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Rebuild entire diff vs repair pinion.

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by Pucks18, Feb 19, 2020.

  1. Feb 19, 2020 at 7:16 AM
    #1
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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    Hello. Not sure if i remember correctly, but my mechanic said my pinion bearing is whinning. And said it will be a little over 1 grand to fix it. I'm assuming its the inner bearing because that means they would have to take the whole diff apart, which explains the high price. Mostly labor. A 4x4 shop said i should do a complete rebuild cause "they would be in there already and might aswell". Makes sense i guess. They said a whole rebuild would be around 1,200 bucks. So i think ill just do that. I'm putting off the repair for the next year or so anyways as its just a whine and not that bad. But am i getting screwed? Should i replace just the bearing? They never quoted me what it would cost just for the bearing so that i dont know (the 4x4 shop). I was under the impression they could just access the pinion bearing from where the driveshaft connects to the diff. But im not super knowledgeable on cars. My maintenance guy at work said if its the inner bearing it will be more work, and if its the outer ones it wont. But yea, shoot me some opinions guys. Thanks.
     
  2. Feb 19, 2020 at 9:54 AM
    #2
    BubbaW

    BubbaW Been Real

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    This may not go over well and may be none of my business but I am of the opinion that some of these questions with answers are contained in your other 2 threads concerning your Diff and pinion issue. If I was king for the day, I would combine all 3 threads but that's just me.
     
    PCJ likes this.
  3. Feb 19, 2020 at 10:18 AM
    #3
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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    @BubbaW true. But i dont know how to do that on this prehistorically setup forum website hahaha
     
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  4. Feb 19, 2020 at 10:21 AM
    #4
    BubbaW

    BubbaW Been Real

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    Don't mind me @Pucks18, I ain't king for the day. Can't help ya on your pinion or diff but I'm sure someone will come along that can.
     
  5. Feb 19, 2020 at 12:12 PM
    #5
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    I say spend $$$ for a 4.56 gear ratio upgrade on both the front and rear axle. :yes:

    Do an aluminum one piece drive shaft while they are working on it. :yes:
     
    15whtrd likes this.
  6. Feb 19, 2020 at 12:18 PM
    #6
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    Have you tried changing fluid first? Youd be surprised how much that can make a difference, especially if it's never been done.
     
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  7. Feb 19, 2020 at 12:41 PM
    #7
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    DEXIII? :yes:
     
  8. Feb 19, 2020 at 6:11 PM
    #8
    tmac58star

    tmac58star New Member

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    Or you could price/source an used diff from a recently totaled Tundra and just replace/upgrade your whining rear-end. Did that once with a Ford Ranger I owned...damaged the pinion bearing towing it behind a big truck on a two-wheel tow dolly...West Texas to Mississippi. Howled like a big dog after that. Put up with it for about 3 months, then got nervous enough to find/buy a used diff from a wrecking yard a few miles away...paid about $250 for that diff, hauled it home in the whining Ranger and then proceeded to annoy the neighbors for an entire weekend changing the diffs out in my driveway. Sold the damaged diff for about $75 to a scrap place. Driving the whining diff made me nervous because I couldn't stop thinking about where I might be in MS when it left me walking...overall, not a good place to find yourself afoot...concealed carry permit or not.
    What I meant in my other post in your other thread was...don't let it go so long that you get too used to the sound and forget about it...that's when you might find yourself walking out of someplace way off the road, just because you trusted a mechanic who said it'll probably last another year or so. Mechanics have been known to be wrong from time to time.
     
  9. Feb 19, 2020 at 11:33 PM
    #9
    PCJ

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    To answer your question "To rebuild your entire diff or repair the pinion bearing". It's basically the same repair. To replace either the inner or outer pinion bearing the pinion gear needs to be removed. And to remove the pinion gear the whole diff basically needs to be disassembled so you should just replace all the bearings while you're in there. So you should budget for a rebuild. I would also plan on doing axle bearings and seals at the same time.
     
