dumb diff replacement question...

[Mongoose]

OK so after discovering that tightening up the pinion nut on my rear diff wasn't really a fix for anything and could have made stuff worse I'm clearly going to have to do some sort of rebuild on the rear diff in my 60 series.
Was also considering fitting an auto locker and found this on TM:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=323652952
Fresh diff and a locker for less than the price of a new locker...

It's a dumb question but will a "diff head" give me everything I need? I was under the impression that that will include everything, pinion, crown wheel etc. so basically bolt this into my housing (not sure what I have to do with the driveshafts, it's a non floater), hook up the flange to the driveshaft and we're all go?

Thanks in advance for the advice.
Cheers.

[Sadam_Husain]

yep should slot straight in, would pay to check your diffs are 4.1's, most are but its worth checking before you buy a new diff. You might have to change the pinion flange over from your old diff to suit the bolt spacings on your drive shaft,

[Mongoose]

Thanks Sadam, according to the plate on the firewall the truck has 4.11 diffs, couldn't see any code on the actual diff itself to double-check.

If I take the flange off do I just do the pinion nut back up to the same position it was in before removal? Or do I need to get a new crush tube and set it up again? Diffs are something I've never really done much with so excuse the basic questions.

Thanks.

[DaveM]

Must be the month for Toyota pinions to come loose. Mine did a couple of weeks ago, have tightened it, but playing it safe and doing the bearings at this week.

[Mongoose]

yeah I just checked the front one last night and it's loose too, not nearly as bad as the back but then I guess that's to be expected with manual hubs and most of the time spent in 2wd.

Plan is to fit the locked, rebuilt diff in the rear, do the bearings and whatever else needs done to the rear I take out, then fit that in the front and keep the front as a spare.

Is the pinion bearing replacement a big job? I guess you'd need to set up the pinion to ring gear alignment again.

Hopefully the guy on TM is being honest about the recent bearings and recent quicklock cos if I win it I wouldn't really have a clue what to check when I pick it up other than obvious wear on the gears etc.

[radar21]

what made you check your pinion out ie did the truck develop a shudder or some thing like that

[Mongoose]

what made you check your pinion out ie did the truck develop a shudder or some thing like that

yeah Radar, it's always had a kinda thrumming noise/vibration on the open road and it felt like driveline to me because you can feel it. PO was a bit zero budget and just kept driving it
Been reading lots of stuff on here and ih8mud lately and trying to learn more about diffs etc. and I like to keep on top of preventative maintenance. I'd rather sort stuff before it breaks on a long trip you know?
So yeah had a good look through the driveline from front to back feeling and looking for wear and noticed heaps of slop in the rear pinion and a bit in the front. Also sorted the rear UJ on the rear shaft as it was locked solid pretty much which probably didn't help the pinion bearing. Tightening up the nut on the pinion bearing has helped heaps but sounds like it's a temporary fix at best and a shortcut to a bearing failure at worst...

Gearbox is really noisy in 4th and 5th and balky in 1st and 2nd(syncro?) too so that's going to need attention at some point.
Bit pissed with the neglect but hey it's 27 years old so alot of it will just be normal wear and tear.

[radar21]

thats what i keep telling my misses about our cruza she dissent get that after 27 years shit stats to give up the ghost . yeh mines just developed a bit of a shudder between 55 and 60 and then i comes back at about 105 you can drive round it . but would rather fix it before it gets worse

[DaveM]

Had my bearings done this week, no damage at all to bearings, but had them all replaced so I know it's done.
If you are doing the diff bearings, check with Repco to see if a DBK4 will suit yours. They retail for over $350 but can get them for under $100 incl. freight.