Rear end noise 5th Gen

Heads Up happy 4Runner owners!... I just took my 2016 SR5 to the dealer complaining about rear end noise. They showed a bowl full of shavings and recommended a complete rear end replacement for 5K, Ouch!

It just turned over 106,000 miles and I've done plenty of Camper towing. Presently, a NuCamp T@B 320S. I think the Towing + Miles caught up with me.

I still Love my 4Runner! I occasionally go off road with it. There's nothing like it! It feels like driving a monster truck, like I can drive over anything.

Dear Toyota,
When you re-design the 4Runner in 202x... PLEASE don't take away my electric rear window! Oh, and make it Cooler than the 5th Gen (if that's even Possible!)

 

Sorry to hear my 2016 SR5P rear diff failed at 20 K.

 

Ouch, 5k sounds like a lot. So, how bad is the noise? My rear diff makes a quiet whine at around 65-70mph on light throttle. You can hardly hear it, but you can hear it, if that makes sense. Changed the oil out at around 15k, and then again at almost 40k. Both times the oil was gray, with the same gray sludge on the magnet. Still have the slight whining noise.

They showed you a bowl full of shavings. Did you ask if that came from your differential? Joking but not joking. Secondly, were they shavings, flakes, or sludge?

Reading through this thread, kinda seems like gray oil and sludge on the magnet, and a slight whine, is not unheard of, and not necessarily a sign of a bad diff. But I’m definitely no expert on it.

By the way, my front diff and transfer case fluids were golden in color at near 40k when I first changed those. Both are quiet as a church mouse. Edit: except for the needle bearing which seems to have it’s moods depending on the weather. It’s quiet in terms of gear noise.

 

Can you share some details about your failure? Was it replaced due to slight whine? Or was it loud obnoxious howl, grinding, or loud noise?

It seems some have had dealers replace diffs that made the slight whine, while others get told it’s normal. I do recall seeing a TSB for complaints regarding rear diff whine that called for adding extra insulation under the cargo area carpet. And if that wasnt sufficient, then a replacement diff was called for. This approach makes it seem like a little whine is not out of the ordinary (if adding insulation is the first action towards a customer complaint).

 

It was replaced around the time the front diff failed 18 K or so. It was a slight whine coasting. Has been good now for 110k.

 

lol, lemme guess, was the front diff because of the needle bearing? Seems like you got a good dealer service dept!

 

No rear noise.
Be changing fluid soon

 

This truck had a rear diff deceleration whining noise when purchased, replaced diff oil with Red Line 80W140 gear oil which eliminated noise. Several mechanics I know run heavier grade towing type gear oil full time to protect diff gears in their trucks.

 

Interestingly, I bought a ECGS bushing replacement for my front diff needle bearing I havent installed yet. Their instructions recommend running heavier (and non synthetic) gear oil as well. Might give that a shot on the next change.

 

Attempts to answer questions: The sound was pretty Loud, especially from the back seat. Sounds like a low frequency Grind. The two times I could hear it most was decelerating around 40mph, and Worse in 4x4 with light acceleration just below 60mph. It's a Spendy Fix for sure! I trust my dealer, they have been very good to me.

The issue might be from Towing. I towed a bigger camper before this one. I also didn't change Diff oil at 30k, which is recommended,,, But I will Now!

 

my 2016 runner bought it july 2016 ... 15 miles new then I did the nov 2016 all those inspected fluids .. then the rear diff is a cloudy oil.. then I changed it ..then the 40K miles is the clear rear oil fluid ...
I was doing my NEW vehicles of the new fluids around 3 K miles .....my 1996 rear diff OIL is dirty , is 3k miles of the Impala .. then 3K miles of the 3 times then it was clear ...
then the 1996 transmission is dirty 18K miles of the fluid .. then I changed it ... in my transmission is now of the clear fluid ...today...
IN the forums are looking the inspections of the fluids ...

 

Correct. Bought numerous vehicles from that dealer. Great service dept...on the sales side they sell by far more Tacoma and 4Runner than any other model and know all about the bearing issue and front and rear diff issues. Been going on since 2010.