I found some bad news last night. I was working on the 4Runner and decided to check out the rear diff (I had taken it out of the axle and set it to the side). I found a chewed up pinion
I guess it happened on the exit of Patriot back when I ran it on 3/18. It made a ton of noise going down the highway and I assumed it was the rear U joint on it's last leg (it was dead before the trip but ran it anyways). I did find some strange flat metal chips in the old housing when I was pulling the 3rd and shafts. Gear oil looked metallic too but it always seems to have a metallic look to it whenever I've changed the oil.
I'm trying to get it back together before a Holy Cross trip at the end of June. I've got 3 options.
Option 1 is buy new gears and have somebody build it for me. Scotty at Addicted Off Road could do it.
Option 2 is buying a spare 3rd from my buddy Cory. He sold his Toyota and was planning on moving out of state. His plans might have changed but he doesn't have a Toyota anymore. He said he'd sell me his welded 3rd for $250.
Option 3 is to swap the rear axle out for a 14 bolt my dad has that's laying around. I'd have to have it geared to 5.38's and weld up the carrier. Or I could keep it at 4.10's and find a stock Toyota 4.10 diff and swap that into the front end. I would also need some 15" 8 lug wheels for the rear. And a rear leaf spring U bolt kit. And disc brake brackets, and calipers, and rotors......
