Broke front differential

[5151broadway]

Hi,

My 99 LX470 started having a clicking sound in the front end while offroading in the snow. The truck has 54K on it, ARB bumper and 12K winch. I pulled out an F350 and a modded Chevy while up in Greer, AZ. The snow was fairly deep. I don't abuse the truck, but it gets offroad.

The dealer replaced the front differential and replaced all boots under warranty.

My question is: Have any of you had front diff failures on your trucks?

Thanks,

George

 

[hank14]

There was a guy on here- his cruiser is the grey 100 series on the cover sometimes- I think it is FJ100, who broke his front diff a while back while climbing a hill. Kind of a vague response, I know.

 

[Landpimp]

98-99 have a weaker 2 pinion(I think) front diff, 2000+ got an upgraded 4 pinion diff........I except there was a reason for this change.

where you pulling out the Ford in reverse?

 

[jp213a]

Toyota replaced the complete front diff assembly on my 2000 for the PO at 104Kmi at no charge (one time good will repair). The computerized maintenance records state: Front diff seized up, overheated, all internal parts blued from overheating. The PO's story was his 16 year old kid had switched on the center diff lock and driven it on the highway at high speed. Now that I know a little more about the LC design, I'm not sure that's true. I bought it at 107K and found the bottom third of the radiator clogged with mud when I changed the timing belt at 110K. I just changed the front and rear diff gear oil at 130K. Almost no metal on the rear drain plug magnet and just a little on the front plug magnet. jp

 

[hank14]

Any idea how you got mud in your radiator? How did you get it out of there?

 

[5151broadway]

98-99 have a weaker 2 pinion(I think) front diff, 2000+ got an upgraded 4 pinion diff........I except there was a reason for this change.

where you pulling out the Ford in reverse?

No, I had it in N and the brakes fully applied. The winch was pulling me forward because the truck was so badly stuck. We finally got it out. Those trucks are big.

George

 

[jp213a]

The bottom third of the radiator "FINS" were clogged...not the internal tubes. The confusion was my fault. jp

 

[tabraha]

5151:
I haven't experienced a failure but I am curious if you have an extended warranty or what? 6 year/ 100000 mi or what?

Give thanks for that being repaired under warranty.

 

[hank14]

Do you have a suspension upgrade to support the additional weight of your ARB and winch? Discussion a while back concluded that the LX with adjustable suspension couldn't handle the additional weight.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=26430

 

[Jim_Chow]

Hi,

My 99 LX470 started having a clicking sound in the front end while offroading in the snow. The truck has 54K on it, ARB bumper and 12K winch. I pulled out an F350 and a modded Chevy while up in Greer, AZ. The snow was fairly deep. I don't abuse the truck, but it gets offroad.

The dealer replaced the front differential and replaced all boots under warranty.

My question is: Have any of you had front diff failures on your trucks?

Thanks,

George

You didn't happen to pull that truck out while in reverse, did you? I thought the 2-pinion front diffs easily blew apart even if you tried to back up a steep hill in reverse due to the inverse cut of the front R&P gears (weak for the reverse direction) combined w/ the carrier flex of the 2-pinion diff?

 

[ryanjl]

Do you have a suspension upgrade to support the additional weight of your ARB and winch? Discussion a while back concluded that the LX with adjustable suspension couldn't handle the additional weight.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=26430

Tell that to Christo.

It will handle the extra weight fine, just possibly wear out the hydro components a bit faster.

To remedy this, you can replace the softer Lexus torsion bars with either OEM 100 series units, or OME units, but you effectively lose the "lowrider" height setting on the hydro suspension, which Siglo did not want to do.

 

[cruiser99]

John Shotts (Tuson Arizona) and Andrew don't know last name (Raleigh North Carolina) broke thier front diff. Both under load going forward.

 

[hank14]

Yeah-it was Andrew (fj100) from NC that I was thinking of. His was under warranty as well.

And I intended to say that the suspension would do better with the upgraded torsion bars, as that link suggested.

 

[5151broadway]

5151:
I haven't experienced a failure but I am curious if you have an extended warranty or what? 6 year/ 100000 mi or what?

Give thanks for that being repaired under warranty.

The drivetrain is warranteed for 6 years/70K. My vehicle was put into service 9/99 and is covered till 09/05.

I don't use extended warranties because of how I use the vehicle. If it happens again, and it is out of warranty, I would install an ARB up front. As soon as the warranty is out, I will install a rear locker.

Thanks,

George

 

[5151broadway]

Do you have a suspension upgrade to support the additional weight of your ARB and winch? Discussion a while back concluded that the LX with adjustable suspension couldn't handle the additional weight.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=26430

The bumper and winch weigh less than a passenger. Granted, it's hanging over the front of the truck, but feel that the Toyota engineers would not leave so little room in extra capacity. I have never used the lowest setting on the truck. It seems silly to me. It's used for loading and getting in/out of the truck....I have no use for this. But I love the highest setting when offroading. The suspension was really the only reason I opted for the LX470. My old truck was a 94 Landcruiser. I call this truck a Landcruiser.

As things break not covered by warranty, I will upgrade them.

George

 

[NMuzj100]

If the front diff breaks is it possible to replace it with the 2000+ 4 pinion diff?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

If the front diff breaks is it possible to replace it with the 2000+ 4 pinion diff?

No. Replace it with a much stronger ARB diff/locker. Yes, I busted mine trying to climb a hill I had NO BUSINESS going down. Since then, I've reclimbed that hill locked F&R and it's still VERY tough.

I've read a few stories about people breaking front diffs when winching due to the front end compressing so much. The load is immense and the diff was the weakest link therefore going pop to releave stress. I winched a Tundra that couldn't follow us Cruisers and was very concerned but OK. Whenever possible I will strap and not winch.

 

[spressomon]

Shocker/Ryan: Good looking rig. What is the suspension (lift, springs, etc.) and tire size you're running?

 

[Jim_Chow]

The bumper and winch weigh less than a passenger. Granted, it's hanging over the front of the truck, but feel that the Toyota engineers would not leave so little room in extra capacity. I have never used the lowest setting on the truck. It seems silly to me. It's used for loading and getting in/out of the truck....I have no use for this. But I love the highest setting when offroading. The suspension was really the only reason I opted for the LX470. My old truck was a 94 Landcruiser. I call this truck a Landcruiser.

As things break not covered by warranty, I will upgrade them.

George

It should be able to take the weight of the sahara bar and winch. The sahara bar is quite a bit lighter, right? Overseas, you can get a LC100 w/ turbo diesel and auto height control, and that TD engine probably weighs at least a couple hundred pounds more than the V8. Plus the TD has dual batteries, so another 40 lbs there.

 

[ryanjl]

Shocker/Ryan: Good looking rig. What is the suspension (lift, springs, etc.) and tire size you're running?

That's Christo's rig, although I think he sold it now.

I think it's basically on the 'high' setting on the OEM LX470 hydro suspension, with Slee tortion bars and OME rear springs for added support.

The tires are 35" Nittio Terra Grapplers.

You can see more pictures of it here on sleeoffroad.com.