    ZPMAN, 15whtrd, Pucks18[OP] and 2 others like this.
  10. Feb 20, 2020 at 3:35 AM
    #10
    azTony

    azTony member since sept, 2017 and over 1,600 messages

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    I have front and rear diffs that I just removed from a 2018 at 26,000 miles on them. I replaced them with Elockers and 5.29's
     
  11. Feb 20, 2020 at 3:35 AM
    #11
    azTony

    azTony member since sept, 2017 and over 1,600 messages

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    Sorry, I just seen you have a 2001
     
  12. Feb 20, 2020 at 5:56 AM
    #12
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    PCJ just gave the answer to how I would approach the ‘fix’.

    Pucks, getter dun. No more repeat worry wart posts. :D
     
    15whtrd likes this.
  13. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:04 AM
    #13
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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    @Professional Hand Model what would be the benefit of the higher ratios? Sorry i dont know much. Also what would be the benefit of an aluminum driveshaft? Thanks
     
  14. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:05 AM
    #14
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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    @Darkness yes. I changed it, i put 75w90 in it then my mechanic said thats too thin so i then out 80w90 in it. So its got fresh fluid.
     
  15. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:06 AM
    #15
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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  16. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:12 AM
    #16
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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  17. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:17 AM
    #17
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Yep. If yours is 4WD. @Darkness has the 4.56 gears in his rears, but his is 2wd which is why his truck is faster.
     
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  18. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:21 AM
    #18
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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    @PCJ Thats the answer i was looking for. Thanks. Quick question, can i just unbolt my driveshaft, then unbolt the 8 or so bolts that hold in my diff, then just simply remove it and put in a new one? That seems too easy. If it isnt that easy I'm just gonna get the whole thing rebuilt. F it lol
     
  19. Feb 20, 2020 at 8:00 AM
    #19
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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    @Professional Hand Model thanks for the rec. But idc about speed really, it would be nice to be a bit quicker but i want to keep my mpg the same and not suffer on that, plus im going for longevity. I plan on running this truck forever and its already 19 years old
     
  20. Feb 20, 2020 at 10:08 AM
    #20
    PCJ

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    No, you have to remove the axle shafts first.
     
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  21. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:36 PM
    #21
    Hooptytrix

    Hooptytrix Squeaky Chicken

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    I have become a fan liqui moly fluids, incredible results. OEM fluids for transmission, and I wouldn't let the dealership put it in there either
     
  22. Feb 20, 2020 at 9:46 PM
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    Darkness

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    They make really good oil. I haven't used their other stuff.
     
  23. Feb 21, 2020 at 5:12 AM
    #23
    Professional Hand Model

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    Germans make good stuff.

    Their engine flush worked nicely on my truck. I put in a bottle of CerraTec last year which has dual benefits for engine slickness (lasts 30k miles). The orange oil is freaky.
     
  24. Feb 21, 2020 at 8:00 AM
    #24
    ZPMAN

    ZPMAN 2nd place is the 1st looser

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    How many miles on your truck?
     
  25. Feb 21, 2020 at 9:30 AM
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    Hooptytrix

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    My engine ran smoother after the cerratec and oil change, worth the additional cost
     
  26. Feb 21, 2020 at 9:52 AM
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    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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  27. Feb 21, 2020 at 10:35 AM
    #27
    ZPMAN

    ZPMAN 2nd place is the 1st looser

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    Check here https://www.uneedapart.com/
    Find out what your gear ratio is and do a little fishing.
    Also the yard might be able to let you know how many miles on new pumpkin or axle. I just had my 2016 out and should be similar, about an hour to take out pumpkin and 2.5 to install.
     
  28. Feb 21, 2020 at 11:35 AM
    #28
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 [OP] Fleabit peanut monkey

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    @ZPMAN Thanks zp, but I'm just gonna get it rebuilt this summer eventually.
     
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