The Diff club...

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Re: The Diff club...

Hi everyone.
I'm new to pradopoint, usefull info here , good stuf,
Any way ' bit concerned about the amount of broken diff's on Prado's
i have an 03 GXL TD man as left factory + bullbar , great car , have been quite hard on it , off road , no problems as yet .
After reading some of the stories on here , i tend to think the problem my lie in the axle housing , On my Prado , it look's like a one peice pressed steel item,Not very heavy duty looking!!. on the 90 series the middle part is pressed steel , with the axle tube,s welded on ,
Could it be the axle it self flexing, causeing the crown wheel to flex , so breaking the teeth
on the cron wheel ?
So a cure could be to stregthen the axle , could be a bolt on . or a weld on item ,
there is kit's out there for other 4x4's , can only help matters

Just a thought, would be keen to hear any thought' s of other member's on this

[MarkD Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MarkD]

Re: The Diff club...

BUGGER!
I've made the club.
Rear diff, stripped the teeth on the wheel, same as most others.
Was heading up the Herne Spur Track in the Vic high country in Jan 09. Steepest thing I have ever been on. Traction was bad from the dry dusty surface so we were flat out in low low. Half way up and BANG!
I think I asked too much of the girl as we had the camper on and were fully loaded with the kids and gear for 7 days without supplies. My mate made it up in the V8 discovery 3.
Unfortunately things got ugly trying to reverse down with poor traction. Decided to play safe and ditched. Arranged a recovery. Thats another story. If anyone needs recovery in the High Country talk to me about who not to contact.
Anyway, we got out safe and Toyota repaired the diff under warranty, actually they replaced the entire diff, housing and all. We unfortunately missed the final 2 weeks of the planned trip as the recovery and repair took some time. Will have to head back next year to do the Blue Rag and the Pinnicals. WITH LOCKERS.

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Re: The Diff club...

I may have missed a post here or there but is this is the first traction control fitted unit we've heard about blowing a diff? Any sense of security around this problem from having TC is now fast diminishing!

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: The Diff club...

I may have missed a post here or there but is this is the first traction control fitted unit we've heard about blowing a diff?

Yeah, you right, first one I've heard of on an Australian forum.. there are a few reports on the US FJ forum and the UK 120 forum of TC equiped vehicles breaking diffs.

Mick

[Mark Trollope Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mark Trollope]

Re: The Diff club...

I may have missed a post here or there but is this is the first traction control fitted unit we've heard about blowing a diff?

Yeah, you right, first one I've heard of on an Australian forum.. there are a few reports on the US FJ forum and the UK 120 forum of TC equiped vehicles breaking diffs.

Mick

Been lurking on here for some time, and although this is my first post - would also like to add tick to the "TC equipped VX Stripped Crown Wheel & Pinion Club" - happened yesterday - with the same results as all others on this thread - so not only US and UK - but now SA as well.....

Missus gave me the "I told you so" speech, and will be visiting Workshop later.

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: The Diff club...

Did any of you Diff Club members get any tell-tale signs beforehand (apart from a loud crunching noise......) in the way of small metal pieces in the oil?

I drained oils over weekend and found rear diff oil quite clean, but with a sizable piece of metal stuck on the magnet. It didnt look like from crown wheel or pinion. Looked just like a piece of swarf, so am assuming its from bearing cage.
Vehicle done 80k, and oils have done 40k, and no noises yet, and off road work has mostly been beach, and the beach access tracks.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: The Diff club...

but with a sizable piece of metal stuck on the magnet. It didnt look like from crown wheel or pinion. Looked just like a piece of swarf, so am assuming its from bearing cage.

Any chance of a pic of the metal?

Mick

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: The Diff club...

Any chance of a pic of the metal?
Mick

Yep, just remembered I took some pics. This is the best pic I have, and shows it still stuck to the magnet.
It looks like a bit of swarf, and is harder to bend than mild steel. The drain and fill plug hreads are all ok, not stripped, and each side of the LSD is still working good.

I can only assume the oils were changed at 40k. The previous owner certainly paid for it at a NSW Toyota dealership on his trip around Oz, and he gave me all the reciepts for servicing carried out since new. Shows oils changed, type of oil used etc
Perhaps some casting swarf?

[cuda Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close cuda]

Re: The Diff club...

Hi,

Doesn't the VX have an open rear diff?

Doug

120 VX Auto Petrol, ARB Deluxe Bar, Bilstein shocks, Dobinson 2" lift springs, Dual Battery.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: The Diff club...

Yep, just remembered I took some pics. This is the best pic I have, and shows it still stuck to the magnet.

Sure looks like swarf to me too...

Doesn't the VX have an open rear diff?

I think all the TC equiped models have open diffs... it's still the same crown and pinion etc...

Mick

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: The Diff club...

Yep, just remembered I took some pics. This is the best pic I have, and shows it still stuck to the magnet.

Sure looks like swarf to me too...

Mick

Just went to my shed, to the drill press that I havent cleaned in a while, and compared my diff steel to some swarf from my last job, and they both have very similar markings.

So I think I have answered my own question, but still puzzled how it got in there. It could have been sitting attached to diff plug magnet from sometime between 40k service and now, or maybe the 40k oil change wasnt actually done by that NSW Toyota Dealer :?: .

Stuffed if I know.. :?

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Re: The Diff club...

Hi guys....

Very interesting reading here.... especially with me thinking of selling my 105series cruiser for 120series D4D Prado Auto..... Just got back from some 4wdriving up at Kenilworth with some friends, with one driving a V6 120's Prado Auto. ON his attempt up this hill climb on his 3rd attempt, we all heard that dreaded LOUD BANG..... One broken rear diff. I was very surprised at how easily it broke..... I'm now rethinking that idea of selling my 105's Cruiser for a Prado..... Unless someone come up with a suitable solution (ie Not just fitting Diff-locks). Is there another vehicle out there with similar Diff Ratios that could be utilised :?:

Anyhow... Good to read about problems when you're looking at changing vehicles.....

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

Re: The Diff club...

Interesting Idea but most people couldn't be bothered changing the centre for a upgrade.$$$$
The solution is the ARB diff lock and is a far better option as it gives you much better traction than the standard LSD( which is useless).The open diff which comes with the traction controlled models seems to be less of a problem as the electronics do all the work and work fantastically .
In my opinion I think the Prado is still a great touring 4wd and its diff problems can be upgraded to overcome any problems. Alternatively, buy a Grande.
It will never be as capable as some solid axle 4wd as it does not have the articulation but doesn't drive like a truck but a normal vehicle and has excellent touring range unlike most unmodified 4wd's.
You will find that most Prado owners that do go off road are very happy with their choice.
Go the Prado. :lol:

Cheers Russ

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Re: The Diff club...

Are problems more related to V6 Petrol versions (Auto or Manual) ?? How many Diesel Versions have broken their diffs (Auto / Manual)??

I know there has been a couple with Difflocks that have broken the diffs, but I would have thought generally that with a diff-lock that this would help in the way that it should stop any sudden jurking, etc as the same amount of drive is going to each wheel.....

comments..... :wink:

rob

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Re: The Diff club...

Hi Rob_macca67,

I can only comment on my son's Surf. He has busted his front drive chain twice. - and yes it has a locker. Once he busted the right hand axel when bogged in wet sand. The other time he sheared the teeth off the pinion and crown gears after showing off to his mates up a steep incline. The locker only made the force more rigid through the whole system.

I assume a free wheel could have released the force, and possibly saved the fracture, certainly in the second case anyway. Slow and steady driving is the safest way to protect the diffs, then a locker may help - IMHO