HELP...my Runner is dead

[crashman]

Not sure if you or the shop did this already but it would be pretty easy to tell if its the transfer case or the diffs. Put it in drive and check if the drive shaft rotates. If it does, its your diff. If not, t-case or trans.

Check that before you drop the cash on new parts. Also, give Yoda Jim's a call in Denver. They will have whatever you need way cheaper than going with something new. Last i checked, diffs are about $250 for a non elocker or $400 for an elocker

I checked this that day and it does spin

 

[Bfaulken]

Not sure if you or the shop did this already but it would be pretty easy to tell if its the transfer case or the diffs. Put it in drive and check if the drive shaft rotates. If it does, its your diff. If not, t-case or trans.

Check that before you drop the cash on new parts. Also, give Yoda Jim's a call in Denver. They will have whatever you need way cheaper than going with something new. Last i checked, diffs are about $250 for a non elocker or $400 for an elocker

Well the drive shaft was rotating when we were looking at it the day they blew. So I feel a little more confident in their diagnosis now. Thanks for the heads up Steeze! And I found some 4.10 front and rear diffs for $350 total from a guy in Denver. Any tips on what to look for or be weary of before I pay him?

 

[steezemcqueen]

Well the drive shaft was rotating when we were looking at it the day they blew. So I feel a little more confident in their diagnosis now. Thanks for the heads up Steeze! And I found some 4.10 front and rear diffs for $350 total from a guy in Denver. Any tips on what to look for or be weary of before I pay him?

Yeah i figured that would have been the 1st thing checked but thought i would check.


Blowing the front diff isn't all that uncommon due to the 2 pinion design. They are kinda weak. The rears however are really strong so i'm surprised that one let go too.

Thats a good price for both! See if he knows how many miles are on them.

Oh and from now on, easy on the skinny pedal!!

 

[Bfaulken]

Thats a good price for both! See if he knows how many miles are on them.

Oh and from now on, easy on the skinny pedal!!

Everyone I've talked to has been borderline speechless that they both blew...:jaw drop:
And the shop did say the back doesn't seem to be completely grenaded like the front, but something is definitely not right. So that would make some sense from what you said.

They have 170k miles. kinda getting up there, but they should be good for a while right? Mine had 18x,xxx and I was pushing HARD for a good half hour at one spot after wheeling for a bit before that when they went. I know there's some rigs with more miles than that on them. Reason he's selling is b/c he went to 4.3's with a locker.

 

[Hound]

To shed a little light on this and not to give him too much grief I was spotting for him and saw what caused this. This was a step grade with several large rocks that required some pulls on the driveline with rocks at/just above 9o'clock rock to wheel. Max strain:ybrick:. There were also several pits that caused the left front and right rear to lose traction due to lack of articulation from the stock setup. All of this on a sort of shelf that was again at a high grade. That is the setup. Two Jeeps went through this without any issue, the 4Runners had more trouble (this is not bashing 4runners) but the better the setup the easier it was (as you would expect). 2 4Runners were not able get past this area, they were both very stock from my understanding. Now to the point. He seemed new to wheeling (but I hope keeps going) due to lines initially picked (he was already stuck when I came back to find out what the issue was) and throttle control. Several times he backed off and while rolling backwards, down the shelf, sometimes losing ground (meaning he had to re-climb the shelf lip) he gunned the gas putting max strain on the whole drive train. His momentum was full reverse, fighting the lip of the shelf added strain (especially in the rear) and then would quickly hit a rock transferring strain from the rear to the front in a very jarring manner. This happened several times, each with my spine tensing like nails on a chalkboard. The popping, groaning and general hate from that truck was palpable. I don't care if you are running a Jeep, 4Runner or anything else out there... thats gonna break something (although I have to give a WTF on both Diffs:wow To his credit he learned quickly, took good direction and smoothed out the throttle in short order but I think the damage was done:sobbing:. We have all had to pay the piper for a learning experience, if you have done this for long enough you know this to be true, this was just his. I hope he also now understands why a CB (and other recovery gear) is a good thing:thumb3:. We could have helped him (winch) sooner if he had had one. I for one look forward to going out with him again; he took direction, was very easy going and is the type of personality that gives offroading a good name. Being a college student, I just hope the cost of it does not deter him. With the support you have all given him on this thread I think he is in good hands.:banana:

 

[CXS]

I ran that trail the day before, wish they had too. We (Front Range 4x4) had my 4th gen, a 3rd gen, an FJC a Taco and a Jeep. I hope this hasn't spoiled Bfaulken on wheeling again too but I suspect it might simply due to the cost of repairs. We enjoy introducing new people to wheeling, teaching techniques and spotting to show that even stocks trucks can do a whole lot safely and damage free.

If you want to get out again Bfaulken, let me know!

 

[Bfaulken]

I ran that trail the day before, wish they had too. We (Front Range 4x4) had my 4th gen, a 3rd gen, an FJC a Taco and a Jeep. I hope this hasn't spoiled Bfaulken on wheeling again too but I suspect it might simply due to the cost of repairs. We enjoy introducing new people to wheeling, teaching techniques and spotting to show that even stocks trucks can do a whole lot safely and damage free.

If you want to get out again Bfaulken, let me know!

Oh I'll be out again :boxer: but after I get this all fixed, I may wait until I have more savings before I do anything that might make me nervous, in case things go wrong.

Heck, I'm gonna have to wait until mid-January to even start fixing it, just because of coming exams and Christmas break...

 

[CXS]

Good to hear! When you're ready check out my club and we'll make sure you come out knowing a lot more, happy with the day and your truck will be unscathed.

:driving:

 

[Fishwerks]

Good to hear you found some diffs for cheap and will be getting her fixed up soon.

I still can't believe your roommate towed you backwards down the trail after we moved on. Must have been sketchy!

And what? There are exams coming up? :gun6:

p.s. - Hound I didn't get any pictures of you in the quarry somehow :moping:
My buddy in the other jeep has a decent video from the bottomside of the upper marble ledge, I'll see if I can get it from him.

 

[Hound]

Np, I did not realize how fast I got up to the top. That whole run was less than 3min from when I started up the Jeep to sitting on top of the quarry. I (meaning my wife) on the other hand got his run from start to finish. Have him ring me up. I think we already got that video.

It was good to be out with all of you. We have to do it more.

 

[The Deec]

I too have experienced the grenading of a diff. two summers ago tore apart the front diff and blew the t-case apart.... spent two weeks in the shop getting rebuilt. Hopefully you get your rig back on the road soon.