3rd member source?

[fivegear]

I think I may be needing a rebuilt 3rd member. Either that or it is the transfer case making some serious noise. Anyone have any issues with transfer case failure? I have 199k miles on it.

When the weather gets better I need to crawl under it and see if I have any movement in the pinion shaft or the transfer case output shaft. I am thinking I also have wheel bearing noise but that seems to be separate because it stays fairly constant with the speed I am traveling while this other sound changes with any touch of the accelerator pedal.

This thing growls when driving down the driveway even so it looks like I know what I am spending my tax refund on.

So I guess I am looking for input on where to get a rebuilt 3rd member from. I had the exact same problem with my last 3rd gen and the pinion bearings were shot from the PO neglecting axle seals.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance!

 

[Nelsonmd]

3rd member... Geez, I don't even have a second one...:boink:

If I were you, I'd just confirm your gear ration, then hit the salvage yards, and troll the classifieds sections here and on yotatech. You should be able to get a used diff for much less than getting one rebuilt, or picking up a rebuilt one.

 

[fivegear]

Yeah, depending on price with the rebuilt ones I may be forced to get a used one. I have used the locator sites before like car-part.com with good results.

I am just hesitant because of the two 3rd gen 4Runners I have owned, both of them had issues with the pinion bearings and I don't want to chance issues on a used one.

 

[KidVermicious]

I've never used them, but I've heard good things about Randy's Ring and Pinion.

A less expensive option would be to buy your own rebuild kit and have it set up for you. Pull the third yourself and take it into a diff shop (or even better, check your local offroaders board for "a guy").

The least expensive option would be like Nelson said, find a used third. If it goes out too, find another. Swapping a third is only marginally harder than changing your oil, and used thirds are cheap as long as you're running common gears.

 

[fivegear]

I did the labor on my last one, you are right it isn't a bad job.

I have to give Toyota credit for making them pretty easy to work on!

 

[fivegear]

Any known issues with the transfer case? My ears keep telling me this noise is right under me instead of behind me, but maybe not.

 

[snoope]

Call these guys.

eastcoastgearsupply.com

Straight forward and can give you a few "trouble shooting" ideas before you throw money at "IT"....noises can be frustrating....


Good luck and keep us posted with results..

 

[fivegear]

So do you guys have much in the way of drivetrain noise? This is my second 3rd gen and both have been noisy. I put new bearings and seals in the last one, it had beautiful contact on the teeth with the paste and no visible sign of damage but it was just as loud when it was all done as it was before.

I attributed most of it to the gear set running in the wrong spot for to long before I bought it.

I just don't want to spend money repairing what I have now on this one only to have just as much noise when I am done

 

[PitbullRescuer]

My pinion bearing us making noise in mine. '97 with 192K on it. For now I'm just living with it until I decide if I just want to do a rebuild or go with new gears too.