If it not one thing its another

[grousehunter 61]

Yesterday while going to town I could hear a noise coming from the rear sore of a whirring sound, never heard that before. After coming home I got out and checked the hubs and axles, when I touched the rear differential it was hot, not blistering but hot enough you did not want to leave your hand on for long. I have close to 1,000 miles on it and this is the first time I have heard this, also of all the things I have checked on this rig, the diff was not one of them. Its raining right now so I will check it when the ground is dry, back to driving the 71 chevy.........

 

[grousehunter 61]

Well I can tell you one thing, nobody has ever checked the rear diff in this thing, I can't get the plug out, my metric only goes up to 21, I tried a 15/16 but it will not hold when I put pressure on it. I guess monday I will head for Napa and pick up a couple of 1/2 drive sockets, I am guessing a 22 or 23 ?? Hope it isn't ruined as I said it has not been checked in a looooong time and rust has taken over.

 

[grousehunter 61]

anybody know the correct size for the nut on the rear diff in a 93 4runner.

 

[mholme]

24mm socket. You can actually replace the drain and fill plugs with factory Toyota 10mm hex head bolts if the heads on the original bolts are a little tweaked from an incorrect socket being used or off road damage. If you don’t already know this- make sure you can fill it before you drain it. Always remove the fill bolt first.

 

[Dropzone]

try soaking it with PB blaster or something. I have had to weld a nut on a drain plug before.. major pain.

i like this replacement that uses a 10mm Allen wrench
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...FuegtyH-SHo4Adqm2V_LfBGD3qpA4ElgaAreXEALw_wcB

 

[grousehunter 61]

Once I got the rust knocked off it looks good I will pick up a 24 mm six point tomorrow,
the housing is rusty and dry, no sign of leaks. So as I said I don't think anyone has checked the oil in there forever, I don't have any blaster, but wd 40 has been sprayed and is sitting waiting for the socket. If it doesn't rain I will check it tomorrow.

Thanks to both of you, good information.....

 

[grousehunter 61]

Got the 24 mm and tried to get the plug out, no go, with an breaker bar it wouldn't move, tried impact, nope, so out came the big gun the air hammer, sure enough I striped the bolt, it is now round.........Trying to figure out whats next, I could drill it out and recut the threads, or weld a nut on it and maybe the heat from welding will loosen it, any suggestions.

 

[Eugene13]

Try welding a nut on and heating it up with a torch if you have one. Heat works wonders on stuck bolts/nuts

 

[grousehunter 61]

Welding a nut will be my second try, I have a 4 inch grinder and am going to try to square up the nut to a smaller size socket, soak it WD-40 putting the torch on it and try again. The more I think about drilling it out, the less I think about it, that would just put a lot of metal in the case that I maybe could not get out. I could see pulling the rear end and removing the third member to clean it up and I just don't want to do that.

 

[grousehunter 61]

Well that wasn't it, only took 4 oz to bring it up to top so it must be the bearings or my tires starting to howl, I think its the bearings. In order to remove the plug, I ground it square and used my 5/8 square socket and the impact driver, about 10 hits and I felt it give but now I need a new plug.

 

[COMTB]

try soaking it with PB blaster or something. I have had to weld a nut on a drain plug before.. major pain.

i like this replacement that uses a 10mm Allen wrench
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...FuegtyH-SHo4Adqm2V_LfBGD3qpA4ElgaAreXEALw_wcB

I have had bad luck with allens in the past, I would be afraid of rounding that one too. Does anyone have the part number for the toyota hex bolt?

Don't mean to hijack but it seems relevant still

 

[grousehunter 61]

Dropzone, thanks for the lead on the plug, ordered it yesterday. Guess I should order the bearings for the rear end also. Sofar its been drive it for 2 days and fix it for three........

 

[grousehunter 61]

OK, after topping off the rear diff I took it for a 60 mile ride, it howled as it had been doing but it also popped like something was going through the pinion. I have a feeling that the bearings have come loose and are going through and into the pinion and ring gear. Hoping I haven't broken a tooth on either one, my good deal is turning into an expensive deal.......

 

[fastgtfairlane]

i had what sounds like a similar issue with my 94 runner. i didnt have the drain and fill plug issue though. i thought it might be a bearing in the pinion or ring gear but ended up being absolutely shot axle bearings instead. removed the 3rd member to find no isssues. when i drained the fluid it was almost half full of water from backing the truck into the water to load and unload jetskis and not extending the breather tube

 

[grousehunter 61]

I am finding out the same thing, ring and pinion are in good shape, axl on passenger side not so much. Brake drum won't come off so another trip to the store for a wheel puller.

 

[grousehunter 61]

Didn't get to the store Sat so Monday is the day. Hate to see it up on axle stands, but can't rush into these things.