Rear end trouble... now what

97 Tacoma 4wd, locking diff, ABS... rear axle seal went out, now mechanic is saying axle is stuck and prob be cheaper to find a used rear end, swap the whole thing out.

Thoughts appreciated

 

Axle seal failed and you lost fluid to the point it damaged the differential?

 

Appears to be the case

 

Only thing that should be holding axle in is the 4 nuts on back of drum. Nothing inside diff keeps it in place. For it to possibly bind up tight on it there would have to a major malfunction in diff and youd definitely know it...

 

Tell Mechanic to show you what's wrong sounds like he's trying to get more money out of you

 

He's saying its "hung up in the housing"...

 

I still think you need to go into his shop have him pull all parts apart and show you what's wrong. A good Mechanic would a bad Mechanic would tell you to get fucked should be able to figure that out pretty easily

 

Usually the only thing to worry about is the wheel bearing going bad from the diff fluid entering the blown seal and washing away the grease inside of it. How long has it been since your truck was last inspected by a mechanic or yourself?

 

I hope hes not trying to remove the third member...

 

Everything was just checked out, fluid etc, at the end of a 3 hr drive got out and saw oil poring out of axle seal, took it straight to mech and here we are

 

May have killed your wheel bearing but idk if your axle is seized.