Again, rear axle housing rust...

Well, I still live in upstate New York and it has finally ate through. I posted back 2 years ago with the leak at the bottom of the rear axle housing, which was easily patched with a gas tank repair kit. But now the whole thing is rusting out, leaking from all angles by the looks.

I've found a few used replacements online, still looking 1,000 - 1,500 for something with 175k miles on it.

My questions is, I found one cheaper, but its off a 4x2. Is there any difference in the rear??

My truck has the B03A code on the door, 8", 4.10, 2 Pinion. Rear locking diff (the gears on that are literally visible from the great rust), and ABS.

The "new" one says its all the same.
4x2, PreRunner, ABS, differential lock (4.10 ratio),WHITE EXT,2DR,9/99,TAN,3.4L,4X2

Except for the 4x4 vs 4x2 part. Its off a 2000, mines an 01.

Anyone know if I'm barking up the wrong tree?? I just want to keep this thing going, up to 206k on it, just did all new suspension this year, motor runs great, got the new frame, only other thing that is wrong is the bed is about to rust apart, which I can deal with.


Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

PreRunner and 4x4 are the same

normal 4x2 is different

and judging by the description looks like it will work fine. locking diff is the same from what I understand. hopefully someone else will chime in. That still seems like a lot tho. have you checked out of state? Craigslist and salvage yards?

 

Frizzman beat me to it... But ya, the PreRunner axle would work for ya. The 4x4 and PreRunner axles are the same and is sprung-over and has the leaf perches on top of the axle tube; and the 4x2 axle is sprung-under and has the leaf perches on the underneath side of the tube.

Also agree that that sounds like a bit steep of a price on it...

Can you not re-use your differential and other parts? Where is it rusted through at?--the axle tube itself somewhere or the diff? if its just the tube, you should be able to re-use all your parts off the old one and just replace the tube. The axle tubes around here sell for about $100 or so...

 

It is from a PreRunner, so going to keep my fingers crossed. This is out of state and in Louisiana, where they don't drop the salt on the roads like snow as they do up here. Hopefully getting some pictures soon of it.
All of the salvage yards within a few hour radius said good luck, and just a new housing was around 1100.

 

if everything else is fine you may be better off getting the housing and moving everything over. you can replace all the seals while you're at it. with 175k+ on the other axles you don't know what they've been treated like.


Also look in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum here, and make a WTB post for one or for help finding one. Tacoma people are nothing but awesome with helping you keep your Gen 1 running

 

It seems to be about the best from car-parts.com. It does just seem to be the housing leaking, at first it was the bottom of the rear end, but now it seams to be leaking from either the top or where the housing mounts to the diff.

I tried posting on the WTB, but don't have the required 50 posts to be able to actually make a post there. If anyone has or comes across a rear axle assembly for $100, let me now. My truck has 206k, so going down to 175k is at least going in the right direction. I don't think anything is wrong with mine besides the leak, but then again, you can actually see the gears for the locker because of all of this rust.

 

Gotta love NY

 

Northeast salt....death of everything fun

 

Dang, if rust has eaten through the housing, what's left of your frame?

 

CRINGE!!!

 

That got that bad after your patch with all new fresh paint ??

I cleaned and painted mine a few years ago 3 or 4 winters looks good so far

Someone will be parting out one soon .

 

I remember on the 4Runner forums somebody makes a new cover. You (or your welder) cuts out the old cover and welds on a new one. Pretty common piece to rust out.

 

What i would do after my experience... degrease the axle, wire brush it gently and put a powder on it to figure out where it leaks... then if its the cover, remove the rear end...take out the guts, cut off the cover with a cut off wheel and degrease the hell out of the axle. Buy a barnes 4wd cover and have someone weld it on. Replace your bearings and seals on the axle. While it is out wire wheel it and apply por 15 with a top coat on it

 

Thing is to you strip down the axle housing to do the repair compared to installing a new axle housing

I would install a new cover if I was swapping axle housing other wise you will be at the same place in a few years

 

This is what I did. A bare housing cost me $200 (in Canada) and I swapped everything over. Gave me a chance to see what the condition of everything was and didn't have to worry about a potential gearing issue. As long as you have a torch it's a relatively reasonable process..