Ok, now I have a problem...

FoneRunner

FoneRunner

New member
In another thread, I talked about the noise coming from my rear diff. Dealership told me $300 just to open it up to look at it...

Now I need to drive from Atlanta to Denver and so for lack of time, I took back up to the dealership. Now they tell me the bearing inside the third member is bad, the whole thing has to be replaced and it will set me back $1900.

I'm supposed to leave for Denver Sunday morning....suggestions? I really could use a good idea right now...
 
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Umm...see if they can offer you a courtesy car? Other than that, I can't think of anything else short of renting a car if you have no access to any other vehicle.
 
I bought a used thirdmember because mine was bad for 200 this morning and from what i hear its not that bad of an install, if i were you id hold off on the repair, and if you need a car try zipcar
 
I just got back from the dealership. They said it is a bad pinion bearing, but they don't get into replacing pieces. They will only replace the whole third member. $1360 for the part new. $500 for the labor.

Does it make more sense to just replace the bearing? Is that something that a Aamco type shop would do?
 
capthoward said:
I just got back from the dealership. They said it is a bad pinion bearing, but they don't get into replacing pieces. They will only replace the whole third member. $1360 for the part new. $500 for the labor.

Does it make more sense to just replace the bearing? Is that something that a Aamco type shop would do?
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No try to through some salvage yards and such to find a thirdmember putting new bearings in it is a waste of time.
 
Ok, I'm with you on replacing the whole thing. Now the question is, what's compatible?

I have a 98 4WD Limited with electric locker(at least I think it's electric since I have the button to the left of my steering wheel)...so, just any third member from any 3rd gen or only 96-98?
 
capthoward said:
Ok, I'm with you on replacing the whole thing. Now the question is, what's compatible?

I have a 98 4WD Limited with electric locker(at least I think it's electric since I have the button to the left of my steering wheel)...so, just any third member from any 3rd gen or only 96-98?
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You need the gear ratios, wheel size, and abs if you already have it, to all be the same. the stock rim size is what i mean by wheel size, + a 4wd model, and if urs has a locking center diff the next one needs that too.
 
JohnsD90 said:
You need the gear ratios, wheel size, and abs if you already have it, to all be the same. the stock rim size is what i mean by wheel size, + a 4wd model, and if urs has a locking center diff the next one needs that too.
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Thanks JohnsD90.. I spoke to a shop yesterday that took my VIN and said they could determine the gear ratio by that. Then they called me back and said they would have to take the diff out and count the teeth to be sure. The dealership was ready to have a diff shipped without taking anything apart...what a hassle! Why didn't they just put the same diff in all 98's at least!
 
capthoward said:
Ok, I'm with you on replacing the whole thing. Now the question is, what's compatible?

I have a 98 4WD Limited with electric locker(at least I think it's electric since I have the button to the left of my steering wheel)...so, just any third member from any 3rd gen or only 96-98?
Click to expand...

Wow, bummer!


FYI, here's what a brand new e-locker 3rd member looks like:

third1.jpg



Just to give you an idea what it takes to get an e-locker 3rd member to fit a 3rd gen standard 8" axle (non e-locker), click this link:

http://www.sonoransteel.com/phong/retrofit_electric_locker.html
 
Thank goodness mine came factory with all that stuff...adding it afterwards looks like a project for professionals.

So does anybody know how to tell for sure what gears the factory put in my differential?
 
why not just find a shop to rebuild the 3rd member, its really not that hard, and then you know for sure you have the right gear ratio etc, and your not risking getting another damaged used unit. Call some off road shops in your area, or some performance shops, anyone that can do gears in Ford should easily be able to do them in a 4runner.
 
ok, if you can make it to denver i know exactly where you can get a used 3rd member w/e-locker for $300 and ill install it for ya for $50. I just did mine and its a piece of cake. do me a favor though, look at your door jam sticker, in the bottom right corner there's a bunch of numbers, letters and codes. It will say A/TM then a code then A340f. Tell me what that first code is. It should be A03A but if not let me know.
 
Thanks DarkRunner I'm picking up the Diff today(and maybe some other parts too!)...Jim's Toyota Yard is pretty cool.Wish I had something like that back home! I also can't believe the places at home I called told me they would have to take my diff out and count the teeth to know for sure which ratio it was...makes you wonder!
 
my pinion bearing has had some noise for a couple years and i haven't had a issue with it. i plan on replacing the 3rd member with one that i am setting up with gears and a locker. but i still think this one is fine for now (granted i don't take mine on any long trips)
 
thegreenmonster said:
my pinion bearing has had some noise for a couple years and i haven't had a issue with it. i plan on replacing the 3rd member with one that i am setting up with gears and a locker. but i still think this one is fine for now (granted i don't take mine on any long trips)
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I just made a 1500 mile trip with mine whining the whole way...Actually at one point I didn't hear it anymore and I thought about pulling over to check on it! Beautiful country out there on I70 though...I recommend it!
 
capthoward said:
I just made a 1500 mile trip with mine whining the whole way...Actually at one point I didn't hear it anymore and I thought about pulling over to check on it! Beautiful country out there on I70 though...I recommend it!
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Well for all of you who don't know, I did capthowards install and instead of paying me he gave me his old 3rd member cause I've been having some serious problems tracking one down that I could afford. So thank you so much. But now I have the whining problem, soon to be fixed cause i have another diff that I can pull the pinion bearing out of. At one point I had 3 locking diffs and none of them where in proper working order :bash: but now theres a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks again capthoward
 
Man I've been so busy working ever since Dark Runner swapped out my diff that I haven't had a chance to properly thank the appropriate parties:

Dark Runner - You truly ROCK! and not just because you're the drummer. Still need to get a copy of your CD by the way. You made quick work of a job that completely intimidates the average joe...Thanks again.

Jim at Jim's Yota Yard in Denver - WOW...had the part and even fixed the small problem with it...and on top of it all, it works! NO MORE WHINING REAR END!

Colorado - What an awesome place to be....I recommend sunset while northbound on I25...unbelieveable.

All the guys and gals on T4R - this is a community worth belonging to!

Anyhow...I'm gonna try to post a picture of Dark Runner(pre-bumper) and Fone Runner(what I now call my truck since I'm the phone man)...
 

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If anyone was wondering i did this same install and it was about 2 hours and 45 minutes, an 1:30 off and 1:15 to reinstall. I got the new used 3rdmember for around $225.
 
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