Late model cruisers diff housing problems

Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 07:22
ThreadID: 27203 Views:6368 Replies:12 FollowUps:5
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A friend just back from a four month trip across the top end and centre in a 79 series TD troopy. While getting his troopy serviced in Alice Springs he was chatting to the service fella's and the subject of cracked and broken diff housings on both front and rer of 79's and 100's came up.
The dealer replaces 30 to 40 broken housings a month !!! took the friend out the back and showed him the pallet fulls of broken ones!! Apparently one owner has had 10 new housings on one vehicle!
He also came across a new TD 79 series up on the gulf road with a rear housing that had broken completely, all that was holding it together was the drive axle. The vehicle had done less than 26k !!!
Toyota is apparently aware of the problem but as the affected market here in Oz is so small it is cheaper to replace housings than make them stronger to suit our conditions.
Has anyone else heard of these probs? They reckon it is caused by high speeds on corrugated roads, not necessarily heavily laden either.
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Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 07:56

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 07:56
Toyota and Nissan boast that use Australia as their testing ground, the harshest continent on the planet.
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AnswerID: 134253

Reply By: ev700 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 08:12

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 08:12
If this is so, where are the hundreds of complaints from owners on this site?
No landslide of complaints on US sites either.

With respect I reckon this is another case of trying to set a hare running.

On the other hand this author wrote a book on lemons and Lemon Laws in the US and specifically mentions the Hummer:

link text

AnswerID: 134255

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 18:05

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 18:05
dont think solid axle cruisers are sold in the US
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Reply By: Peter 2 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 08:35

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 08:35
I'd never heard of the problem either but knowing the gent involved it wouldn't be BS. Only happens when vehicle used constantly on rough roads apparently which wouldn't happen to the vast majority of owners.
Yes I've seen the article on hummers before, that is what happens when you take a vehicle designed for military use and tart it up with all the crap that the bods that can afford to buy one want. Most of the probs relate to the crap (read frills) fitted not the basic vehicle.
A H2 is a totaly different vehicle built on what is basically a Chev truck running gear.
AnswerID: 134261

Reply By: ev700 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 10:00

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 10:00
Where a person sledges a good product without first hand evidence, you really have to question why.

Especially when the heading is so inflammatory.

It is astounding how many non-Toyota owners go out of their way to issue dire warnings against the market leader on behalf of Cruiser owners.

Yet the owners are still smiling.

What is Happening? Let's take and example from elsewhere in life:

I just had a tenant damage a commercial Maytag washing machine. These things are built like concrete mixers, but it appears that the tenant has a habit of washing King size doonas and throw rugs.

I suppose the owner of a competitor's product could take great delight in the damaged washer and gleefully report "Drive problems in Maytag Washers".

He could even follow up and say that a Maytag should cope with anything washable - washing being the designed purpose.

But the reality is that one machine failed through operator misuse.

I suspect that is the case with some of the gossip doing the rounds on popular fourbys.

EV700

AnswerID: 134272

Follow Up By: Member - toohey - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 10:26

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 10:26
ev700
could'nt agree more
cheers toohey.
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FollowupID: 388373

Reply By: Member - Raymond - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 10:31

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 10:31
Hi Peter
While having the GU serviced in Gympie two months ago, noticed the storeroom with about 20 diffs and asked what they were for. Was told that they were for the 79 series and that the farmers in the area were breaking them and they were the replacments covered under warrantee.
Ray
Allvehicles seem to have some problem, but mainly caused by overloading or abuse.
AnswerID: 134280

Reply By: Peter 2 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 11:44

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 11:44
Actually until 3 years ago I'd owned 6 Landcruisers since 1974, all used privately for extended travelling outback, never abused, probably occasionally overloaded especially on long trips like CSR, Anne Beadell etc.
I'd never broken anything till the last 1HZ powered troopy which considering it led a very sheltered life (mostly in the garage waiting for the next weekend/holiday trip).
It required a complete trans rebuild at 100k, a regular diet of pinion bearings, all wheel bearings, springs, clutch hydraulics, thermo fan, power steering pump, water pump, radiator several times to list the major items all at less than 140k when we sold it.
I'd hate to have to actually use a late model vehicle commercially and expect to be able to keep it more than a few years.
Severely dissollusioned with the way manufacturers are making vehicles for road use rather than what they are supposed to be used for I bought the Humvee to use as a basis for a touring vehicle, far simpler, cheaper to service and maintain, modify to suit my needs and with a GVM that I'm very unlikely to exceed even on extended outback trips.
I would never sling off at anyone's choice of vehicle, we all buy what we can afford at a level that suits our individual needs. My sole reason was to ascertain whether in fact there was a problem with the vehicles in question, mainly for another friend who is computer illiterate and considering purchasing a retirement vehicle but wanted to know any possible pitfalls.
Subsequent posts may well bring further evidence either way.
AnswerID: 134290

Follow Up By: ev700 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:19

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:19
Hi Peter,
Any comment based on your experience is fair enough and sorry if I was a bit harsh in my earlier remark.

