Broken Rear Diff / Build Date Please - Page 20

sincityfjc · 05-01-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Kokopeli previously said:

That makes me a bit nervous.. My rig is stamped 01/07..

X2 same build date on mine, wait & see

skh · 05-06-2008, 06:25 PM

Haven't broken mine yet. Auto trans, build 02/09/06 (Diff) Vehicle build 02/06. Sure am nervous. bought it with 19k and have just over 24k now. Changed to sythetic had one sliver about 1/16 inch long like a fine point pencil around. was dirty and just a very small amont of sludge just barely covering the magnet. I was suprised at that. Runs quieter now.

makaser · 05-06-2008, 10:07 PM

Well, add me to the list. Broke mine on Fins and Things the day before cruise Moab. Going up a ledge. But nothing it should not have been able to handle easily. Luckily Robby from the trail teams was there and pulled some strings for me with the local Toyota Rep and they got the part in overnight and had me towed out to Grand Junction. Had a mechanic come in on his day off and I was back in Moab by 3:30. So it wasn't a total loss and I was able to at least do one day of Cruise Moab and do Golden Spike and then run Fins and Things again with Bill and Athena and Ryan on Sunday.

What bothers me is that on the Saturday run, Bill and I both noticed gear oil coming from our front skids. So Sunday morning we both yanked our front skids and sure enough, the four upper rearward bolts on the front diff housing were so loose I could turn them with my fingers. So we tightened them back up. I didn't notice anymore fluid on Sunday and I drove it 998 miles back to Portland on Monday with no noticeable leaks. Mine is going to the dealership tomorrow to have that checked out. I would highly recommend everyone, especially those who do some hard wheeling, to check your front diffs for loose housing bolts.

My build date is 5/06. I didn't get a chance to check the build date on the original third member. But I put the new rear diff through hell on Saturday running Golden Spike and it held up just fine. I can honestly say I can even feel the difference in how the new rear end feels and performs. Could just be in my head though.

frogeye · 05-07-2008, 01:19 PM

I've added you to the list and thank you for checking in.

Quote:

makaser previously said:

Well, add me to the list. Broke mine on Fins and Things the day before cruise Moab. Going up a ledge. But nothing it should not have been able to handle easily. Luckily Robby from the trail teams was there and pulled some strings for me with the local Toyota Rep and they got the part in overnight and had me towed out to Grand Junction. Had a mechanic come in on his day off and I was back in Moab by 3:30. So it wasn't a total loss and I was able to at least do one day of Cruise Moab and do Golden Spike and then run Fins and Things again with Bill and Athena and Ryan on Sunday.

What bothers me is that on the Saturday run, Bill and I both noticed gear oil coming from our front skids. So Sunday morning we both yanked our front skids and sure enough, the four upper rearward bolts on the front diff housing were so loose I could turn them with my fingers. So we tightened them back up. I didn't notice anymore fluid on Sunday and I drove it 998 miles back to Portland on Monday with no noticeable leaks. Mine is going to the dealership tomorrow to have that checked out. I would highly recommend everyone, especially those who do some hard wheeling, to check your front diffs for loose housing bolts.

My build date is 5/06. I didn't get a chance to check the build date on the original third member. But I put the new rear diff through hell on Saturday running Golden Spike and it held up just fine. I can honestly say I can even feel the difference in how the new rear end feels and performs. Could just be in my head though.

**Delray** · 05-12-2008, 01:17 PM

12/15/06 build sticker on the 3rd Member.

It is at Brent Brown Toyota in Provo UT. The service person I am working with is Shane. He was not aware of this particular issue. I did print out the relevant pages from this thread and gave him a copy which he said he would show the service manager. I am hoping and expecting they will take care of this under warranty based on others experience here. I have babied my FJ with synth fluids, frequent changes and general love including using it for its intended off-road purpose

It broke on the Fins and Things trail in Moab. We had just completed a mild fin and were in a sandy stretch when I started getting that pop and pull. Scary feeling. We hobbled back to Sandhill Road and over to the Slick Rock parking lot. Mark who owns Bridgestone tires came by in his Cherokee and recommended KL or Kael and Nationwide when 411 could not get us a tow company that was open.

