Coworker's vehicle down with damaged front end.

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ERG80

ERG80

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Good morning everyone, my coworker and family were driving back from a weekend trip and had an issue with their 2004 lx470. She said she had been driving with the Cdl and abs lights on and didn't notice anything strange until she got close to home. (Not sure how it locked) when she got close to home there was a burning smell and grinding. I assumed it was the transfer case but the shop she took it to said the front diff gears blew up. I'm not very educated on differentials so with the basic info above does it sound like if the carrier is ok it's just a matter of new r&p gears? Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
 
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More info: build date of 9/03 but it's an 04 model. she wants to keep it stock. She was actually thinking of trading it over the weekend but decided not too.

Any good sources for a used front diff?
 
onpoint01 said:
Sounds like it could also be a transfer case blown. Was the CDL engaged all that time? You might want to give these guys a call and see if they have anything. http://www.cruiserparts.net/parts/uzj100.html
Click to expand...

According to what she said the diff lock and and lights were on so I assume the Cdl was engaged.
I thought it was the transfer case based on the original story before they got it to the shop. After the shop looked they said it's just the front end though.

Thanks for the link.
 
Cruiserparts doesn't have a used one. They can rebuild it but the turn around time of 2 weeks is longer than she wants to have the vehicle down.
 
To the top for the evening readers. Anyone happen to have a used front diff for sale?
 
The 2004 has a 4-pinion diff. I'm thinking a stripped drive flange. That's a a lot of pressure on the CV when bound up due to the CDL locked. The transfer case and front differential should be able to handle it, stock tires slip easy compared to a 33" or 35". Have they taken the front differential out and inspected? Did anything come out on the drain plug? If she did in fact blow the front differential, she wouldn't of been able to drive fast enough to smell burnt fluid, she probably wouldn't be moving at all. My best guess is the drive flange went, and the speed difference between the CV and wheel was causing some excessive heat and burning the hub grease. I'd have them take the stuff out, inspect it as they go. It'll be much cheaper to pay $1,000 in labor to find a $300 part than replacing a $1,500 part and paying $1,000 in labor to find out it was another part.

I've been wrong more than once on MUD, I just hope the front diff isn't blown.
 
Thank you for all the help and suggestions, everyone. It ended up being much more cost effective and quicker to just get a new assembly from Sam Stewart (his #678-783-2654)on here. He saved me over $400 going through him instead of the local dealer.

The vehicle is back up and running. I'm trying to get the old assembly to take a look at it and see what I can. The gears supposedly blew up possibly due to the bearings giving up? But I don't know for sure yet. The different differential vendors could have helped but parts, shipping, and labor would have been more expensive and taken longer than just having Sam ship the new parts.

Again thanks to all and I'll update with pics if I an get my hands on the old part.
 
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ERG80 said:
She said she had been driving with the Cdl and abs lights on and didn't notice anything strange until she got close to home. (Not sure how it locked)
Click to expand...

I think it's pretty easy to bump with your leg, cleaning/dusting, etc. I think it needs to be recessed and a bit harder to engage. I've accidentally pushed the button myself.
 
Glad we were able to get them back on the road quick. The complete assembly ended up being pretty reasonably priced.

I am still waiting on some things to come through before I can get fully back to being a supporting vendor but if anyone needs anything in the mean time, you can email me at the address in my sig.

:cheers:
 
Sam Stewart said:
Glad we were able to get them back on the road quick. The complete assembly ended up being pretty reasonably priced. I am still waiting on some things to come through before I can get fully back to being a supporting vendor but if anyone needs anything in the mean time, you can email me at the address in my sig. :cheers:
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really appreciate the quick help!

I'm still trying to get the old parts to look at and will update here with pics when I do.
 
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