I've had a reasonable run with various vehicles and have only encountered problems after workshop visits. They must let apprentices loose unsupervised in service depts.

For that very reason I'm presently on the lookout for a good place for Toyota servicing within reach of Brisbane's western suburbs ;-)

cheers
EV700

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FollowupID: 388412

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:09

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:09
You are correct at least with the front diff housing. as far as I can tell it is not as larger problem as having pallets of busted ones out the back. I had a small weep in the front housing of a 79 ute which was identified as a crack and was replaced out of warranty due to a few of them going. It should be noted this vehicle was a total bushbasher and had done more hard miles off track than alot would do on track
AnswerID: 134305

Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 18:13

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 18:13
What does Lawsy say about yotas?? Something like "can't kill em with a stick".hehehehe....what he doesn't mention is that STONES aren't quite so obliging......like Truckster says about the 3L Patrol.....

I WANT ONE...... hahahaha

Not in this lifetime sonny jim!!!
AnswerID: 134334

Reply By: Rock Crawler - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 18:51

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 18:51
If you see how most of these outback cars get driven , its hard to see what car would last . if we think that any manufacturer builds a car to exede it's warranty time is a fool in my eyes . All new car are not built for off road work , if they were , we wouldnt be driving overloaded vehicles ect. We are all caught between a rock and a hard place , we cant buy old , due to to much mantinance and if we buy new , it has to be withing the warranty period.
AnswerID: 134339

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 19:05

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 19:05
Right ho I have just been over to the LV workshop who do nothing but look after the fleet of 30+ tojo lvs. Well the first thing is there was NO pallets of busted diffs anywhere and on questioning he had seen some busted diff housings but not like you are talking more around where the shockers and swaybar connect. This could have as much to do with the ultra corrosive environment as well as the constant punishment. He also had not seen anything out of the ordinarry as far as busted front diffs. In his words just general wear and tear for vehicles used in these conditions and under normal conditions they have no worries oh and the water getting into the diffs doesnt help either.
These vehicles are flogged underground permantly in low 4 24/7 and never see the bitumen so on the basis of that I would say Myth Busted
AnswerID: 134340

Follow Up By: warthog - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 21:25

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 21:25
"these vehicles are flogged underground permanently in low 4 24/7". A previous poster explained that the problem occurs due to high speed running on corrugated roads. I live in Alice, have mates in the trade, the diff housing problem is not a myth here. Haven't heard of it in the 100's but yes, it would appear there is a problem with 79 series diffs used over corrugated roads at speed. That said though I have also had the diff housing welded on my GU patrol. Newer aint necessairily better, usually it would appear it means weaker.
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FollowupID: 388455

Reply By: DamoHJ61 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 21:47

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 21:47
Colleague of mine has a very much modified 80 series, on our way to the CSR he had his front diff welded up adjacent to the weld on the off side control arm bracket, a hairline crack. Had it rewelded as we passed through Alice Springs again.
After the CSR & heading home via The Simpson the repaired area failed dramatically, the diff actually peeled open and you could see the driveshaft, the gap was in the order of 10-15mm and followed the bracket almost to the bottom of the housing.
In Birdsville it was stripped down and the area rewelded again to get him home.
The mechanic in the Shell kept a spare front housing for the 79 series as he had replaced cracked & broken ones regularly, mainly local farmers & ringers but had done a few tourists as well.
Diagnosis of the 80's dilema?
Overloaded, drove it like he stole it, suspension too harsh, shocks set too firm and additional stresses placed on the housing by raising the vehicle, he did try to offset this by fitting eccentric bushes in the control arm.
The rear diff spring pads/mounts on the diff also sag if the suspension is too firm, heavily laden or the vehicle is driven hard.
Everything will fail if you try hard enough.
AnswerID: 134387

Reply By: snailbait (Blue mntns) - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 22:16

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 22:16
hi all
come on you all sledge Land Rover for for leaking oil from 30 year old Land Rovers
YOU do not talk about 30 year old toy which were just as bad But when Toys are con fronted with the real truth about the toy 100 Hungy they call foul
Have a look at the Nov 4wdmonthly mag 4 wh d of the year 100 HUNGJ CAME LAST THE JEEP CAME 2 ND
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AnswerID: 134403

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 23:15

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 23:15
you want the truth- "YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH".
Anyway the truth is I have driven a crapload of these vehicles privatly, open pits underground and exploration I have seen 2 cracked housings
the first was the rear diff on my cruiser camper with most of the weight sitting over the back axles - I am unsure what the diff was even originally out of but it also had a bent axle when i bought it which says something of its past life. The other was from a bush smashing muthu that got treated like no one would treat there own and none of the other vehicles treated the same suffered likewise.
I drive these things for work and i was so impressesd i bought some for myself - They may not be perfect but they are good enough
and if you are getting your vehicle info from 4wd monthly - god help you, i just get them for the pictures
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FollowupID: 388467

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