front drive (axle boot?) / diff warranty advice

[4runner_josh]

I am soliciting and in need of some advice. I live out in the desert and was making a U-Turn, went onto a soft sand shoulder and midjudged the drop off back onto the dirt road and high centered my 4Runner at a low speed on a sand mound.

While trying to get out I switched to 4LO and after a futile attempt engaged the center locking diff and it made a grinding sound - similar to someone trying to force a manual into reverse without depressing the clutch (I was not giving it gas). I then tried again to get unstuck (unsuccessfully) but while doing so and I heard some sporadic grinding coming from the right front and gave up.

A neighbor quickly pulled me out with a tow strap. As I was driving home (1 block) I heard some squeaking noises and noticed some clunking coming from the front, especially when going from foward to reverse. When I got home I saw a puddle forming under the front end. Upon inspection I saw the axle boot that goes into the center diff torn and leaking. I am only guessing that the boot and/or axle and/or diff broke? Also, I saw no damage to any metal around the axle, just some sand in the front of the skid plate.

I have never had a problem with my 4R (19K miles) but I am worried that dealer will not honor the warranty. Any advice in dealing with the service department? Has anyone had an issue with their front drive train like this? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank You Josh

 

[mikes4runner]

The boot can be replaced more then likley the greese leaked out and that is why it is making the grinding noise, you may have to replace the half shaft depending on how much sand and stuff got in there and how far you drove it like that.

If you can get it done under warrranty not sure but if you can't, take it to someone else/or do it yourself, Toyota will more then likley rape you on the cost to fix.

 

[bulldog-yota]

Just take it back to the dealer, they have to fix it.

Were you in N when you engaged 4LO and did the light stop flashing? If not the actuator was still trying to get in 4LO. It normally bulks a bit but no grinding.

BTW, your center diff is in the transfer case. You are talking about your front diff.

 

[4runner_josh]

When I first tried shifting into 4LO I was in D but had the brake on. It would not go in (beeped a lot). I then went into N to engage and that is when the grinding noise happened.

The wheels were in a good bit of sand and the vehicle was leaning somewhat. The grinding I got happened when I was going between D and R, but I always put the brake on to stop the wheels from spinning before shifting - I was trying to rock the the vehicle loose. I did also try turning the steering wheel left to right to get traction.

Thanks for all the advice.
Josh

 

[bulldog-yota]

When I first tried shifting into 4LO I was in D but had the brake on. It would not go in (beeped a lot). I then went into N to engage and that is when the grinding noise happened.

The wheels were in a good bit of sand and the vehicle was leaning somewhat. The grinding I got happened when I was going between D and R, but I always put the brake on to stop the wheels from spinning before shifting - I was trying to rock the the vehicle loose. I did also try turning the steering wheel left to right to get traction.

Thanks for all the advice.
Josh

Dont do that in the future, you should have no tension in the driveline when trying to engage diff lock. I dont think harm was done, but check if your diff lock works fine now. They might have to look at it if it doesn't.

 

[toyo]

Yes the dealer should fix it, but it wouldnt hurt to wash underneath very good. They can always say it was owner abuse.

 

[4runner_josh]

I pulled off the skid plate to look at the damage and clean out the sand and oil. From what I can tell there is a right axle housing made of cast iron that is bolted to the diff and then the axle shaft comes out of the housing. The right axle is lower than the left (the boot that goes into the front right hub is not even - it is dropped down as compared to the left side). Also, the I beam support that runs between the small cross memember? that the front skid plate also attaches to and the axle housing is cleanly cracked. I am assuming that the axle housing is also cracked but cannot see where, it looks like it is sloping down.

Time to go to the dealer.

thanks for the advice.

 

[toyo]

Man, you knocked the piss out of that differential. I may have to back off at being so rough on my Yota. I have already gone through 2 skid plates, if thats what you want to call them. My wifes Rx300 has thicker skid plates than my car.

 

[Good Times]

do you have any photos of the damage? I'm trying to get a better grasp of what kind of damage you sustained so we can all give you a more collective response.

from the initial post, i'd say it sounds like a quick boot change which would cost ya around 250 at the stealer since the install would be like 225 or so (the boot itself is chump change).

unfortunately a torn boot is not a warrantee-able item as that sounds like just basic wear and tear due to abusing your 4runner. that's basically what they'll say so just expect that going in.

the last post you state that you have some cracked spots and depending on the crack and how it looks in relationship to rest of the area that's damaged, you might be able to figure out a way to get it warranteed. The likelihood might be slim as you were technically offroading and the source of the damage was indirectly from offroading.

good luck.