Look what I did.. (Destroyed my diff)

Fun week camping. Fun day on the trail. Got to a ledge I got 1/2 up and slipped on.. (So, I had the throttle down, wheels were slowly spinning, but probably sped up considerably when I lost traction, then hit the ground and stopped.. just a few inch drop) it made a clunk sound. I got up the ledge and heard a couple other 'clicks' on the rest of the way down the trail... They weren't that loud.. Got to the trail head and put it in 2wd. The drive shaft spun, but the wheels didn't.
I put it in 4wd and used the front wheels to slowly drive me back to civilization. Was about 60 miles.

Toyota dealer was the only place open at the time, so I took it there (and their website made them look like an independent shop. I was surprised when I arrived). Several days later, they decided it's probably best for me to have the work done somewhere else. I have aftermarket gears (different ratio ring and pinyon). I don't think they were comfortable getting in and replacing the gears.
I'm in a different city.. Had to remotely find a gear shop. Had to find someone to tow it from Toyota to the gear shop. It all went very well.. At least so far. It's at the shop now. They specialize in this sort of thing, and seem to have the situation under control.

I should have told them to put a locker in there, instead of new spider gears. Called and checked, and they've already got the parts on the way.. Maybe next time.. (heh, hopefully there is NEVER a next time).

 

Hahaha. I did this to my truck years ago. Saw it as an opportunity to regear and throw a locker in. One of the best things I’ve done to the truck.

Glad to hear it’s under control and best of luck with the repair!

 

I'm really regretting not making up my mind earlier about the locker.. I think if I had one, this wouldn't have happened.
I might still end up paying a shop closer to home to install one sometime.
I was going to get ole' campy new suspension for his birthday this October.. But a locker might be a better choice.

I'm taking my thread a little OT, but what locker did you install? Any issues? (I already have a compressor and have been thinking about an ARB.. but there are so many posts about them developing seal issues and leaking.. which is why it was taking me so long to decide if I wanted one earlier today)

 

Always.. It can't really be removed. (w/out a lot of work and disconnecting things, etc. It's not like factory, anymore.. (camper or truck))
And, I recently had it weighed...............


So.. I'm definitely pushing things. But I've been on much rougher roads than the one that broke my truck.

 

As the 3rd member is easily removed, I'm wondering if it's cheaper to have a shop do the work, or just remove the 3rd member yourself and send it to a place like ECGS for the work.

 

Yeah, I need to look in to that. I am not super experienced.. But I have replaced front CV axles on my truck. Replaced the carrier bearing and all Ujoints in my drive shaft. And my brakes. Maybe I can handle it....

 

ECGS is legit! Ive replaced the diffs in my taco with assembled parts from them and its been great. I blew the rear diff later after replacing and had a new one back in within about 2 weeks in time for a big trip. Those ECGS folks are great. The diffs are the only things under warranty on my truck these days

 

Second ECGS. I have replaced the rear 3rd on my old second gen with an ECGS ARB unit. It's easy enough. Replace your axle seals while you're in there. The worst part is putting the drum brakes back together. I have never swapped a front diff.

I miss the simple function of the ARB over the finicky factory e-locker on my 3rd gen.

 

Also, damn your truck is heavy. How do the brakes hold up? Do you have any brake upgrades?

 

Brakes aren't great. Not horrible to the point I don't feel safe, but I can't lock them up on dry pavement. They'll throw me forward in the seat, but not lock up the wheels. I'm used to it.. Been driving it this way for 7 years. I've got 16" wheels so not a lot of options.

I'm still on the original rotors! Been turned a couple times. They're starting to warp again, and I'm replacing them this time.

 

yeah, a locker would have prevented this from happening. Installing a locker completely replaces the spider gears which is obviously the weak point in the diff.

i personally went with an ARB. It’s been great and works very well. I was one of the many who ended up with a bad seal that blew out but ECGS followed through on their warranty and I haven’t had any issue since. If I were to do it again I might try some sort of e-locker but I don’t regret the ARB.

 

You just take off the 4 nuts holding the drum brake assembly and slide out the entire drum assembly and axle. You shouldn't have to disassemble drum brakes at all.

I think youve been wasting precious time bro. I can swap a new 3rd member under an hour

 

Just to confirm, it would be just 8 bolts to be able to swap out the rear end on a factory diff? I’m new and was curious about a locker for my set up.

 

No, he's oversimplifying it. 4x bolts on each side that hold the axles into the housing. 4x bolts for the drive shaft flange. 1x brake line per side and you'll have to figure out the e-brake cable. 10x or so nuts that actually hold the 3rd into the housing.

 

Thank you for some more clarity, it seems like a doable thing if I have a few days off. I mean it’s not rocket surgery, right?

 

Any fine adjustments required? I know to build the diff itself there are measurements and shims, etc.. But to put in the entire 3rd member, that's just wrenching?

 

I don't undo my brake lines. I only undo he clip and it gives you enough room to pull the axle and drum assembly out.

For the ebake I undo the nut that holds them to the leaf spring and it gives me just enough slack

It is literally 4 bolts for driveshaft, 8 for both sides to pull out axles, 2 brake line retaining clips and the reminder of the bolts for the third member itself.

My time estimate is based on the fact that I have a lift and air tools. Your time may vary lol

 

Perfect.time now to install a Powertrax Lock Rite locker or more commonly called a " lunch box locker" , It replaces the spider gears