New Diff on the way...

i woudn't say zero logic. if you keep reading you will see that there are solutions for these issues, such as checking and/or changing out your diff oil at 1k miles, checking the trans levels before leaving the lot, etc. people pour into these forums when they have problems, so there's a definite bias. i'm using the info here to be armed and do it right from the outset if possible... earn my good fortune hopefully.

anyway, back on topic.

 

It's been reported changing the diff oil still results in failure or they still whine unfortunately, and that's just the diff, not other issues.

 

Won't puke fluid. The output shaft on the transfer case has a flange that the drive shaft bolts to.

 

I don't think breaking in heat treats gears for strength. That's done in the manufacturing process. I've built re/built several rear ends and transmissions to include dog gears. They are already 'treated' and breaking in meshes the pieces. They constantly go through heat cycles.

That pic looks like the pinion sheared off. Typically from bad bearings or incorrect backlash faulty housing etc. When diff's fail, they fail gloriously.

 

They fail gloriously but it can still be a slow death up to the grenade. I had a pinion bearing issue on my last truck, started as a howl/whirring and small vibration. Gradually ended up as very very loud howling/whirring and vibration bad enough to make my mirrors blurry.

 

Agree. I had a s/c e46 m3 with new 3.9 that had a faulty pinion bearing. I couldnt tell at first what it was but I heard a whine. But by that time it was too late. Stopped at a light then let the clutch out and heard a loud bang and felt like my driveshaft fell out.

 

i was saying because the gears can potentially get very hot when they are brand spanking new, if proper care isn't taken the gears could over heat and lose their heat treatment from the factory. Resulting in softer steel that will wear out quicker. the photo I found online on a differential guide and it was captioned:

"Without proper break-in of a new gear set or the correct oil, you may end up with a pinion like this. It was removed from an axle that was overheated. Notice that the gear teeth have lost their heat treatment and have the appearance of being torn off."

 

http://www.justdifferentials.com/GPTACO2016-4-88-8-75-p/gptaco2016-4.88-8.75.htm

 

They'll find a Fix eventually. I suspect based on this forum is probably like 20-30% of diffs having issues. It's not like a failing and noisy diff is just going to be left alone forever. It's widely being reported that they are looking for a Fix. Something like this could ruin there reputation. It will be fixed.

And no way am I spending my money replacing the diff fluid at a chance mine won't stay howling. Fuck that. Give me a new diff when mine explodes. That's what a warranty is for.

 

I'm officially on the list for a new differential as of today. If it is howling, I recommend taking it in and forcing Toyota to acknowledge it. I came to the conclusion that I'd rather have them replace it earlier than later. At that point they have admitted it isn't normal and that there is an issue. So if the new one doesn't howl, awesome, if it does howl, well they can't really backtrack suddenly and say everything is normal. So they will be forced to replace it again. When people start needing second or even THIRD replacement diffs, Toyota is going to get busy real quick figuring out a solution.

I'd hate to have it replaced towards the end of warranty only to have it start howling again a few thousand miles out of your warranty.....

 

The only problem with what you say is you are assuming that EVERY 2016 has all/any of these issues. I have a new 2016 and have looked really hard for all these problems and don't have any of them. I had the TSB done to the tranny, the tranny is better than it was, but I thought it was OK the way it was too. If there had not been a TSB, I would not have thought the tranny was bad. So far it's the best Toyota pick up of the 4 that I've owned. (Except for maybe my made in Japan 1989 pickup. That thing was bulletproof!)

 

Nice. I was just going by what they told me

 

Is the diff different on the Gen3 versus Gen2?

 

Have faith in Toyota,even after warranty they would take care of the problem,been around the block with them,they are true to there word...

 

what fluids did you change out exactly?

 

on offroads and manuals it is.

 

He knows his stuff... I know my stuff and my truck houwls and haven't reached 3300 miles bud. J/S.

 

My service manager told me that oil has been seen leaking out of some tacomas at the seal around the rear diff. Once the oil leaks out enough, the sound comes and the diff is fried.

 

They're fairly new...

 

Very hard to believe on a new vehicle under normal driving... gears are made of high alloy or chrome nickel steel. To lose their heat treatment it would have to be exposed to 700-1200 F for different grades of chrome nickel steel. The only way gears are going to shear like that is from 1. Material defect 2. Pinion bearing failure 3. Dragging or Towing an excessive load under break in.