Rear Differential in 2010 Prerunner replacement

Hi,

New member. I’m so glad this group exists!

The rear differential on my son’s 2010 Tacoma Prerunner is busted up. It has the rear locking differential. My mechanic wants me to buy and replace the whole rear assembly. Buying from Toyota is so much more expensive than buying a salvaged one online. Plus, the online fellow offered a 2 year/24,000 mile warranty on parts and labor if I pay a little extra, for a total of $2,600. Toyota only offers 1 year/12,000 mile warranty for their new parts. The truck is two wheel drive and has 160,000. I’m leary of used parts but, think that’s what we are going to do.

Questions:

1) Which online vendors are reliable? Which should we avoid?

2) Are they usually negotiable at all?

3) Do you have any other thoughts or suggestions for the best way to handle our situation?

I’d prefer to put new Toyota parts in but, the cost is so much more AND they sell everything as parts. No complete rear assemblies sold new.

Thank you for your thoughts, suggestions and help. We really appreciate it. Just don’t want to make a big mistake.

 

What exactly do you mean by “busted up”?

 

And a prerunner with locking rear?

 

There are tons of them. What do you mean?

 

Didn't know this. From factory?

 

Was this an aftermarket rearend or retrofit from an older model?
2010 Prerunners did not have locking diffs. It's an open differential. It uses Auto LSD, a system that actuates the brakes to simulate a LSD.

What seems to be the issue?
How is it busted up?

 

yes, trd offroad prerunner

@Master Z

 

look thru these pics guys

offroad is open/lock

sport is LSD


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...prerunner-double-cab-18-500-knoxville.451294/

 

I was just about to say....PR OR had a locker

 

Regardless, OP, forget about going factory unless you get a junkyard rearend. You should be looking at around $6-700 for parts and install with any of the main aftermarket r&p, assuming that is the part that is “busted up”.

 

sittin in my garage

 

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. It was rebuilt in the fall of ‘17 when it first went out. He was rear ended almost immediately after the rebuild. It broke again in the last month. The mechanic we trust has said it is the rear diff. again. It is not drivable.
All I know is that this mechanic we know and trust, not the one who did the previous work, says it’s got to be replaced.
I’m just an automotively challenged mom trying to get her son’s truck fixed. I so wish I knew enough to talk intelligently and answer your question better.

We’ve gone back and forth between getting him something else or repairing this one. Again. He loves this truck and keeps it in immaculate condition. If we can get a proper repair done, I think it would be worth it.

 

Have you tried consulting you husband, or the boy’s father to help you not get ripped off?

 

Do you have an entire rear assembly or just the rear diffe

Thank you

 

My husband is not handy with cars. Great guy but, not a car person. I’m the one who usually tries to investigate and learn our options on everything to get the best result. He works all the time. That’s why I was glad to find this group. It’s just frustrating trying to figure the best course of action when you’re ignorant on the subject.

 

Ok, that’s great to hear! Thank you.My mechanic had suggested that we consider doing that but, I wasn’t sure it could be done safely. So, are you saying that there is no reason that we couldn’t do that? That certainly is a better option price wise. We are in Georgia.
Safety is huge for me. I lost my sister in an auto accident.

 

That is actually your best, and most econmical option. It is all OEM and factory built. There is generally no compromise on safety with a rear end.

 

Fantastic! Thank you for the info.

Will any second generation Tacoma rear end work in his 2010 or, do I have to buy only a 2010?

Do any of you have an opinion on a reliable online source for a salvaged rear end? And, especially, who not to buy from.

 

Beautiful!! What great advice. This is so so helpful. Thank you so much!!

Any place you’d suggest I buy from?

Actually my local salvage yard has a 2015 front end crashed Tacoma 4x4. I went to look at it yesterday to see if it had the lock on it. I couldn’t use that one because it’s for a four wheel drive, right?

 

I will figure it all out. I believe it is a 3.73 ratio. Thank you, again.