The Death of a Differential at 3,000 Miles

**Before you read any further, know that I understand the type of driving I was doing is not allegedly "intended use". I have owned a decent amount of trucks and have done this type of driving with all of them but I have never had this type of destruction happen.**

I got my truck back a couple weeks ago from being at the dealership since the first weekend of January. It was there for some warranty work, it took them quite a while to source a whole rear end assembly. What had happened is that 6 teeth got sheared off the ring gear. I also happened to have a GoPro on at the moment everything went wrong.

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Thankfully I had the truck towed to my place first, so I could thoroughly washes it before getting towed to the dealership the next day.

Let the conversation begin

 

Thanks for sharing. I'm no expert, but it doesn't seem like it should have failed.

 

You were unlocked, I'm guessing? I can't tell what kind of truck it is.

And dang, those cranks are loud!

 

Between my A/C compressor taking a shit at 500 miles and then watching this video...concerning to say the least.

 

Doesn't look like anything that should have hurt the diff. In Toyotas commercial they are giving it harder than that. Glad they covered it!

 

Doesn't seem like overly harsh driving to me. What were your trans/diff settings at the time?

 

They also have giant rabbits riding dirtbikes in the commercials.

 

Exactly, if they promote it...
Good thing they don't sell dirtbikes.

 

it should be durable enough to do endless doughnuts on dirt.

 

That's odd, I'm personally leaning towards a defect that caused the failure, I would think (And hope) that toyota would've weeded out a weak rear diff in the pre release testing.

 

No one else has made a joke on a thread before?

My point was Toyota's marketing campaign illustrates the truck as bullet proof, showing people jumping over the truck on dirtbikes, etc....

@Nickel seemed to understand my post.

 

Maybe the gear oil was low/non existent. Toyota does seem to be trying to save on fluid costs by under filling everything .

 

Definitely concerning, donuts should never blow a diff!

 

Looks like fun, and I don't think anything abnormal that the truck cannot handle. Definitely a defective part!

 

Definitely a defective part, no way it should have shit itself.

 

Wow .... maybe low on oil, or perhaps a retainer clip came loose and wedged between the ring and pinion.

I have raced 1/4 mile drag race cars for many years, and I have worked on and swapped MANY rearends. Differentials are usually built like tanks. Somehow yours just had a run of bad luck.

I normally drive highway, but I have put my TACO through a few serious mud challenges. We have a SUMMER access road about 3 miles long that is impassable after a big rain. I had some "fun" getting through that area: rest assured my differential had a whopping workout and everthing is fine: Except the hour I spent pressure washing the TON of mud off underneath.

Great to hear yours is all fixed. I am sure Toyota double/triple checked everything .... so you will have years of great service!

 

It's a public forum. Say whatever you want.

 

Trac off/on? 4wd hi, lo, or 2wd?

Glad it was covered, sucked it happened. Toyota pay for the tow too? That doesn't look close to civilization.