Extreme vibration/leaking differentials

[covingtonium]

Hey, first post here ever. Mine is a 92 Toyota 4runner 3.0 liter manual 5 speed 3vze engine with 4 wheel drive. Unfortunately I went offroading one day and bent some control arms in my front end, which were repaired, then about a week after that, my car starting vibrating horribly starting at around 30 mph. This continued to get worse, I got an oil change and they said that front and rear differentials are leaking. Now the car vibrates at all speeds, some worse than others. Whenever I am on a downhill, in gear, and no gas is applied, the vibration instantly almost goes away immediately. Is this a repair I can do myself (the leaking differentials), or should I give up on this suv. I only spent $4,500 on it. Thanks for any help.

-Daniel

 

[KB084RUNNER]

Where are the differentials leaking? At the wheel ends or at input shaft seals? If they are leaking at the input shafts seals you may have bent one or both drive shafts which would explain the vibration and the stress on the pinions as the bent shafts make concentric circles would wipe out the seals. Get your wallet out.

 

[covingtonium]

Damn

Well, what you said sounds like what has probably happened. The oil change guy didn't say exactly where they were leaking, so I don't know. I have some gear oil and I will probably fill doth front and rear up tomorrow and see if that makes a difference. Otherwise I guess I'm f*****. Thanks for the info.

 

[KB084RUNNER]

Well, what you said sounds like what has probably happened. The oil change guy didn't say exactly where they were leaking, so I don't know. I have some gear oil and I will probably fill doth front and rear up tomorrow and see if that makes a difference. Otherwise I guess I'm f*****. Thanks for the info.

The pinion seals are located where the driveshafts attach to the diffs. Easy to see a leak. The axle seals leak where the axles connect to the wheels on the inside of the wheel assemble also easy to see. Don't write off the whole thing just yet as you could simply have a toasted ujoint. Get a qualified mechanic to assess first. Don't trust the oil change guy to know.