Help! Differential went out in my friend's 05 4runner

[FL054runner]

Don't see how this happened but the ring gear inside the differential is missing 4 teeth. As soon as you try to drive, it gets stuck or starts grinding inside the diff.
Me and my friend pulled it all apart however I cannot figure out what the gear ratio of the ring and pinion gears are. Keep in mind this is a 2wd Sr5. I was told to get another differential all together and save myself the hassle, but I already bought everything to set it up. I am stuck at this point. Not sure where to find this differential or the ring and pinion for a decent price. Would differentials from other years or model of Toyota trucks work??

 

[nevada]

Don't see how this happened but the ring gear inside the differential is missing 4 teeth. As soon as you try to drive, it gets stuck or starts grinding inside the diff.
Me and my friend pulled it all apart however I cannot figure out what the gear ratio of the ring and pinion gears are. Keep in mind this is a 2wd Sr5. I was told to get another differential all together and save myself the hassle, but I already bought everything to set it up. I am stuck at this point. Not sure where to find this differential or the ring and pinion for a decent price. Would differentials from other years or model of Toyota trucks work??

count the teeth on each, then divide to get the ratio.

yes, you should be able to get a rear 3rd member from something, it should bolt right in.

being its a 2wd, the gear ratio you get isn't QUITE as important. since there is no front axle to match up to. ideally, you would probably want to replace it with the same ratio, but its not as important if you are unable to find it.

 

[FL054runner]

Okay! Got awsome news from the junk yard that there is an 00 and an 02 4runner in there so I should be able to remove the diffs from those and slap them in mine right?
That would seem tooooo easy.

 

[BrianSD_42]

shouldn't the dealer be able to tell you the EXACT gear ratio based on the VIN using the detailed manufacturing sheet for that vehicle based on the VIN. This is something only a dealer would have access to.

I don't know if they do this for 3rd gens but I would be shocked if it isn't accessible for an 05.

THen you can look at the VIN of the donor truck, call the dealer and make sure it matches.

Bring your local dealer a dozen doughnuts or something. I'm sure they will help you out.

 

[FL054runner]

Okay.. even better and somewhat happy ending to the story...
00 and 02 differentials work BUT the coupler on the drive shaft is slightly different. I went to the dealer hoping to get just the part on the older 00 and 02 model 4runners that is on the end of the drive shaft. They told me I would have to get an 00-02 drive shaft and have it chopped and balanced to work on the older differential.. "You are going totally custom at this point" Toyota parts guy said.
I almost considered it, knowing a machine shop that only charges about $100 to do that kind of work. However, before we were hasty enough and desperate enough to do that, my buddy who owns the distressed 4runner calls another junk yard that claims to have an 05 4runner in the area.
We go check it out and get there 10 min before it closed and ran through the yard in a mad dash to find the 05. We found older models one with a drive shaft that might have worked on our 00-02 differential for only $60 but my buddy wasn't messing around because he likes that truck so much and didn't want to have problems.
WE FOUND THE 05! WITH DIFF INTACT!
Bad NEWS:
For the sheer sake of overcharging a man in need, they decided to try the old "WELL YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE REAR END" routine then proceeded to charge $500 plus core charge.
So he did what he had to do and next day removed the diff from the unneeded differential that so carfully loaded into his new cargo work van, making sure they smashed one of the doors with the forklift as they loaded it in.
So now with the old 05 diff that was stripped apart by the machine shop because they were going to replace the old ring and pinion.., the new ring and pinion which turned out to be from a front diff not rear, the 05 rear end complete with brakes and axels, Plus the 00-02 differential, we were able to get one 05 4runner running good as new!!
It did not even cost what the dealer was going to charge for the ring and pinion kit.. which was around $950.
He shelled out $780 total including paying me to help him and for the extra parts we didn't want or need.

 

[Rockin4Runner]

Sorry To Jump In

So sorry to jump in on this thread but I am a new member and the site will not allow me to post a new thread yet.
I have a 1998 Limited with 178k miles. A couple of months ago a started hearing a "whoop whoop" sound, and thought it was either tires or wheel bearing. Replaced tires. Same noise but getting louder now. Also hearing some clanks and pings. My local mechanic thinks I need a new rear differential. Is the only way to find out if this is the problem to pull it?
Also, is it worth spending this kind of money on this old a vehicle? Otherwise, it runs fine.
Thanks.