Broken driveshaft

You're looking $500 to $1k to rebuild it

 

Ran into a squeaking U-Joint on my 2008 a couple months back. Got under there to grease them only to find that Toyota gave greasable joints to 4x4 models only. Ended up replacing all three.

 

That's only pertinent when the rear driveshaft is attached. Without the rear being driven there's no binding to worry about up front.

I would still go easy on it only because the front drivetrain isn't as strong as the rear. No brake launches or WOT off the line etc

 

Oh hey! I just had this happen a couple weeks ago.

Check your carrier bearing. In my case, my carrier bearing was wearing out, causes premature wearing of the u-joint, which lead to a catastrophic failure of the u-joint, same as yours.

Luckily, from this point, you only need a 14mm socket: unbolt the two bolts of the carrier bearing, then 4 nuts at the transfer case, and you can remove the shaft.

I drove home in 4hi, effectively FWD, with no issues.

Found a couple local driveshaft shops. To rebuild my shaft would have been $350-600 and take 3-4 weeks due to lead times on parts.

A Toyota driveshaft was just over $700, but I could have it the same day.

I didn't want to take the chance on further damage by driving in FWD for 3-4 weeks, so I bit the bullet and bought a new shaft.

edit: Also, the cost to rebuild the shaft + rental car would have been much bigger than the $700 new Toyota driveshaft.

 

How can you tell if the carrier bearing is wearing out? I have play in my front u-joint as well so I will probably swap that out as well. My middle u-joint seems okay, but I might change that too if I'm changing the carrier bearing. The carrier bearing looks okay and feels okay so I'm not certain if I need to do anything with it.

 

It's not the best fix but looks like about one half of one percent of the yoke is missing. If it were me I'd knock those caps out of there polish that turd on the broken edge, if no other cracks then put it back together until you find a flange or drive shaft from the bone yard. Unless you don't need the truck for awhile.

 

Ah so front drive vehicles don't count?

 

She's toasted...

I had really great success using Driveshaftpro.com this summer when I needed a new DS for my 4runner. The pricing was great and the customer service was top notch.

 

Yeah because a transfer case and an automatic transmission are the same

 

Son of a gun you mean I have been greasing them for no

Ah so what? So your rear wheels are on solid ice then the front diff drives them off because it's not, it doesn't matter what does it. Both diffs have spider gear so you can make turns really doesn't matter what turns them. The transfer case just drives them nothing else.

 

Sadly can't get that shipped to Canada fast enough, or if at all. I've had bad luck with customs deciding to hold things for a month or so when shipped from the US.

 

That's a bummer. Have you taken the caps out of it yet? Clean that piece up and share a better look please.

 

Unless there is a spool up front, it won't matter in this situation.

 

Dude... we are talking a 30 dollar u joint that if it fails will leave you stranded at best, worst takes out all sorts of things with it.

Replace all u joints and center carrier as well as that broken flange yoke. If you have never greased the fronts, replace those too.

 

More so a time issue than a cost issue. Barely have any free time at the moment. How can you tell a bad carrier bearing?

 

My experience; when you can hear them making noise, or the smell of rubber burning, or rubber bits thrown about in the general vicinity.

 

Generally, if there's any play in it or drive-line vibrations, it's time to replace it.

In your case, definitely replace it while you have everything apart.

 

Not all. My 2012 Prerunner came with grease fittings. Some do some don't, don't know until you check.

 

OP....consider this.....

The rear U-joint in the rear prop shaft failed. Looks like it was never greased. The other 2 U-joints in that shaft likely have not been greased either. All 3 have seen the same number of revolutions, mileage, torque loads and flexing. The 2 survivors are probably near failure too.

Your U-joints in the front prop shaft (2) are likely in a similar condition.

I can't say about prices in Canada, but a set of 5 greaseable U-joints (Dana/Spicer) will be about $100 USD. The carrier bearing will be about $50 USD. Then you have the cost of the rear yoke replacement. Time to do the work as a DIYer will consume the biggest part of 8 hours.

I understand about the Customs situation. YOU may be in a better situation to purchase complete front & rear prop shafts w/greaseable U-joints from Toyota. Generally, if Toyota dealer doesn't have in stock, the part will be ordered and typically will arrive the next day.

Frankly, I would not drive on just the front prop shaft without a good inspection to evaluate the condition of the front U-joints.