Broke diff

So I think my diff is broke. When I put the truck in drive the drive shaft spinns but not the wheels, and It makes a clacking sound for every rotation of the shaft. Could it be one of the wheel axles? If it is the diff can I replace it with a locking diff.

 

From what you state it is probably the differential that is blown. Only way to know is to pull it apart and look.

Yes, you can replace it with a locking differential.

 

so what happened to cause this? What were you doing? I'm assuming you didn't have a perfectly working truck and then the next morning you don't.

 

Meth junkies steal your gears in the middle of the night?

 

Broke mine in December, same issues you stated. Broken teeth on the ring gear. Contact https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/ they will get you set up with what you need.

 

Also you can go with a locker, just not the oem Toyota e locker without swapping the entire axle.

 

It might actually be cheaper to find trd off road elocker rear from a wrecked truck than a new 3rd with an ARB or other locker pre installed.

 

OEM elocker 3rd will NOT fit in a non elocker housing.

 

I'm aware, thats why he would find the complete axle from a wrecked trd offroad truck, not just the 3rd....I've seen complete trd locked axles for $700 before.
It's doesn't take much effort to swap out complete axles....

 

gotcha, your post didn't specify a whole axle. Just didnt want OP to get confused.

 

10-4, yeah should have said "complete rear end" instead of just rear.

 

Hauling too much weight ?

 

I was driving down the road when I heard a thud like I slammed it into gear while at full rpm next thing I knew it wouldn't drive had to get it home in 4x4

 

So is it the axles (the bar connected to the drum break and wheel hub) that I would have to find? And diff. Or is it more

 

It all depends on what you broke. If you just broke an axle shaft then that's all you need to find. If you broke ring and pinion in the 3rd then you need a whole new 3rd. You can find a junk yard one for your truck for pretty cheap probably, or spend $800 plus on a new on from East Cost Gear Supply. If you go that route and want a locker its more. So my suggestion was to find a trd off road wrecked truck with a good full complete drum to drum axle to buy and just replace the whole thing in your truck. You can find them for less than $800 if you're patient. Then you would have a selectable locking rear end for much less than a new 3rd with a selectable locker installed.

Where are you located? I just saw a complete elocked rear end from a 2017 tacoma on Facebook market place for $450 in Ky.

 

So whatever you broke, just happened driving normally down the road?

 

Ummm.......wouldn't it be prudent to discover exactly what is broken?????

Before loading up the Part Cannon.