Rear Differential locked up while doing 55MPH

You just pull the Fill Plug to check the level.

 

That seems like a lot of gear lube for a diff. Like about 2x what I'd expect. Or are you speaking of both front and rear combined?

Is there a capacity chart floating around here somewhere? Just wondering what the OE numbers look like.

 

From sticky maint.
Parts:
Toyota Genuine Differential gear oil LT 75W-85 GL-5 or equivalent - Toyota part #

$48 08885-02506 GL-5 75W-85 Differential Gear Oil

08885-02506
Front - 1.6 qts; Rear - 3.1-4.2 qts (varies with model)
Rear drain plug gasket - Toyota part #

$14 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010

12157-10010
Rear fill plug gasket - Toyota part # 12157-10010
Front drain plug gasket - Toyota part #

$3 90430-24003 Front Differential Drain Plug Gasket

90430-24003
Front fill plug gasket - Toyota part # 12157-10010

 

Differential

Oil capacity (Reference)

Front (4WD models)

1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp.qt.)

Rear

Vehicles with an automatic trans- mission

3.1 qt. (2.9 L, 2.6 Imp.qt.)*2 3.22 qt. (3.05 L, 2.68 Imp.qt.)*3 4.0 qt. (3.8 L, 3.3 Imp.qt.)*44.2 qt. (4.0 L, 3.5 Imp.qt.)*5

Vehicles with a manual transmis- sion

4.0 qt. (3.8 L, 3.3 Imp.qt.)

Oil type and viscosity*1

Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 GL-5 or equivalent

1. *1: Your Toyota vehicle is filled with “Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil” at the factory. Use Toyota approved “Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil” or an equivalent oil of matching quality to satisfy the above specification. Please contact your Toyota dealer for further details.
   
   
2. *2: Except for GRN330L-PRTSHA, GRN330L-PRTLHA, GRN310L-PRTSHA and GRN310L-PRTLHA models*6 without rear differential lock system
   
   
3. *3: For GRN330L-PRTSHA, GRN330L-PRTLHA, GRN310L-PRTSHA and GRN310L-PRTLHA models*6 without rear differential lock system
   
   
4. *4: Except for GRN330L-PRTSHA, GRN330L-PRTLHA, GRN310L-PRTSHA and GRN310L-PRTLHA models*6 with rear differential lock system
   
   
5. *5: For GRN330L-PRTSHA and GRN310L-PRTSHA models*6 with rear differ- ential lock system
   
   
6. *6: The model code is indicated on the Certification Label. (→P. 571)
   

 

When I first got my 2016 I checked the fluids in my Tacoma. Auto tranny was over a quart low. The rear diff was low but within reach of my finger. Front diff was extremely low over a quart and 1/2.

OP who is your servicing dealer? You were pretty lucky that it was wet out when this happened the truck probably just slid leaving you with better control rather than spinning around. With the rain at least there was some reduced speeds. Normal clear dry weather the drivers around you in that location you are very lucky to have walked away.

I'm glad you got through it safely.

 

I had a rear diff leak after owning the truck for about 3 months. Others had the same problem. They replaced the gasket and torqued the bolts to spec on mine, others they just re-torqued the bolts. Keep an eye on it from now on. I look at mine at least once a week to see if there is any leakage. I also check the rear diff to see if it leaks as well.

 

Must be the drive line vibrations causing things to vibrate loose.

 

I had the same thing happen on my 2009 regular cab. Mine was caused by faulty installation of a lock right locker though. I heard a small pop pulling into work one day. Got off work around 2 a.m. and headed the interstate. That small pop was a couple gear teeth breaking off, and then they lodged between pinion and ring gear at 75 MPH. Not a fun ride. Of course, that is how I wound up buying two built differentials from EGGS. 4.88's and ARB's were sweet!

 

I pretty much have the same situation going on right now. Diff blew up so it's time to upgrade. Should be back up and running with 4.88's and an ARB in about two weeks.

