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Rear differential concern

Discussion in '2nd Gen Tundras (2007-2013)' started by Walker, Jun 21, 2017.

  1. Jun 21, 2017 at 9:11 PM
    #1
    Walker

    Walker [OP] New Member

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    Ok so I'm at 104,000 and went to change rear diff fluid. When I pulled the plug, I found a moderate amount of metallic sludge and a strip of metal (in picture) Any ideas what the deal is? I'm planning a 5 hour drive in 2 days and need to figure this out asap.

    IMG_0535.jpg
     
    JTP likes this.
  2. Jun 22, 2017 at 2:52 AM
    #2
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    I wouldn't be too concerned with the sludge but that piece doesn't look right! I wouldn't risk driving it, in case it happened recently and not 103000 miles ago.

    without driving it, do you recall any noise in 2WD or LO 4WD or LSD on/off, etc. or does the car feel normal?

    is it possible that piece was on the bottom of your oil pan before the oil change?
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2017
  3. Jun 22, 2017 at 6:44 AM
    #3
    Walker

    Walker [OP] New Member

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    Haven't ever heard any noise or noticed anything weird. Pickup feels totally normal. Guys at work said it looks like it that metal strip goes to a bearing.
     
  4. Jun 22, 2017 at 6:49 AM
    #4
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    Is this the first diff oil change?

    Can you get a picture with something to show the size, such as a coin?

    That said, your piece looks like a metal shaving from machining the axle housing, rather than from a failure. As much as it looks alarming, it really isn't a problem at all.

    The shaving definitely is not part of a bearing cage or any where else in a bearing. It's also not from a gear.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2017
    Wynnded, ColoradoTJ, 15whtrd and 2 others like this.
  5. Jun 22, 2017 at 7:48 AM
    #5
    Walker

    Walker [OP] New Member

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    I bought the truck used with 46000 on it so I don't know if it had a diff fluid change before that. But since I have had it this is the first diff fluid change. The shaving is pretty comparable to a dime (can't get pic for a few hours) sorry. Just don't wanna get down the road and be stranded tomorrow.
     
  6. Jun 22, 2017 at 8:03 AM
    #6
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    The shaving looks concerning but if you haven't noticed any noise or had any problems I don't see why they would start now for just a 5 Hour drive. I say put new fluid in and go for it. That thing is probably been sitting in the bottom from the machining process for a long time. Usually you'll just see excessive shavings and if there is something broken, chunks of ring gear teeth. I think with a piece of metal like that if it had gotten whipped up into the oil it would've broken or worn the parts more excessive than what you stated. Small amounts of metal shavings and goop is normal. The fluid probably was never changed and that sludgy goop is assembly lube. I changed my dif fluid at around 7000 miles the first time and that stuff was present.
    No promises but I want to say you're good to go.
     
  7. Jun 22, 2017 at 8:05 AM
    #7
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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  8. Jun 22, 2017 at 8:20 AM
    #8
    Walker

    Walker [OP] New Member

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    Ya I'm just having a hard time trying to decide.i think I'll get it to the dealership and just have them look. I don't have the resources to take it apart to look myself.
     
    15whtrd[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Jun 22, 2017 at 9:36 AM
    #9
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    Dime size? You'll be just fine.

    As an FYI, I'm a commercial truck mechanic with gears as my area of specialty. I've seen this many times.

    If it makes you feel any better, dump the diff oil again in 5K. I certainly wouldn't tear into it.
     
  10. Jun 22, 2017 at 9:43 AM
    #10
    Walker

    Walker [OP] New Member

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    I feel pretty confident that it's just a case shaving. Guess I'll ride it out and check it later. Thanks landphil and everyone else on here. If anything goes wrong I'll update on here.
     
  11. Jun 22, 2017 at 11:05 AM
    #11
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    As @landphil suggested, wouldn't even worry about it.

    Enjoy the trip.
     
    GNTundra, Wynnded, Walker[OP] and 3 others like this.
  12. Jun 23, 2017 at 4:42 AM
    #12
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    not to argue with a real mechanic and/or scare the OP ...
    just out of curiosity, can a shaving have a perfect and uniform shape & square edges like that? to an untrained eye, it looks like a spring clip!

    however the fact that OP has no issues can support the shaving theory ...

    disclaimer: I have never shaved anything except my beard starting at 13ish. shaved my mustache and my mom got kind of mad :D
     
    Eclipsed & Floating likes this.
  13. Jun 26, 2017 at 9:16 PM
    #13
    kenomouth64

    kenomouth64 New Member

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    Hold the Line! If you are not holding the line, abandon your ship. Destruction is inevitable without more to hold the line!
    I am starting to detect an ISTJ here. Wondering...
     
