Rear end clunking

95 tacoma rear end clunking. I hear it more when I let off the gas around 30 MPH. There was so much play in the axle and the diff was moving when the leaf would compress so I bolted the leafs together and I hope that stabilized it. But, I think it wasted the diff prior. There's so much play between the wheels and the drive shaft and I had the drive shaft balanced and the ujoint replaced. I had a misfire and the truck was surging which I think made whatever worse but I'm pretty sure it's the rear diff.

 

How old are the leaf springs? Sounds like a could be a condition of axle wrap

https://www.yotatech.com/articles/fixing-axle-wrap-toyota-tacoma/

 

I thought so too so I ubolted the leafs together to stiffen them up but the damage is done as I still hear it clunking at low speeds and when I'm either not throttling or barely throttling.

 

So what do mean by clunking? Your post doesn’t really give us much to go off of.

how are the shocks and their bushings?

 

They seem fine. the shocks are about 10 years old though. They could be replaced but it clunks when I run over a pebble but not necessarily when I go over a speed bump. it's weird. The rear end is leaking at the pinion flange where the drive shaft goes in at the diff

 

I'd try to rule out cheaper culprits first. Carrier bearing look alright? Remove, inspect, and re-grease rear drive shaft slip yoke yet?

 

Is it 4wd? If so, take out the rear drive shaft, and put it 4wd.

Ultimately, if you think the pinion or diff grenaded some teeth you gotta pull the 3rd member and inspect it. you might find metal bits in the gear oil if you drain it. No amount of us guessing can tell what bearings might be bad in there.

 

I had the drive shaft balanced and while out it was all greased up. But yea, I'm not ready to replace the diff yet. I'm still looking around

 

At least draining and refilling the diff oil can give you some sort of indication on the heath of the internals.

Any silver glitter=bad news

 

I just changed it about 5,000 miles ago and it looked okay. it leaks around the pinion flange so it's fresh. lol