 

Thanks and I agree. I am really lucky that I walked away and that the truck had no body damage. I had it towed to Manhattan beach beach Toyota

 

Keep us updated on the situation!

 

Why don't you think so Joe? I was driving at 55 mph or so. It was raining lightly. My day was going great. I had some Zappa blasting on the radio. I was happy. Then I heard a bang and the rear of the truck started to bounce and slide to my right. I turned into the skid but over compensated, the back end went left. Turned into it again and it went right and straightened out as it came to a stop. I was next to the retaining wall and center divider. I sat there dazed as to what just happened and amazed that I didn't get hit or hit anything/anyone. I attempted to move the truck forward and a little to my left to get out of the fast lane a little bit more but the truck just growled and jumped a little so I stopped. I called Toyota care, then 911 and as I waited I watched a co-worker drive around me along with many other mostly pissed off people because I was not moving out of their way.

I was the sig alert on the 110 northbound.

I know that some of you on this site think that I am trolling and full of shit but this really happened to me yesterday and F-U if you don't believe me, I could care less. I am not here looking for sympathy. I am merely looking to see if anyone else has had this same issue on a 2016 or later taco. This truck as I said, just turned a year old and this should not have happened. I am only interested in finding out why it happened and to try to help Toyota stop it from happening again so other Taco lovers won't go through what I just did because that really sucked.

I also would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and helpful info. I do not wrench my own vehicle and have never learned auto mechanics so I have no clue when it comes to engines. Ask me to tune a table saw but not your car! That's what I pay Toyota for.

Peace and love.

 

Don't let these people get to you. One thing I found that makes TW a great forum is the ignore button. Just one click and your problems are gone.
I believe this happened as well as others do, and I am staying tuned for updates, so I Hope you continue to hang around and keep is informed as to what happens. Whether it be a proper fix, new truck, or you end up walking away from the Tacoma and getting something else, I am interested, so don't let the negative nancies run you off.

 

Brand loyalty sometimes clouds common sense and facts... I experienced a catastrophic engine failure in an early 80s Jeep CJ one time, and I was accused of lying because "AMC engines never ever fail"... one thing we say at work during training is " take the good, leave the bad, and always learn something, even if it's what NOT to do"

 

Wow, a quart and a half low. At capacity front holds 1.6 quarts, yours was pretty much dry.

OP, sorry this happened to you but glad you are OK. I hope Toyota takes care of you and gets you back up and running quickly.

I changed my differential fluids out at about 1500 miles. When checking before I drained, both were where they should have been. Some say it's crazy and not needed to change fluids out so early, but I am old school and still believe in break in periods. Just an FYI, when checking for metal in the differential oil, in both front and back there were only small traces of metal on the magnets. Waste of time and money to change? Maybe, but now I have my brand of oil that I have used for many years, and also piece of mind that levels are correct and any metal fragments from break in are gone.

 

I've broken 2 rears. One Oldsmobile, 1 Ford. One had all the parts exit the rear cover shotgun style. The other had the left carrier bearing fall apart letting the ring gear move away from the pinion knocking the edges off the gears--loudest clacking you'll ever hear lol.
I was lucky to not have either lock up. Glad you didn't wreck it. Vibes duder.

 

Like I said, I could care less if they believe. Whatever! I'll keep you all updated. They tell me that corporate won't be out until Monday. I called corporate and started a claim. Told them I will not drive that vehicle again.
I told corporate that I did not feel safe in the truck after they replaced the wiring harness. I felt like if the guy that built that truck just jammed a broken wire into the receptacle what else was carelessly installed. but since they insisted that I keep the vehicle I asked them to give me a 10 year 150,000 mile platinum warranty to cover me just in case and they did. But now my fears were realized and the truck could have killed me or someone else in a vehicle next to me as I was spinning. I don't think that I am blowing this out of proportion. So whatever happens, that TRD will remain in their hands. I'll only get back into it to clean my stuff out. For now, They gave me a plug in Prius Prime to drive.

Peace, Love and Frank Zappa!

 

Well, I'm sure it's a rare occasion and you'll be ok.