Replacing front differential

Repost from my brother in the newbie section. Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

"Howdy everyone! Just started to use this. I have a 1999 taco, 3.4 with 241,000 miles on my truck. Love it and will drive it into the ground. Haven't had to do. Any thing major to it until now. Just ingnition, mass air flow censor, and belts. But last week I was driving home from work in 4 wd and my front end locked up. It ended up being my diff blew, bearing is shot. I can't get a mechanic to work on it till after Christmas so I was thinking of trying and doing it myself. I got 3. 9 gear ratio and looked into getting arb lockers but just to expensive for me so I found a used front diff that came out of a taco with 130,000 on it for 400 bones. I was quoted at $1500 to rebuild the diff. I also bought a cv axel and a unique joint to replace when I do the diff. Anyone swamped a front diff before? How long of an install?"

 

Swapping wouldn't take long, remove cvs, remove front drivshaft bolts, then drop the diff and put the new one in.

 

Does the diff include the add tube? or is it only the pumpkin? If its the pumpkin and the tube it shouldn't be horrible. Nice idea to replace the cv's while your there, the stock ones are more than likely worn out. doesn't take that long really, helps the have a set of jackstands or ramps to drive up on and a floor jack to get it in position. Also you will need a 10 or 12mm allen (pref with 1/2 inch drive), for one of the differential mounts Also get new seals for where the cv's go in on both sides, and remember to put oil in it obviously. I almost drove off without doing that.....

 

Hey thanks guys! What seals are you talking about where the cvs go in? Yep think I'm going to try and do myself. Going to go ahead and replace both cvs.

 

And yes the diff does include add tube.

 

Good for you, you'll save a lotta $$. There are two seals that go into the left and right of the diff where the Cv's enter. Be careful not to push the passenger seal In too far, it'll cause a leak. And you'll need a torque wrench for the cv's at the wheel hub, they set the bearing preload

 

Thanks! Yep found them, they are called axel seals. Thanks again guys greatly appreciated