Rear leak

My 2000LTD rear is leaking badly - one place wanted to cover it with JBWeld - seemed temporary to me. Another place says they can weld on a new cover. Probably going to be in the $400 range. Is this the best fix? I wash the underside frequently during the winter but what undercoat on this new cover should I get?

 

A little more details please, rear hatch,rear differential? I take it you live up north where salt is used a good bit. Also a pic of where the problem is would really help.

 

Yes, vehicle is in Maine . The back of the rear differential is flaking rust and totally wet with rear dif fluid to the point where it is on the spare tire. I am told this is common to this year. There is no cover that bolts on at the rear of this differential.

 

That just doesn't sound right IMO....Is there anyone you know that can replace the axle housing? Finding and buying a used on in good shape shouldn't be hard I don't think for a 2000 4Runner. There are plenty of front end wrecked ones around here, a little too far for you but I would start checking craigslist, letgo and offer up. If you find one I suggest have it cleaned really well and look for some really good chassis paint. Powder coating would be preferred but it can get pricey with cleaning and blasting. Sorry for your situation and good luck.

 

Ok so let's say the diff is eat up so bad with rust it has eat through. Just get a used axle housing complete and swap them. That's easy and should run on the high side 500 installed. If it's more than that they ate bending you over.

I'm sure I can find a non locking complete axle housing for 200 or 300 bucks for a 3rd gen. The rest is labor. It should not take more than 2 hours to switch them out.

Blue

 

common with toyotas in the rust belt. Barnes 4wd sells a weld-on diff cover to replace dented or rusted factory covers. You can go that route, or like Blue said, find a replacement axle housing, clean it real well and paint it with POR-15.

JB-Weld is a temporary fix. The cover will continue to rust and eventually leak again.