Toyota Tacoma 2006 TRD Differential

That’s the beauty of TW. So many great folks ready to help avoid huge bills like this.

 

The problem is that I cannot install that part from ECGS on my own and no one I can find around here will install it. I’m at the mercy of the auto shops who want to provide their own parts.

 

Quick search found this outfit https://www.davesoffroadsupply.com/crm.asp?action=contactus

I'd contact them and ask if they can recommend a shop to install a rebuilt differential in your truck, where you provide the diff.

 

Why cant you?

 

Thanks for the contact of Dave’s Off-road Suppy - I filled out the form and sent in.

I do not have the skill set to install myself.

 

Any desire to learn?

 

Just watch a Chris Fix video

 

Dave’s Off-road supply confirmed what I was finding - most shops will not allow the customer to supple the part. Thanks

 

Ok. I searched 4x4 shops near Easton, PA. I found one called Dirt Life Fab 4x4. I have no affilation, don't know them, and have no knowledge of their capabilites...the Google reviews look OK.

https://www.dirtlifefab.com/ is the website.

I emailed them and asked if they would install a 3rd member (differential) supplied by ECGS and they said yes. They said they would souce the 3rd member directly from ECGS or the vechile owner could provide it.

Your call on how you want to proceed, just bothering me how much you were quoted for this repair.

 

Thank you - I have reached out to them.

 

Response from OK4WD, 2621 NJ-57, Stewartsville, NJ 08886, United States https://ok4wd.com/


"We have a policy where we will not install customer supplied parts, however, if he has not purchased the 3rd member yet we can assist in the purchase and then install. If he is interested in that, please have him give our service department a call at 908-xxx-xxxx. We are here until 6pm tonight and tomorrow 8:30-1"

 

Thanks for this!

 

I worked at a foreign car dealership when I was in College many-many years ago. The dealership got in a vehicle with a noisy rear end. They packed it with saw dust and sold it that way.

 

I want to thank everyone for their help and recommendations in this thread, especially JAGCanada who went over and above to help out!

To recap for anyone else in my area who might experience the same issues I did, my differential on my 2006 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4x4 Sport went bad and needed replacement (3.73 LSD). I took it in to 2 local shops and received a quote from a local Toyota dealer. The shop quotes were $4600+ for a salvage replacement, $5,600+ for a Toyota new OEM replacement, and $5,000+ from the Toyota dealer again with the new OEM part.
Posting on this forum I found that many individuals used East Coast Gear Suppy (ECGS) to purchase a rebuilt part for about $800. The problem was that no one in my area would install that part as they wanted to acquire the parts on their own.

In the end, with the help of gracious individuals in this forum (again many thanks to JAGCanada), I have the options below to choose from for a more palatable solution in terms of cost:

OK4WD , Stewartsville, NJ
Dirt Life Fab 4x4 , Walnutport, PA
The Fix Autoworks Inc., Doylestown, PA

All of the above shops will work with ECGS and install a rebuilt differential for my truck for about $1500 total parts and labor.

I also found another Toyota dealer in Hatfield, PA. that will discount the new Toyota OEM part plus 2 bearings for close to $2000 (from an MSRP of more than $3700). Installed the total will be a little over $3000.

Now I have options depending on cost, proximity and comfort level to decide on to get my Tacoma back on the road again.

Thanks again to all and this TW forum is a great resource!