Rear Diff Noise

My ‘02 - 4WD Tundra is making a slipping/grinding noise. Mostly after a stopping and then making a 90 degree turn. It’s worse when towing and after driving for a while. My mechanic thinks it’s the rear differential clutches slipping even though the noise seems to come from the front end. He’s advised me to just keep on driving it as is.

I’ve shopped around for a replacement but there are none available… not even a new one. Now I’m trying to determine if anyone can rebuild mine. Any suggestions?

 

Knowing two of the big Achilles heels of these trucks are the timing belt and the lower ball joints, have you checked for any looseness up front for ball joints, tie rods, etc. with the front wheels off the ground?

When was the last time you lubed the entire driveline, from front to rear? Should be done every 3,500-5,000 miles, and the slip yoke in particular has a bit of an unusual method to use, requires a tad more grease and effort, especially if it was neglected.

Lots of other info here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

 

Have you changed the rear end fluid? Does your truck for sure have the LSD?

 

Ashamedly, I admit that it’s been a while since I’ve lubed the truck so I’ll do that ASAP. And I assume that my mechanic has checked the ball joints and other front suspension as they’ve had it twice trying to diagnose the problem. They haven’t even been able to replicate the issue as of yet.

I’m going to get another opinion or two from other shops in order to pinpoint the issue. The truck does have an LSD but it’s been a while since the fluid was changed. I suspect that my mechanic would have suggested a fluid change if it were a possible solution.

Thanks to all for the responses!

 

Assume nothing. Good mechanics are harder to find than people think. There is a blind trust we give people that may not be deserving of it.

 

The symptoms you describe are classic rear-end chatter. The LSD in these trucks are super finicky about fluid. They don't take kindly to any synthetics in the rear. Ask me how I know. Lucas 80w90 and be done with it. But I make no assumptions, I'm just worried about the worst-case scenario that may end your truck or end you. And it's so damn easy to check the front end if you have a jack.

 

Not only that, but ... do I need to bust out the 2-dozen-long list of people who've had their damn lower ball joints snap off? Like, 90% of them because they refused to believe OEM is the only balljoint made that's beefy enough to handle the strain?

 

The only reason I’m making assumptions about the shop that I use is that they’ve done a lot of work for me and have an excellent reputation locally. They’ve had the truck in the air more than once and know it well. With all of that being said, I plan to grease the crap out of it, change the rear diff fluid, and again, consult one or two other shops. I may even have the ball joints replaced just for the peace of mind.

Thanks

 

If you want to read my bullshit journey with trying to deal with fluids for LSD rear in these trucks, I'll shoot you some links.

But like I said, just save yourself some grief. Everyone on this forum that's used it (including me, the skeptic who loves Mobil1 oil in everything) has found that Lucas 80w90 will 100% work, without a doubt, the first time, with no chatter. And you can buy hand pumps all day long that screw right onto the bottle to pump it into the fill hole. Super easy work, I did it with my 10yo son in about 10-15 minutes, drain to fill. Just make sure you pop off the fill plug first

(And sorry if I'm preaching to the choir with my comment)