Rear diff

Hey guys got a 4runner 92 4wd SR5 limited got the 3vze V6 best info I can give at the moment that I can think of that may help as I'm not with the vehicle and spend a lot of time on the road driving trucks that being said.

The issue is at the rear diff you can physically hold the drive shaft and turn it easily inside the diff happens if you put into gear I have been told possibly a shattered pinion I've also been told possibly a broken axle

I'm assuming an axle wouldn't be hard to replace and but I was told if it's the pinion to just replace the whole rear diff

I'm wondering has anyone had a similar issue and what the issue was what did you have to do to fix it

and what would be the most common diff ratio or ratios with the 3vze V6 I've looked at the diff for tags to get the ratio but the was no tags so possibly been replaced before

Cheers for reading guys any help is better than no help r

Regards Ben

 

Welcome. First of all you don't have a limited trim as those didn't came out in 1995. Can you turn it easily both ways or only one. The diff came with either 4.56 or 4.88 depending on original tire size. Best way to tell is how the spare tire rod goes in the back to lower the spare tire. If it goes straight in then you have 4.56 and your vehicle came with 225's. If it goes at an angle then you have 4.88's and your vehicle came with 31's.

 

Trlhiker thanks mate it's 1992 not 1995 the rod for the spare wheel winder goes in on an angle mate it sits on 31s now but it was on 31s when I. Bought it not sure of original tire size as I'm not with vehicle and won't be for at least another week

 

Also drive shaft turns easy both ways mate thanks for your reply

 

Your only option is to take the diff apart and see what broke. Also if you replace it and change the gear ratio, make sure the front is changed to match since its 4x4 or make sure they match now. Is yours manual or automatic trans?

 

Since it goes in at an angle, it originally came with 31's from the factory which means it has 4.88's in the diff. And yeah it sounds like something is broke inside the diff.