1998 limited - path of destruction

[shadcore]

About a month ago I picked up a 1998 Limited. It had a horrible shake around 50mph on up. I overlooked the frame before purchase since im in the rust belt and was way more impressed by frame condition than other tr4's i looked at prior to this.

The shake was a bent drive shaft. I picked one up from my local pick n pull and the shake was gone.

I drove it around a while. About 150 miles later i decided to change the trans fluid & filter. After the fluid change I still noticed some spots of trans fluid after taking it from a drive. Back under the truck I went. After closer inspection, I find a cracked bell housing and cracked transmission. Cracks kinda meet up in the area where the two connect. Knowing this will have to come out for replacement I started getting the rear driveshaft back off. At this point im scrutinizing for any reason this might have happened and also discover that my transfer case is cracked around the back, around where the rear drive shaft connects.

I'm new to the 4runners with this being my first one. Any input as to why this happened? Nothing in the rear end seems like its binding or buckling. I'd hate to go through all the trouble of putting in a new trans/transfer case only to have the problem reoccur. BTW: this has the e-locker. I'm open to all input.

 

[StockyStock]

I'm not sure how the weather and conditions are out there, but if I were to rule those factors out, he probably tried to go rock bouncing and smashed the bottom end... A lot

 

[shadcore]

If that was the case I think i'd see a lot more damage to components underneath. There is no major marks showing anything hit hard.

With that ruled out, I'm wondering if the bent drive shaft was ran for a while and if so, would it cause said damage? FWIW: the drive shaft was bent due to what appears as a rookie rear u-joint replacement. Lots of marks where it looked like someone got happy with a hammer.

 

[pluton]

These trucks are not known for cracking trans and tcase housings, even with fairly intensive off-highway, 4WD use.

 

[shadcore]

I didn't think so. I couldt find much info on anyone else with a similar issue.

 

[shadcore]

I found the issue. One of the bellhousing to transmission bolts backed out and ground its way up against a spinning torque converter. Im sure once it got in the right position it wedged itself between the torque converter and bellhousing..causing everything to jump.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I found the issue. One of the bellhousing to transmission bolts backed out and ground its way up against a spinning torque converter. Im sure once it got in the right position it wedged itself between the torque converter and bellhousing..causing everything to jump.

That's crazy. I'm sorry you had such poor luck, these transmissions are pretty rock solid otherwise.

Worthless as far as performance goes, but solid for wheeling & such.