03 Limited 4WD V6 differential damaged

[turbokidcrx]

So I was driving and started hearing a click click click that turned into a thud thud thud and finally a bang bang bang coming from the rear end. I take it to a reputable local shop and the gent there tells me it sounds like a broken tooth off a pinion gear in the differential. So I assume the diagnosis is correct. It's not really driveable unless you want to sound like a giant cherokee drum is approaching, not to mention the whole thing can fail at anytime. So, the question is... repair or sell the truck? Repair was quoted at $2000-2200 including labor. I've looked online for the part and have come across a couple on ebay and thru salvage yards. $900+ seems to be what I've found. An entire rear end can be had for $1400. Labor was estimated at 5 hours.

Rear shocks should be replaced, possible leak in the radiator, front right caliper should be replaced, and cat back exhaust is a must since it's got a couple exhaust leaks, check engine light turns on and off, VSC trac light comes on and off, sluggish to go in gear after hard braking to a full stop. Truck has run solid for YEARS, 139K miles. It's 15 years old. It's in good shape but has some issues. Ideas? What's it even worth? Do I put $2K in it with a used diff and hope for the best? Probably another $1K in other repairs. I love my 4Runner but it's not going to last forever...

 

[Inv4drZm]

You make it sound like it's on it's last leg, and maybe it is, but to me it only has 140k miles. Hardly any at all. If it shudders super hard every 5 feet then yes it sounds like the gears are chipped and are grinding themselves into further pieces. For the love of Toyota do not give them $2000 to fix the rear end.

East Coast Gear Supply can ship you a rebuilt gearset once you ship them yours and you will be out $800-$900 plus labor although it shouldn't take long to swap the gears, the Toyota design is real easy. You get basically a brand new gearset and it drops right in. 5 year warranty.

 

[duffdog]

So I was driving and started hearing a click click click that turned into a thud thud thud and finally a bang bang bang coming from the rear end. I take it to a reputable local shop and the gent there tells me it sounds like a broken tooth off a pinion gear in the differential. So I assume the diagnosis is correct. It's not really driveable unless you want to sound like a giant cherokee drum is approaching, not to mention the whole thing can fail at anytime. So, the question is... repair or sell the truck? Repair was quoted at $2000-2200 including labor. I've looked online for the part and have come across a couple on ebay and thru salvage yards. $900+ seems to be what I've found. An entire rear end can be had for $1400. Labor was estimated at 5 hours.

Rear shocks should be replaced, possible leak in the radiator, front right caliper should be replaced, and cat back exhaust is a must since it's got a couple exhaust leaks, check engine light turns on and off, VSC trac light comes on and off, sluggish to go in gear after hard braking to a full stop. Truck has run solid for YEARS, 139K miles. It's 15 years old. It's in good shape but has some issues. Ideas? What's it even worth? Do I put $2K in it with a used diff and hope for the best? Probably another $1K in other repairs. I love my 4Runner but it's not going to last forever...

If you know how to set up gears you could fix the rear end yourself for less than $200. Just get a used gearset and some bearings and you should be fine.