Rear Differential Leak

My 2004 Tacoma started to leak from the rear differential. Looking for advice. There is oil on the bottom half of the housing and when parked, it leaked a spot on the ground.

Dealer says I need to replace the housing, is that the entire axle? $2,100 with labor.



More photos: https://goo.gl/photos/eKuG731vVU3RiKmd6

Doesn't look like it's leaking from the front which I heard to check for... but what am I looking for with the pinion seal?

Toyota did the frame replacement last year so I'd like to keep it, but don't want to do more then it needs.

 

looks a bit gnarly.

Maybe clean off all the rust and see what it looks like underneath?

maybe score a clean(er?) rear housing from a pick and pull?

 

wow I've never seen one rusted that bad.
Junk yard would be your cheapest bet

 

Yes it's rusted pretty bad. I've had this truck in Vermont for it's entire life.

 

Look on the forum or Craigslist for a complete axle with the drums. Disconnect the drive shaft, remove the bottom shock bolts unbolt the leaf springs, drop her out...pop the new one in. Bleed the brakes and go about ur way. just make sure you have the gear ratio you desire.

 

Mine busted a pin hole at the cable brace too.I attempted to patch it.....just made it worse,complete after market replacement with the addition of disk brakes will be in line next year.I refill the diff every oil change.

 

I found a link on here a week or so ago for a after market replacement.can't find it now.maybe someone can chime in....

 

Yeah that rust has definitely perforated the rear diff cover - those are pretty thin to begin with. As others have said, your best bet is to get a entirely new axle assembly. I'm guessing the rear drums, parking brake, etc. all look as bad, so replacing them is probably a good idea anyway.

 

If your third member is still okay (which it should be), you can just get a bare housing and swap the third member, axles and brakes over. It may be a bit easier and cheaper to find a bare housing than a matched-ratio complete rear end.
I swapped mine into a new housing because it was leaking as well. Only cost me $200CAD for the rear housing from a wrecker (already pulled) and used my original third member.

 

Barnes 4 wd sells a heavy duty weld on cover that will fix u right up!