With some time over the holiday break, and finally feeling like I'm over the covid bug, I was able to get after installing the new rear differential in the truck yesterday and today. Everything basically went as planned, until it didn't. I was able to get the brake drums off, which have formed a nice lip around the outside edge. Had to adjust the emergency brake inward so that it'd release, but was able to get them off without much trouble. I'll have to get some new drums to go with the brake shoes I have ready on the shelf.
First some glamour shots of the new rear diff. This is actually a front FJ62 differential that Mark
@65swb45 picked up on a road trip in the Karma Cruiser. This diff made the trip back from Idaho (Montana?) and was in the shop with a tag just waiting for me to call. Felt lucky to pick this up!
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And here's the old one, fresh off the rig. It doesn't look awful, and truth is it probably isn't, except for one thing.
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Check out the pinion flange nut at the stake point in this photo:
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And compare to this one. It shouldn't move like this. It wasn't even finger tight, and the only thing holding it on was the stake.
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I was able to get it all back together, with new gaskets and the axles both reinstalled, in just a few hours. Then, when I went to install the pinion spacer block, it wouldn't fit in the space between the axle ends. It wouldn't even go in - it was just too big. Doing some research in the FSM showed that back in the day, Toyota made multiple widths of the block, and that if the spacing wasn't to spec, to use a smaller or larger block. Mine happened to be 29.8mm, and measuring the space between the axle ends, there was only about 29.4mm of space. They did make a 29.4mm version of the block, along with larger and smaller sizes, but the only one that you can find new is the 29.8mm version that I have now. Damn. And the car is on jack stands in the middle of the garage so I have enough clearance to pull out the long axle shaft, with the BMW 2002 sitting outside, and I need to have it back by eod on Friday to make sure it doesn't get rained on.
Did more research on Mud, spun my wheels late last night, and started making phone calls early this morning. I started with Cruiser Outfitters, who sells an ARB kit that has different sized C-clips for the ends of the axles. More narrow C-clips will give more clearance for a larger block. This was my first preference, but after calling Cruiser Outfitters, they mentioned overnight shipping would cost well over $100 for a small $30 packet of C-clips. Ok, nix that idea.
Next was calling around to the dealer to see if the 29.0mm version of the block was in stock or could be ordered. The part number shows up in the system, but it's actually NLA. The 29.8mm one (seems to be the most common version), is still available, however. I also called a local rear end shop, who knew nothing of what I was talking about. Ugh.
Last was to start calling SOR and Mark to see if there was a used on available at either location. SOR wasn't that helpful over the phone, but offered to let me come down with my micrometer to start measuring their used stock. I then hit on the actual solution - figure out a way to take the 29.8mm block and have it machined down to 29.0mm. I called Mark to see if he had the part, and though he had one available it was his last, and figured it best to hold on to that for a ground-up diff rebuild. However, he was gracious enough to offer to create one for me, for a nominal fee along with lunch. Here's what Mark was able to create, new on left, my previous one on the right:
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This was the Golden Ticket - I got it home, installed, and was able to button everything back up in a matter of an hour or so. Test drove and all was fine.
I literally woke up this morning after having spent most of the night trying to think of a solution. I finally just put my trust in the idea that everything would work out fine, and here we are. I need to do that more often, I think - just go for it and trust that things will be ok. 2023 was a tough year in a lot of weird ways, not least of which is that my sense of control over certain things has been kind of put to the test. I am finding it is ok to trust that the universe has it worked out, and to believe that things will work out the way that they are supposed to. The LC community is a great one, and enjoyed my time with Mark this afternoon chatting about cars and trading stories again. Has been a highlight of my vacation so far.
Anyway, this cleared up the last of my off-throttle rumble. I still have plenty of other noises to chase down, but that one is definitely gone!
Next up - output shaft seal leak...!