Loud Noise - only when accelerating, 45 MPH and above.

Used entire rear differential? Just swap the whole assembly. You mentioned you're 2wd...I'm betting a whole used rear end isn't that expensive and would be a pretty easy swap.

 

Members here have had good luck with East Coast Gear Supply.
https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/

 

So sorry for your loss. You'll find members here are supportive and respectful in your time of distress.

 

Appreciate all the feedback. When you say the whole assembly, the entire axle assembly? That's what the mechanic is suggesting.

 

Fortunately the scrap yards are full of them they used the same 3rd member for a long time. No doubt the final drive is toast but I comes out from the front worst issue is getting the axles out there is no real need to replace the entire thing.

 

Yes. If you can find a good used rear end for a few hundred bucks just swap the whole thing. Swapping the just the third member is not difficult but time consuming. I've purchased full assemblies and done rear end swaps without unbolting the leaf springs from the frame in under 2 hours. I've not done a Tacoma so your mileage may vary.

 

No one said this will be an easy job. No matter what you are going to have to deal with rusty parts the jackpot is reasonably light and a one man job replacing the entire assembly is not and is cumbersome, heavy and probably will require new U bolts, bleeding the brakes etc. Being a 3rd member all you basically have to do is remove both axles, slide them out a few inches unbolt the jackpot bolt in a new one. The worst part of the job is removing the brake drums. A used diff assembly will also have questionable brakes so you will end up removing the brake drums any way.