Exchanging rear axle on a Toyota Previa

BOLDWITHOUTTHEB

MEMBER
1992 TOYOTA PREVIA
196,000 MILES

The rear axle on my Previa is grinding and I found 'metal' in the differential oil when exchanging that. Toyota tells me it would cost 1900 bucks for a new 'third member', plus labor cost. A friend tells me to find a used axle and exchange the old one myself. I found another entire axle, but am not a mechanic, so I asked around what some mechanics would charge for labor. I found vastly differing cost estimates, and looking 'under there' myself, I must say that things don't look all that difficult. However, I do have experience with things that don't look 'all that difficult', mostly in that they cost more in the end, had I let experts do them.
If this is something 'every gas station shop' can do, I'd let my neighborhood gasoline provider do it and thus support the 'mom and pop' kind of local business. Thanks for suggestions.

3 Replies

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

JUST A "SWAP" IS NOT THAT HARD

YOU WILL NEED SOME "REAL TOOLS"......THE $9.99 HARDWARE STORE SOCKET SET JUST AIN'T GONNA CUT IT!

A REPAIR MANUAL WOULD BE A BIG BENEFIT TO HAVE FOR THE TASK, IT WILL BE HELPFUL LATER FOR "FIXES" LATER DOWN THE ROAD

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2007-ford-taurus-tune-up

I'M PRESENTLY, SORTA WAS PRESENTLY, ASSISTING A JEEP CJ WITH HIS RIG. HE HAS REALLY "JUMPED RIGHT IN WITH BOTH FEET" REBUILDING HIS REAR DIFFERENTIAL. HE'S REALLY "INTO IT" FOR SOMEONE WHO SEEMED VERY HESITANT AT FIRST. I THINK ALL HE NEEDED WAS A LITTLE "CONFIDENCE PUSH".

THIS IS THE ONGOING POST---TOWARDS THE VERY BOTTOM YOU WILL SEE HIM TACKLING THE REBUILD LIKE A........BETTER THAN A PRO!

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1985-jeep-cj7-inconsistent-curb-idle-low-power-hi-rpms

DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT!.....THIS AIN'T AN ENGINE REBUILD THAT YOU WANNA DO!

MECHANICALLY INCLINED BUDDIES, A MANUAL, AND DECENT TOOLS MIGHT GET YOU THRU THIS EZ

YOU CAN ALWAYS POST PICS AND REQUEST HELP/INFO FOR STUFF THAT MIGHT BE TROUBLING YOU WITH THE SWAP.

MAKE SURE THE ONE YOU WANNA PUT ON IS IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE----I SUSPECT THE BRAKES AND LINES/HOSES WILL BE THE MOST CHALLENGING PART

WE ARE HERE TO HELP....IF WE CAN

KEEP US INFORMED

THE MEDIC