Front end/4x4 problems Help!

So I was out hunting the past week and put a lot of rough miles on my truck. I was on a powerline road and there was a pretty loose off camber hill that I decided to give a try once or twice and if it couldn't do it i would find another way around. I was going up and got into one of those spots where one front tire is up on a rock and not spinning and the other one with no traction is spinning and it kinda started hopping and I heard a big bang and now it makes quite a bad grinding in 4 wheel drive. I got under there when i got back home to shake everything down and try to figure out what happened but the cvs and hubs seems fine so it must be in the diff or t-case? Also lower control arm bushings and steering rack are really bad. Should i go with some napa replacements or does someone make an upgraded option? Thanks guys! Really hoping to get 4x4 back operational before it starts to snow (I live at 7,000 feet so thats pretty soon)

 

Probably grenaded the front diff. They aren't the strongest (Tacoma sourced I believe) and you appear to have oversized tires (increased stress). Fix would be a new front diff. Good time to regear if you haven't.

 

Alright thank you. How can I be sure it is the diff instead of the t-case? If it is should i get an aftermarket one or try to find a used one or what?

 

Have to start diagnosing by inspection. drain the front diff fluid and look for metal would be easiest. Can also peer through the opening and see if the gears look damaged. May have to pull a CV or front prop shaft to get a good look. Could also remove the front prop shaft at the U joints, engage 4wd and see if the grinding is present (on jack stands). The transfer case would be the culprit then. Lots of ways to skin this cat.

 

Gotcha thank you.

 

Junkyard is probably your best bet for either part.

 

What ended up happening. Did you look into the issue more? Similar to stated above I would do the following in this order more or less...

Try to check the diff fluid through fill hole and maybe stick a magnet in there and see if it comes out chunky Campbells.
Try to move the diff side of the CVs up and down. Note any excessive movement. Check the wheel side too for giggles.
Check the front driveshaft and pinion for movement.
Drain the diff fluid and note the color or chunkiness. Stinky broth is good, chocolate milk is bad, and firehouse chili is worse.
Pull the CVs and make sure the diff side with splines are in one piece.
Pull the front driveshaft and check the transfer case and pinion further along with the driveshaft.
If I still don't know what's up or the diff fluid leads me to believe I have made a potato masher of my diff... Pull the diff/ third member.

If you don't get it fingered out with those steps... Come back and crowd source more options.

 

I am about positive it is the diff. I took out the front driveshaft and put it in 4lo and there was no grinding, and if it was t-case it would still grind because it would be engaged. It did not grind so i think it is front diff. I also jacked it up and tried to spin the front tires with 4lo engaged and it kept catching and would not spin freely. A quick glance tells me the cvs and hubs are fine so yeah diff I think. in the process of finding a used one unless there is a better option? I have another problem now though. I was out behind my house in the woods today hunting coyotes and snapped my spindle completely in half and I didn't even do anything crazy when it happened!

 

If you snapped a spindle I'd be looking to see if you need limit straps of if your upper uniballs are just maxing out and stopping travel. Did the spindle snap on top?

 

Thats a good point. Yes it snapped on top.

 

Factory spindle?

 

Yep