Humming/Gnawing sound shop said rear diff

[Jeremy107]

Took my 3rd gen to a Toyota shop to get checked out in the humming/gnawing sound as I wasn’t sure if it was a wheel bearing or the driveshaft or what. They just called and said all the noise is coming from the rear diff and it’s so loud he can’t hear if the wheel bearings are bad or not. Of course a replacement is 1800$ quoted OEM. What exactly am I needing if I find a used one?

Suggestions on how I can save some cash here?

01 4x4 SR5 automatic Locker. The Locker isn’t a huge deal for me if I can save a lot of money

 

[gamefreakgc]

Find a shop that specializes in differentials, or a 4x4 shop. I had a limited-slip differential installed and had the bearings replaced (which were also shot, were all gouged and chipped) for $1100. Would have been around $650 if I wasn't buying a new diff.

 

[spartacus]

Took my 3rd gen to a Toyota shop to get checked out in the humming/gnawing sound as I wasn’t sure if it was a wheel bearing or the driveshaft or what. They just called and said all the noise is coming from the rear diff and it’s so loud he can’t hear if the wheel bearings are bad or not. Of course a replacement is 1800$ quoted OEM. What exactly am I needing if I find a used one?

Suggestions on how I can save some cash here?

01 4x4 SR5 automatic Locker. The Locker isn’t a huge deal for me if I can save a lot of money

I think you can get a better price from a machine shop or you can swap it out one with low mileage from a salvage yard. cost of labor is what adds up.

here are couple of links
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/232121-rear-diff-trouble-rebuild-used.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/57721-differential-needs-replacement-cost.html

 

[JohnMc]

Unless someone swapped it in, an '01 won't have a locking rear diff.

If they did, the axle housing isn't really compatible between lockers and non-lockers. Different bolt pattern, at least in the vicinity of the locker.

On the plus side - the way that the Toyota axles work you really can do a 'shade tree' diff swap with a used unit. Normally, you'd be unbolting the differential carrier, and the pinion gear, and need to worry about the rally exacting setup and shimming required when you reassemble it.

But the Toyota diff all comes out in one unit, pinion and ring gear setup intact and unchanged. So you can snag one from a junkyard and put it in yours without needing to set up the gear lash.

Just have to unbolt the rear wheel bearings (and brake lines, and parking brake cables) and slide the axles out a few inches, then unbolt the driveshaft and the diff, and pull it out.

Diffs seem to be fairly popular in the pick-and-pull junkyards, you might need a mild bit of luck to find one. If you really need a locker, you'll need to be *really* lucky, people JUMP on those.