TW Member stranded in Bishop, CA.

**UPDATE** Not the front diff. It turned out to be a bad wheel bearing.

I'm throwing up the "HELP" flag here folks! A good buddy of mine @DarkShark just called me from a hotel in Bishop, CA. He and his girlfriend are on trip heading to DV in his '03 Tacoma and he thinks be blew his front diff. It's making horrible grinding sounds and all the shops he called in the area haven't been much of a help. He had a repair shop that hung up on him and Toyota hasn't called him back. He doesn't know of any junk yards in the area, but if someone can source a front diff he has the tools and ability to install it.

I'm gonna cross post this in the BS thread and tag a couple people in it. If he can't find any help he's gonna disconnect his front driveshaft to preserve his T-case and try to limp it the 150 miles to @RelentlessFab shop in Sparks. @JLee do you know anyone who has an extra front diff for a 1st gen Tacoma?

He's towing his Expo Trailer and is over 500 miles from home, so if you folks could help out in any way that would be awesome.

 

I would think that driving with the driveshaft disconnected should be no issue. But that depends on how bad the front diff is. It will still rotate even if not engaged and depending on the damage that can still be a bad thing, will create more damage making a swap hard and could seize from what I read when I did it when my rear third blew up.

 

On that note, if you put a rescue team together. I have no plans this weekend

 

I don't know exactly how bad it is, but he said it is making a horrible grinding noise and he thinks the pinion bearing is fucked.

 

I wonder if you can drive with the CV's taken out too? That way the diff won't rotate at all when moving

 

Bump for this. Hopefully someone can help. Seen plenty of rescue/awesome threads come about with stuff like this. @goblue82 up for another? hahaha!

 

Thanks! I am over 500 miles away so I was hoping some locals could help.

 

wishing you luck from Austin...

 

Can't do that, the CV's hold the wheel bearings in.

 

Well that stinky sucks

 

Front pinion right?
If he has to drive anywhere best thing to do is to pull the ifs axle shafts apart from the tulip joints, leaving the inner parts in the diff and just 2wd it home or wherever. That way the front isnt spinning.

 

Glad they're not stranded in BFE. Good luck man!

 

Yep, @Blackdawg just had to do a trail side repair of this sort. I learned a lot from reading his recent thread. lol

 

Yes, front

 

Bump.

 

take the cv shaft off? That way you may be able to keep your fluid in the diff and the bearings stay in. Still want to disconnect the driveshaft though.

 

I know a bunch of people driving to lone pine today. If anyone sells him a front 3rd. He is prob regeared though?

 

4:10 gearing but he said he will take whatever. lol

 

I'm no good on this one. I have no leads on a front diff. If I did I'd make a run at it.

 

Well if you figure shit out and need my help, PM me so I get a email. Good luck.