Any advice on how to deal with this if they give me the run-around on coverage? It looks like others here in Utah from the April run had good service/coverage at their dealers. I will let you know how Brent Brown does, they seem responsive so far but I have heard nothing definitive yet.

frogeye · 05-12-2008, 01:24 PM

I've added you to the list and please report what the dealer decides to do. THANK YOU!

Quote:

Delray previously said:

12/15/06 build sticker on the 3rd Member.

It is at Brent Brown Toyota in Provo UT. The service person I am working with is Shane. He was not aware of this particular issue. I did print out the relevant pages from this thread and gave him a copy which he said he would show the service manager. I am hoping and expecting they will take care of this under warranty based on others experience here. I have babied my FJ with synth fluids, frequent changes and general love including using it for its intended off-road purpose

It broke on the Fins and Things trail in Moab. We had just completed a mild fin and were in a sandy stretch when I started getting that pop and pull. Scary feeling. We hobbled back to Sandhill Road and over to the Slick Rock parking lot. Mark who owns Bridgestone tires came by in his Cherokee and recommended KL or Kael and Nationwide when 411 could not get us a tow company that was open.

Any advice on how to deal with this if they give me the run-around on coverage? It looks like others here in Utah from the April run had good service/coverage at their dealers. I will let you know how Brent Brown does, they seem responsive so far but I have heard nothing definitive yet.

**athenaceleste** · 05-12-2008, 01:39 PM

Sorry to hear it Delray.... hope it all worked out.

It should only take a half day to install the new third member once they've got the part.

makaser · 05-12-2008, 01:46 PM

That sux, man. I can't believe you broke on Fins too. that's crazy. Maybe it should be called Ring Gears and Things! I almost took mine to Provo. When I talked to them on the phone and explained the issue, they didn't seem like they were going to fight me on it. Hope it works out for ya. I was lucky enough to be able to get in touch with some good folks who could twist some arms and pull some strings. It's a shame that's how it has to work. I'll be writing TMC about it for sure.

Voodoogirl · 05-12-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Delray previously said:

12/15/06 build sticker on the 3rd Member.

It is at Brent Brown Toyota in Provo UT. The service person I am working with is Shane. He was not aware of this particular issue. I did print out the relevant pages from this thread and gave him a copy which he said he would show the service manager. I am hoping and expecting they will take care of this under warranty based on others experience here. I have babied my FJ with synth fluids, frequent changes and general love including using it for its intended off-road purpose

It broke on the Fins and Things trail in Moab. We had just completed a mild fin and were in a sandy stretch when I started getting that pop and pull. Scary feeling. We hobbled back to Sandhill Road and over to the Slick Rock parking lot. Mark who owns Bridgestone tires came by in his Cherokee and recommended KL or Kael and Nationwide when 411 could not get us a tow company that was open.

Any advice on how to deal with this if they give me the run-around on coverage? It looks like others here in Utah from the April run had good service/coverage at their dealers. I will let you know how Brent Brown does, they seem responsive so far but I have heard nothing definitive yet.

Bull****!! I don't believe that anymore. I think they all know, but are not allowed to talk about it. There have been too many, and you're not even the first to take theirs to Brent Brown. And that's just the few we know of. How many are there for real? There have been a few taken to Mark Miller also. I was in last week for an oil change and brought it up. Got the same 'I didn't know' response, except for one employee that said the Tacomas, and even some of the Tundras, have had the same problem.

If they want to fix 'em as they come in, then order a crap-load of parts, RECALL them, and fix 'em as they come in!!

K

**Delray** · 05-12-2008, 02:38 PM

Kathi, I expect you are right! I wonder if since most owners are not actually going to take it off-road, that they just figured to fix as they need to? It seems those few that have had failures on the street are also off-roaders? I know MoabRat was thinking of doing what Ropedrag did with lower, stronger gearing and had someone that can do that. I probably would consider that if the cost and wait were not too bad, but I am in a bind as this is my only vehicle. Maybe something you should think about? I know from your other posts that this is worrying you.

athenaceleste, good to know they can do it in a half day. I have got my motorcycle and a bicycle, but we are having crappy weather at the moment. May need to rent a car if it takes too long for repair.