Rear Diff for an '02 4Runner? (1 Viewer)

[marcfj60]

It seems like I've seen a few people with 3rd gen 4Runners talking about putting in a new differential. I have an acquaintance who has an '02 SR5 V6 with about 180K miles on it. She has had AmToy and an independent shop tell her that the rear differential needs to be replaced. She's trying to decide if she should pay for someone to do the work or sell it as is. I've seen that age/mileage going for somewhere between $2,500 - $6,500 on Craigslist. I'd be willing to buy it for ~$1,500 because it has a new timing belt, transmission, transfer case and tires with the risk of not really knowing what is wrong with the rear diff. However, it also has been sitting for several months so the fuel system might need to be flushed out. Then I could fix it and have it be a kid car. She's not sure if she wants to sell it or get it fixed. She got estimates of $2,500 - $3,500 to fix it at a shop.

The other complication is that she's moving to CA in a few months and currently has 4 vehicles and 2 drivers. She has a 12 year old that really wants it to be his car when he's old enough to drive it. I told her that I'd post up here to see who has the skills, experience, willingness and time to fix it. The only complication is that she'd also like her 12 year old to be involved and learn something about fixing it.

Without knowing exactly what's wrong with the differential, I'm not sure what the potential failure could be and what the likely repairs might be. I'm trying to get a sense of the best case or worst case scenario could be. Would you pay $1,500 for the vehicle as is and fix it? Is there anyone willing to have a shadow while they fix it for a nominal fee?

 

[pappy]

I guess it all depends on what's wrong. If it's just bearings a quality rebuild kit runs around $350. Labor at U-Joints would probably be $100. If it's a ring/pinion you can add $300. So worst case is around $800.

Removal is not hard, but the truck goes down while U-Joints does their magic.

Of course, a trip to the boneyard could be fruitful.

 

[pappy]

Also, are they sure it's not just a u-joint and the shops are jerking them around?

 

[marcfj60]

Yeah, I had some of these same thoughts. It could be a bearing, could be gears. This isn't a car person so the extent of diagnosis that she got is uncertain. She did get an independent shop that has been reliable and she trusts to diagnose it after AmToy gave her the first diagnosis and estimate. The independent shop initially thought that it probably wasn't as much as AmToy was saying but then inspected it and determined it really was the differential. I have no idea to what extent this actually is and I don't know what level of inspection was done.

 

[marcfj60]

I guess it all depends on what's wrong. If it's just bearings a quality rebuild kit runs around $350. Labor at U-Joints would probably be $100. If it's a ring/pinion you can add $300. So worst case is around $800.

Removal is not hard, but the truck goes down while U-Joints does their magic.

Of course, a trip to the boneyard could be fruitful.

So do you remove the third member and figure out what's bad, then provide the rebuild kit to U-joints and they swap out the parts? And if the ring/pinion is bad then I'd need to find some used parts from U-Pull? Are there any parts besides the axle shafts left in the axle housing once the third member is removed?

 

[FJCTom]

I bought from ECGS before and swapped 3rds. https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/c-1065067-assembled-3rds-clamshells-96-02-4-runner.html

Pulling the 3rds are easy. Unbolt the driveshaft, pull the rear axles then unbolt the 3rd and take out the assembly. Nothing left in axle housing.

 

[alia176]

After you pull the 3rd member and spin it, I bet the issue will present itself. As Tom states, it's easy enough to throw it in a 5g al pail and send it off to one of the vendor for a complete 3rd member swap out. That'd be the easiest and prolly the most $$$ option.

 

[pappy]

That'd be the easiest and prolly the most $$$ option.

Looks like the cost is a wash between ECGS and having the work done local after factoring in shipping.

So do you remove the third member and figure out what's bad, then provide the rebuild kit to U-joints and they swap out the parts?

I think this depends on time. Since they are on a time crunch it might be best to order everything, pull the diff, and just do it all at once. U-joints will use provided parts.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

That's an easy job on a 3rd gen 4Runner... I've done it a few times and could have the diff on the floor in under an hour. All 2002 4x4s will have 4.10 gears, and those are fairly common at U-Pull-and-Pay. Whoever the diff pirates are over there, they always snag the e-lockers but lots of times will ignore the open diffs. Any 4x4 V6 3rd gen with an auto trans and open diff will have 4.10s, so they are fairly common.

I'm wondering why in the world that thing has a new transmission, transfer case, and suspected rear diff failure at 180K. Was it submerged, drivetrain abused, etc? Has she been throwing parts (and expensive repairs) at solving an ongoing problem? That is an absurd level of mechanical failure for a 3rd gen 4Runner.

Which independent shop looked at it? What are the symptoms?

 

[pappy]

I'm wondering why in the world that thing has a new transmission,...

Tranny could be an easy answer. Radiator failure is common on gen3 trucks causing ATF and coolant to mix.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Yep, the good old pink milkshake. Mine is completely bypassed with dual external coolers for just that reason. But the T-Case too, and the diff? ... strange.

 

[marcfj60]

My suspicion is that they towed a camping trailer a bunch with it that had a dry weight of 2,700 lbs, so probably well over 3,000 lbs loaded and didn't do proper PM like fluid changes, etc. I pulled the engine oil dipstick and it has the right amount and color of oil. I also pulled off the radiator cap and it was low but not sure how much. I did not notice anything unexpected in there besides the low coolant level. It has a 90K and 180K timing belt stickers so some level of PM was being done. Don't know who her independent shop is. I tried to get more information out of her regarding failures but she and her husband know nothing about cars other than when something is wrong they take it to a shop.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

My suspicion is that they towed a camping trailer a bunch with it that had a dry weight of 2,700 lbs, so probably well over 3,000 lbs loaded and didn't do proper PM like fluid changes, etc.

That would explain it... I'd say that amounts to drivetrain abuse.