Failing rear Diff at 54k!? 2004 Tundra

What's up everybody! This is my first post here and I am desperate lol. I bought a 2004 Tundra, Limited, double cab with an LSD, two owner. It has 54,000 miles on it and is FLAWLESS but the lsd is making a moaning and slight grinding noise and I am devastated after paying $24,000 for the truck. The truck has been sitting in a garage for a few months after the owner passed away and the owners son is who sold it to me. I have been in contact with him about the issue and he has no idea what it could be. I think it has gotten worse since the test drive and 5hr drive home considering I barely noticed anything on the test drive. I drained the fluid and the magnetic plug had one metal chunk but the rest was very fine metal build up. I put castrol 80-90W GL-5 lsd fluid in the diff with no change. greased U-joints as well. it doesn't seem to be wheel bearing considering I can put the truck in neutral and the noise goes away. Carrier bearing has some play but is making no noise with the truck on jack stands and the wheels spining with the truck in drive. I also filmed the carrier bearing with the truck up to speed and it had no wobble and made no noise. its definitely coming from the dif and I can FEEL the NOISE with my hand the best if I put it up to the back of the casing (opposite side of drive shaft). The noise is more of a whine up to speed (30 - 70 MPH) and more of a growl/deep grind and low speeds.

 

here is a link to the video https://youtu.be/3izwb7LKia4

 

First: welcome!
Second: how they hell did you find an ‘04 with only 54k miles?! Unicorns apparently are real! (And congrats)
Third: I’m not the guy to help trouble shoot this one, but @empty_lord and @shifty` and @daveeasa all might have some good insight

 

Tagging along cuz I’m curious but I hear it…also, you have brass balls for getting under in front of the rear tires while it’s going sir!

 

Gearing isn't my thing, electrical, plumbing, and engine diags are my stronger suits. But maybe @empty_lord can provide some input?

Edit to say: If LSD, that oil looks awfully light for fluid in that pic. Is it possible PO put non-LSD fluid in LSD rear-end? I'd expect heavier.

 

Looks like a bad day man. I’m guessing your diff is toast. Thankfully, a 3rd member swap is pretty easy. Just remove the wheels, drums and rear brake lines, the 4 axle bolts on each side, slide the axles out, and unbolt all 10 3rd member bolts and the diff will pop out. Do the reverse to install the new/used one.

 

Could be why its only got 54k.

Chunk could be from the Ring & Pinion and/or bearings. Time for a new 3rd member. Definitely a bad diff.

 

Sounds like a shot diff.

 

I wonder what would cause one to fail at such a low mileage.

OP- when you replace the diff, I would add the diff breather mod. You can search it on here or Google it.

 

My 05 had its diff replaced under warranty at 50k due to a growl. It happens. Could be the fluid that was put in it over its life

 

I'd be super pissed if I spent that much coin on a truck just to have this happen right after. I paid about half that for mine and it only had less than 10k more miles.

Hell, I was frothing pissed off because the alternator burned up - literally caught fire - less than 2k miles after I bought my truck.

 

Sucks to hear that but you still have a unicorn of a vehicle for a good price. Gears are a replaceable part. At least it's not the engine or transmission. FYI, Nitro Gears is having a 25% off sale through the 29th. You might want to jump on that while you can.

 

Wow thank you guys so much for the quick responses I am blown away! you guys have some sick looking trucks. This has been so helpful and comforting, I have been a bit devastated. So as far as replacing the diff, what exactly do I need to get and where is the best place/parts? I had a sprinter van before this truck so i am a suppppper noob to these trucks. I cannot thank you guys enough and I am so stoked to be on this forum with yall! I'll be looking for other threads that may entail a diff replacement. I will be checking out the sale on Nitro Gears for sure

 

Totally OT, but are you in FL by chance?

 

I am in Carolina Beach NC!

 

If those are the stock 18" 'BBS' wheels that came on the Darrell Waltrip Edition . . . that's your problem . . . you'll need to take those off and send them to me In So Cal so I can send you mine off my 2006 (Split 5-spoke models in excellent shape) in exchange. . . that should clear-up the problem !
If it doesn't... you may need a new 3rd member ! LOL. . . .Kidding aside, while that sucks, if you can get a decent price on a new one and drop it in, you'll be good to go for a VERY long time . . . unless there's some weird voodoo going on with the axles etc. which is unlikely. Sounds like just a stroke of bad luck . . . hang in there & keep us posted. Good Luck.

 

Depends on if you want to re-gear, swap LSD or do a locker and if it's a 4x4 you'd need to swap the front too.

Easiest way is to get another 3rd member with the same ratio (center portion of the diff) and swap it.

 

HAHAHA you a funyyyy guy... yeah the first owner got these BBS wheels as an upgrade we he bought the truck new. I really hope there is no voodoo going on that is what I fear the most right now lol. really hoping once i swap this diff it will be smooth sailing

 

So this is the diff i've been looking at, its not an LSD and its expensive https://www.nationaldifferential.com/products/2000-2006-toyota-tundra-rear-third-member.html

just an option, says it come with axles, hubs, baking plate and a 3 year warranty. It would be sick to find a used one for cheap but everything else on the truck is so new and has only 54,000 miles so a new one would be ideal. May reach out to the toyota dealership here in Wilmington to see what they have to say!

Gear ratio should be 4.10 since I have a V8, double cab, 4X4 2004 model based off this -

 

https://www.japanesetruckdismantling.net/Toyota-Tacoma-Carrier-4-10-Ratio-p/41110-35750.htm

 

that is cheap!

 

If you are having to go through the cost and work of replacing I would do a LSD or rear locker. Locker would be sweet.

 

These guys are supposed to be very good and they are near you (over there in the East somewhere) https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-788575-tacoma-8-4-non-eld-t100-tundra-3rd.html

You can have them install and set up any kind of gears and lockers cheaper than the first place you linked.

 

free and contactless delivery and you will still have $ to buy beer after the job -J.P.

 

I think I am about to send it on one from these guys. They have a 5 year warranty and a super fair core charge system. Thank you so much for showing me this! They also hook it up with gear oil for 40$ so I don't have to go to the auto parts store... Until I don't have a tool I need of course LOL

Edit - Part is ordered!! I'll let y'all know how it goes. So excited for it to get here, really looking forward to having this truck right for trips out west to go snowboarding.

 

ZUK does quality work too if you can afford to be down the truck long enough to send him the diff.

 

All the 1st gen Sequoias are also 4.10 and the diff is the exact same. Easier to source. You'd just need someone to swap the LSD (maybe rebuild it) and set backlash correctly.

 

Believe first gen Sequoia's also have disc brakes instead of drums. That would be a sweet upgrade, but not a direct swap or for the faint of heart. It's been done here before. You could just rob the third member out though.

 

If you can weld, you can put leaf spring perches and shock mounts on a sequoia axle. Then you do indeed have rear disk