Hello,

I have a 2006 4runner v6 limited with 51k on it. Last 2 months ive been hearing a whine from the car i have been ignoring it until i had a few back seat friends tell me it sounds kinda weird back here. So i decided to take the car to the local Toyota dealer i paid just for diagnose fee $62. They tell me that my rear diff unit has internal damage and will cost me $450 for them to tear down and inspect and if i need anything replaced it will cost over $2100.00. Now im not very knowledgeable with cars but this does not make sense to me. I have been searching the threads here and everyone seems to say its the Pinion. I need some help in what i should do here. I live in the Chicago land area. Can i still drive the car?

Any advise would be appreciated!

Any one?

Can you?
Yes.

Should you?
No.

Sorry. That was a bit glib. Look at it like this. If you can hear the whine, then your rear is about to go. When? Meh. Who knows. It could be today or next week. What you don't want is your rear to lock up, because when that does it has a tendency to take other things with it.


In short. You know your rear end has a serious problem, you should have it looked at sooner rather than later. In this situation, really the only way to determine the damage is to open it up. It might be simple and it might not, but I can guarantee that if your rear is going, not looking.. and waiting will only make it worse.


Hope that helps.

Also. For complex electrical things I tend to stick with Toyota. But a rear diff? Simple, as in find a reputable 3rd party garage and save yourself a TON of money. Some things need Toyota specific training, like the ECU or the WS transmission. Some things are pretty standard in the car world. The rear diff on your 4runner is something that any reputable mechanic can work on. Save some money and yelp a good 3rd party garage.


Also, those garages tend to help on cost. They will tell you some alternatives. You can, for example, go to a pick and pull or junk yard and find a similar 4runner that was in a crash (front) that has a perfect rear and rip that out and replace yours. Simpler in many ways if you need to replace the entire diff.

i agree, if your going to drive on it in the condition that it's in, then you may as well shoot yourself in to foot while your at it. it could cause a catastrophic failure and that $2100 bill will turn into easy $5100+ never know

DC Thanks!

Ive been talking to a few mechanics but i dont feel comfortable with them. One guy said it was my wheel bearing. So my conversation was short with him.

Had another mechanic tell me the truth that he does not have the tools for it. So i believed that he had never handled something like this b4.

I have been yelping!!! Im trying to find a party that only works on Toyota which are hard to find. If anyone on this Forum knows a mechanic they trust in Chicago area i would appreciate that..Im sure that mechanic would appreciate you too.

I have a few more options to exhaust b4 i start coming back here crying again..lol

If you happen to live south of Chicago, Gear Masters in Kankakee have a good reputation. They rebuilt the rear end of a Ford Explorer for me a few years ago and did good work. I believe they work on all makes.

what makes you think he was wrong?


we recently had an fjcruiser in the shop, the dealership told her she needed a new rearend(she had a bearing whine also). as it turned out it WAS a wheel bearing.
but still, it wouldnt have needed a new rearend, just the bearing replaced.

Ok I'm back !
$750 later the rear diff did go out..
My car is riding so soooo smooth now and silent.
I had him replace both opinions in the rear just so I don't do this again..
Front pinion bearing 90366-30067
Rear pinion bearing 90366-35087
Pinion spacers
Shaft seals
Oil

It wasn't the problem ..I guess you had to have driven my car to know.