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  14. Jun 26, 2017 at 11:49 PM
    #14
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    ?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2018
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  15. Jun 27, 2017 at 12:03 AM
    #15
    kenomouth64

    kenomouth64 New Member

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    Hold the Line! If you are not holding the line, abandon your ship. Destruction is inevitable without more to hold the line!
    ISTJ is a personality-type in the "Meyer Briggs Personality type Matrix". I noticed some of the things you say are indicative of an ISTJ.
    You can just google MBTI Type and find all kinds of information on it. or this is OK:
    http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
     
  16. Jun 27, 2017 at 12:05 AM
    #16
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Whatever
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2018
    GNTundra and Wynnded like this.
  17. Jun 27, 2017 at 12:09 AM
    #17
    kenomouth64

    kenomouth64 New Member

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    Hold the Line! If you are not holding the line, abandon your ship. Destruction is inevitable without more to hold the line!
    Indeed
     
  18. Jun 27, 2017 at 12:13 AM
    #18
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2018
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  19. Jun 27, 2017 at 12:18 AM
    #19
    kenomouth64

    kenomouth64 New Member

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    Hold the Line! If you are not holding the line, abandon your ship. Destruction is inevitable without more to hold the line!
    Lol, I don't take anything 'personal', especially not on a public forum. I was just making an observation, and evidently you took it 'personal'.
     
  20. Jun 27, 2017 at 12:25 AM
    #20
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Not me. It's the internet homie.

    People don't come on a website to get insulted or analyzed.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2018
  21. Jun 27, 2017 at 12:29 AM
    #21
    kenomouth64

    kenomouth64 New Member

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    Hold the Line! If you are not holding the line, abandon your ship. Destruction is inevitable without more to hold the line!
    Very well, I will opt to avoid analyzing people on here, as it seems some people do not appreciate it. Back to work, enough of the forum for now. Oh and BTW is was not an insult...:burnrubber:
     
  22. Jun 27, 2017 at 2:50 AM
    #22
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    was hoping to hear from @landphil ... and things got interesting and i learned something new! ISTJ ??? i had to look it up ... lol
    based on Wikipedia, it sounds like a compliment ... ;)

    source:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISTJ

    "ISTJs are logical, organized, sensible, and earnest traditionalists who enjoy keeping their lives and environments well-regulated. Typically reserved and serious individuals, they earn success through their thoroughness and extraordinary dependability. They are capable of shutting out distractions in order to take a practical, logical approach to their endeavors, and are able to make the tough decisions that other types avoid. Realistic and responsible, ISTJs are often seen as worker bees striving steadily toward their goals. Despite their dependability and good intentions, however, ISTJs can experience difficulty in understanding and responding to the emotional needs of others.

    Although they often focus on their internal world, ISTJs prefer dealing with the present and the factual. They are detail-oriented and weigh various options when making decisions, although they generally stick to the conventional. ISTJs are well-prepared for eventualities and have a good understanding of most situations. They believe in practical objectives, and they value traditions and loyalty."
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2018
  23. Jun 27, 2017 at 3:12 AM
    #23
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    It wasn't an insult. I know.

    Thanks for taking the time though.
     
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  24. Jun 27, 2017 at 10:19 PM
    #24
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    I agree it does look quite square and uniform, though it is difficult to tell in the photo. I've seen some pretty wide, even shavings come off on a metal lathe though. This is why I asked about the size. Had it been a lot larger, I'd have been concerned about being a piece of a shim that has been curled up (I've not been inside a Tundra diff, but I assume there are pinion depth shims and possibly carrier shims)

    The thing is, a bearing failure would leave flat flakes on the magnet, a gear failure would leave chunks, and both would give other symptoms like noise. A broken thrust washer would be thicker and not curl like that, and we're running out of things inside the diff that it could be.

    Sorry for the delay in reply, I've been crazy busy the last few days, and figured your question deserved the time for a decent reply.
     
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  25. Jun 28, 2017 at 12:14 AM
    #25
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    Thanks for your response!
     
  26. Jul 2, 2017 at 5:17 PM
    #26
    JTP

    JTP The Big Black Moose

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    Can you read a part number on that big chunk of what ever it is???

    Is it metal????

    I saw my old gears that came out and the metallic sludge is "normal". My truck only has 28k on it and I asked about it. Was told it was normal. If I saw that much glitter in an airplane engine oil change Id be very concerned.

    Totally normal from what Toyota said.

    Id really like to know where that chunk that you found came from.
     
  27. Jul 2, 2017 at 5:23 PM
    #27
    JTP

    JTP The Big Black Moose

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    Ok, I need to know what ISTJ sands for.
     
  28. Jul 2, 2017 at 5:26 PM
    #28
    JTP

    JTP The Big Black Moose

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  29. Jul 2, 2017 at 5:33 PM
    #29
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    Is it possible that this is a piece of shim stock like what we used to have in feeler gauges? This is what it looks a little bit like.
     
  30. Jul 2, 2017 at 6:13 PM
    #30
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    @Walker the previous post was meant for you
     

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