Bad rear end bearings, need help.

Im only asking because im sure im paying.
My son is at school and has a 2011 Tacoma 4x4 4.0 v6 with 180,000 mines on it.
Has a howl in the rear end, we thought carrier bearing so pulled and replaced that but upon investigation sounds like pinion bearing or more is bad within the rear end housing.

So my question is, pull and replace what's needed in the rear end OR buy a complete rebuilt rear and replace the whole unit.

He does not have lots of time to waste and it's his only vehicle, I have never worked on the rear end of a Tacoma.
So would the assembly be the way to go, if you have done this kind of job what ya think?

 

If time is a factor buy a rebuilt differential not the whole axle housing

out and in a easy day a few hours keeping at things

I am guessing you can do the gear set up if your repairing yours thing is your looking at a few days most likely to get the parts you need .

Just curious where the carrier bearings you replaced bad ?? Did you not check the pinon bearing when setting things up

Then I had differentials scream for years

 

Carrier was bad and replaced. Rear howls pretty bad. If you put a screwdriver to the housing and listen at the other end she screams pretty good. Didn't sound good.

 

Rear howls bad when driving? Id be afraid the rear diff might be on its way out...have you checked the gear oil in it recently? Maybe do a drain and fill and see what comes out, hopefully no metal pieces but it could explain the howl if so. Or if it's been running while low on gear oil

 

Yeah just replace the 3rd member and move on. Easy day. Can find one from 1st gens and 1st gen tundras and ofcourse 2ndgens.

 

Sure its not Ujoints

 

If the carrier bearings were bad did that impact the meshing of the gears enough to now cause your screaming??

Even with your best efforts to adjust the pattern of the gears meshing .

Did the noise start on the test drive or a few trips later ?

At this point a rebuilt differential might be the fastest and best option .