheel and lug nuts and tighten.

 

We tried switching out the wheels and the wobble is still there. The mechanic was adamant that it was a bent shaft.

Like you mentioned, I'm having no luck finding a 5 lug rear axle shaft. Are the shafts themselves interchangeable between the 6 lug (4x4) and the 5 lug (rwd)? Would it be possible to take the end of the shaft off where the wheels are joined and put the 5 lug on?

 

that's why I suggested you just go get another rear end if the shaft is bent, its the best way and a whole lot cheaper then trying to fix yours.

 

yea I'm looking into all options.

it's not like the parts market is over flowing with Tacomas. The scrap yard near me rarely gets any Tacomas in.

I did see a CL ad:

"Up for sale is a rear axle differential off of a 98 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 5 speed manual 3.4 v6 fit many Toyotas like Tacoma tundra 4Runner Toyota pickup. i also have one for a 2wd Toyota pickup."

No pics were posted so I'm going to call tomorrow and find out if that includes a shaft. Though I'm leaning towards no based on the wording.

 

That's a bummer.
I'm pretty sure the 4 banger mini trucks have 7.5" rear ends, so not interchangeable on shafts.
At this point best bet is like several mentioned before, junkyard axle. Find what your gear ratio is and check the salvage yards.

 

you cant use a 4wd axle, for starters the spring mounts are on top of the axle not under it and they are all going to be 6 lugs, same thing goes with any pre-runner version trucks, they are all 6 lugs too plus I think the drive shafts are different size from 5 lug to 4wd/pre-runners and wont bolt together. the axle you find needs to be a base model 5 lug 2wd truck.

I do think you can use the earlier pre 96 truck axles too because they were 5 lugs but I cant say for sure, someone else will need to confirm if that will work or not

it would help if you filled in your profile info so we know where you are located so we can make suggestions or even help you look.

not saying this is the best option but I found this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/95-96-97-98-99-00-01-02-TOYOTA-TACOMA-REAR-AXLE-ASSEMBLY-3502644-/361247216683?fits=Make%3AToyota%7CModel%3ATacoma
but definitely call and confirm its a 5 lug before you buy it.

 

^Thanks for the link. I did find 4 others on ebay.

The thing is that the mechanic quoted me at $240 for labor to replace the shaft only.

To do the whole rear end he doubled the price for labor.

edit- so how much do these things weigh? I found an "Axle Assembly, Rear" (I'm assuming that means the whole rear end) at a nearby parts shop. Would it require more than one person to get on the back of my Taco?

 

after talking the tires and rims off I bet your looking at around 80-100 lbs or so I would think, not light but definitely something you can get in and out of the truck yourself but extra set of hands would be a good idea since its a little awkward to handle.

did you ask if the parts shop would install it for you and if so at what price? never hurts to ask.

its a job that requires very low skill and just time and basic tools so you can replace the axle yourself if you have a helper around to assist you. its no different then doing a lift kit only instead of installing the lift you just slide the old axle out and the replacement axle in and bolt it back up.

I would ask around at other shops and see what they charge just to swap axles and replace if you brought them the axle.

$500 for an axles swap is high in my opinion. I think they priced it high hoping you would let then do the axle shaft and they could make more money adding on all the extra parts that go along with it so the price would have gone higher or simply pay a high price for a simple axle swap job so either way they made good money off of you.