Diff Carnage...

[arnott1t]

Well this past weekend was spent on a lake in northern alberta looking for lake trout. We managed to find some and also find some trouble with the trucks. My 98 Runner got the worst of it.

All due to bad ice conditions with 20" of snow on 12" slush on the ice. This meant you were constantly splashing through snowy slush. I better also mention it was -34C... about -30f or so. Fricking cold. This meant on a daily basis the trucks would freeze solid. Rims to brakes to knocks to everything else that slush was covering. With forced air propane heaters and torches we'd thaw the trucks out to get the tires moving again. On the worst morning after spending an hour or so clearing Ice I want to move the truck and heard a bang. That was followed by a bunch of noise and bad sounds.....still wasn't moving. I was left with a drive shaft spinning into the front diff but the CV's not moving. I limped it the 5 hours home in 2wd and then tore into it tonight....

Ring gear stripped of all teeth....

Pinion and a cup of sparkly bits

So now I'm looking into the repair. A stock replacement is 600. New gears with install kits for both diffs allowing me to go to 488's are about 800. My biggest concern is the groove in the case. It's up to 1/16" deep or so at its worst. I'd hate to rebuild only to have the case split. Could I weld repair....not likely. I can find a case with the wrong gears for about 300 to rebuild but that takes me to 1100....

Thoughts or advice. I'll be doing all the work myself. I'm now in the 2wd rig with no diff, axles or font driveshaft until I sort this out. Managed to pull it tonight in about 2.5 hours. It was a bit of a bear though....

Thanks in advance...
Tyler

 

[toykidd]

have you looked at east coast gear supply they sell fully assembled 3rds for pretty cheap and you can pick what gear ratio you want and you send your old diffs to them...

 

[tyr0981]

holy crapola... i thought my 4runner handled the -40F in Jackson well.... note to myself, their's a limit!

looks like an expensive trip my good man! sorry....

 

[Singtoe]

Did you happen to have a front diff drop installed?

 

[Dous]

have you looked at east coast gear supply they sell fully assembled 3rds for pretty cheap and you can pick what gear ratio you want and you send your old diffs to them...

Yep, and we have no problem shipping internationally

 

[AZTOY]

Sounds like a good time to do SAS!!!! Yes! Solid Axle! solid axle! solid axle! Solid axle!
Sorry got carried away. I just wish I had an excuse to spend the money on it. You know, like a blown up front end.
Good luck fixing it.
Solid axle!

 

[arnott1t]

Yes a diff drop spacer was installed. It also looked like the diff was low on oil. These thing may have contributed but the real issue was the tires being frozen up.

Solid Axle..... no thank. I have 3 other solid axle rigs and really have enjoyed the IFS life. An 87 Land Cruiser on 37's with turbo diesel, 91 Zuk Sammy on 36" toyota gear, and a 93 Cummins on 35's and Dana 60's and 70's is all the solid axle fun I want or need. I like the IFS for what it is. Fast, smooth and very capable.

Any other thoughts on case condition? I'd go the East Coast route if I didn't think I could do it my self. I've done about 10 Toyota diffs though no IFS ones yet and have learned a few things via my F&^* Ups.

Big decisions now are:
Locker in the front---- Likely not to pro long its longevity
What Gear Ratio? --- Almost certainly 4.88... 5.29 are to much for 33's
Where to buy--- I have a Marlin gift cert but pricing is better at JT. Other?

Thanks,
Tyler

 

[Steve240]

So what do you think did that, was one wheel still froozen solid when you went to move? Either way good to hear you made it home and bravo for doing the work when its this cold. I try to do as little as possible on my cars during the winter.

Something that might help you.

Search Results

There seem to many front end assemblies for 300. There is a guy local to me that has part trucks with diffs for far less. Check your local classifieds but I bet you can find a replacement for a lot less than 600.

Edit, I noticed my link didn't work but the site is easy to figure out and a good resource for sourcing parts.

 

[Coastal616]

Hey Tyler what gear ratio are you? I just bought a parts 4runner and I am not using the front diff, its mint never been winter driven.

I can't stand 7.5" diffs, and I'm upgrading to either an 8" supra or an 8.8" F150 IFS diff.

 

[arnott1t]

I'm 4.10 ratio. That looks like an auto so its likely 4.30 I 'd guess. Let me know though

 

[Dous]

Yes a diff drop spacer was installed. It also looked like the diff was low on oil. These thing may have contributed but the real issue was the tires being frozen up.

Solid Axle..... no thank. I have 3 other solid axle rigs and really have enjoyed the IFS life. An 87 Land Cruiser on 37's with turbo diesel, 91 Zuk Sammy on 36" toyota gear, and a 93 Cummins on 35's and Dana 60's and 70's is all the solid axle fun I want or need. I like the IFS for what it is. Fast, smooth and very capable.

Any other thoughts on case condition? I'd go the East Coast route if I didn't think I could do it my self. I've done about 10 Toyota diffs though no IFS ones yet and have learned a few things via my F&^* Ups.

Big decisions now are:
Locker in the front---- Likely not to pro long its longevity
What Gear Ratio? --- Almost certainly 4.88... 5.29 are to much for 33's
Where to buy--- I have a Marlin gift cert but pricing is better at JT. Other?

Thanks,
Tyler

We've got both Nitro and Motives in stock in 4.56 4.88 and 5.29

And we can do ship it out on the same day you order more than likely at ECGS

 

[tyr0981]

Hey Tyler what gear ratio are you? I just bought a parts 4runner and I am not using the front diff, its mint never been winter driven.

I can't stand 7.5" diffs, and I'm upgrading to either an 8" supra or an 8.8" F150 IFS diff.

holy crap! i guess that's one way to reach your differentials! :lol:

fftopic:

what are you doing to that thing?

 

[Coastal616]

holy crap! i guess that's one way to reach your differentials! :lol:

fftopic:

what are you doing to that thing?

LOL it was a write off, took the body off to get the motor out, basically using it for a mule to build on. V8, manual tranny swap, long travel, dual tanks, diff upgrade, etc....then when the time comes I will move my body over to this one.

 

[Doc2012]

LOL it was a write off, took the body off to get the motor out, basically using it for a mule to build on. V8, manual tranny swap, long travel, dual tanks, diff upgrade, etc....then when the time comes I will move my body over to this one.

Where are you located man?

Whatcha dot planned for the body and frame?

Sorry for the hijack.

 

[Singtoe]

Woo Hoo, V8 conversion.

 

[Singtoe]

Another Destroyed Differential due to a Diff Drop.

 

[Coastal616]

Where are you located man?

Whatcha dot planned for the body and frame?

Sorry for the hijack.

Body will be cut into peices as I need some rust repair panels, frame will be used in the new creation since it's so minty and nice.

 

[Doc2012]

Damn. I need one....

I gots plans.

 

[Coastal616]

Another Destroyed Differential due to a Diff Drop.

I'd say another destroyed diff due to the truck being frozen to the ground and a weak small r&p blew. No different than blowing a diff rock crawling, things get bound up, and either a shaft or r&p is going to blow. Oiling would have nothing to do with that break.

 

[Singtoe]

I would think that the cv shafts would break first before busting the diff. If the tires where frozen to the ground, it would bind everything up and the weakest point breaking. Usually the axle.

Now the OP was saying that the brakes were frozen stuck and had to be defrosted to thaw things out.

Doesn't make sense because when the brakes are used, they usually heat up and dry off.

The diff could have been the reason for the lock up (low oil, burnt bearings) and when the OP put the heat on the front of the truck, warmed up the diff enough to free it up and let it drive.

Just my opinion though.