Rear Differential leaking out of housing cover

Hello! So I have noticed and been told that my rear axle housing cover for the differential is rusting and starting to drip oil. I have a 2004 Tacoma 4x4 SR5 Off road 3.4V6. I am wondering if I should just get a new off road housing cover for the differential and have it welded on or find a new rear axle assembly, which seems to be impossible! I found out that I have the 4.10 gear ratio in it as well. I also found the Trail Gear Rock Assault Rear Axle housing for 95-04 tacoma and I am wondering if that would be better. Does anyone know what would be the best fix for this? How much work would go into the trail gear housing to make everything functional with the various cables and vent, etc.. I’ll attach some pictures as well. Thanks! Sorry for the long post.

 

Could always JB weld it. Not the "best" solution but definitely the cheapest/easiest and it works

 

If it's rusted there it's rusted in other places bad to. I'd change housing.

 

If I only get the housing and not the whole rear axle assembly does it matter what kind as long as it’s for a 95-04 Tacoma? Or does it have to be specific housing too?

 

Definitely what I’m gonna do for the time being until I can get a new housing for it haha. Thanks!

 

holly shit man, your spare! how does that even hold pressure?

 

Haha, I know, swapping that out now actually after the picture was taken, definitely rough.

 

With ABS no locker? There basically 2 rear end housing's Elocker housing and the non-elocker. .With variations of ABS or non-ABS

 

I am going through the same thing. We wire brushed and JB welded the leaks. I was told by another forum member his JBweld has held for 2 years so far. I ordered a axle. It came in with fill plugs at the hub and a E locker. The same rear plate as yours. ThTs not what I have. They left that with me then sent me the proper axle. Just bent 3” down and forward on one side. I have seen a lot more axles your age in my hunt. Than I am finding for my 01.

 

I’d get a new axle, chopping off that pumpkin “cover” would not be fun or easy. A new axle would be heavy but bolt in essentially, if you never use your locker you can say fuck it and get whatever axle you want. Almost any 4cyl 4x4 manual will be 4.10 ratio.

 

Haha sounds good to me and ya I never use the locker anyway. As long as it fits my differential and everything lines up I could careless haha.

 

Since I put my JB weld on I haven’t seen any leak at all so temporarily I’ll take it until I can get all the necessary parts and housing to make it work. Really leaning towards just getting the heavy duty off road style housing by Trail gear and kinda getting some little things fabricated on for the brake lines and what not. Since basically you just have to find a decent used housing for 1st gens anymore, I figure that’s totally new so it’ll last a long time.

 

I meant just buy the complete axle, I’d imagine it would be harder to find just the axle housing. The axles with lockers (8.0) are only on off road models, while everything thing else (8.4) is interchangeable so if you can find an 8.4 complete axle with your gear set, pick it up.

 

Cut it off and weld a new one on.

https://www.barnes4wd.com/Toyota-Pick-Up-Heavy-Duty-Differential-Cover_p_228.html

 

I found a weld on at carid.com for around $50. I’m in the middle of getting the parts to build a used axle to replace mine. My axle on mine is getting thin.

 

Oh ya definitely, ya mine is starting to get there I just coated the whole thing in JB weld just about haha to seal it up until I get my new parts.

 

Would it matter what the trim is or if it’s a double cab or x-cab? I found a rear end housing that says it fits a 2004 Tacoma base 4x4 3.4L V6. Mine is a 2004 Tacoma Off Road 4x4 3.4L V6 x-cab, according to door name is 4.10 gear ratio.