QuestionMr. Ritter, I own a 95 Toyota 4 Runner,6 cyl. and do have a hitch set up on it, but don't really tow anyting of any weght, maybe a small 300 lb trailer, for transpotation of a small lawn mower, but rarely, approx 170 K, I noticed that the rear end, pumpkin or rear end transmission was leaking, upon further examination I could not ascertain the where about of the leak but leaking bad enough to warrant me to put in more gear oil for the replacement of the leaking fluid.
In taking it down to the dealer, for closer inspection and annalists the service person expressed that the rear end was rotted and badly enough to poke a screw driver through and also may have cracks in the casing. ? I can understand that the rear plate that holds the ring and pinion gears could be rusted to the point that the oil comes out but the main housing rotted or rusted to that point, or flaw cracks in the main housing, if I'm not mistaken is that rear end a GM product? This is a first for me having a rear end problem, as it is I don't even use the four wheel features enough though the year and don't take it four wheeling, just around the town for transportation for when one of our other Toyotas' go into the shop for service ? I did quite a bit of research on any similar problems, like rear door rotting, or the typical blown head gaskets, but noting like this ? any feed back on this area, I find it highly unusual for this to be a sore spot for a toyota. if I were to have rear end problems, I think it would be of the gears and not the outside housing ?
Thank you: Mark Rochester, NY
AnswerGM never made any differential housings or carriers for toyota, I have no idea how bad the thing is rusted since I can't look at it but since you reside in the state of NY I wouldn't doubt that there is a possibility of extreme rust damage, you can go somewhere else and get another opinion.
