I think its the Diff.

[Nitro989]

Ok, so I finally get my car back from the transmission shop after a long 10 weeks... they broke the carrier bearing loose and it flopped around making the car shudder pretty bad. I buy a new aluminum 1 piece. put it the big shudder went away but on slow take offs or backing up right as i start to engage the clutch it shakes a little. I think it could possibly be the pinion gear bearing(s) have broken and is letting that gear wobble a bit... The diff has some nasty wear on it because the morons who owned it before me let the breather plug clog and broke the seals on the out put shafts. no idea how long it has been driven like that but i know when i emptied the old fluid it was flaked with metal and had that horrible burned smell. so i've had to keep an eye on that.

So what do you all think could be the problem?

I found a Diff conversion on ebay. its called a Torsen LSD conversion? fits the JZA70 chassis...
Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyot...mZ120309452198

Would this fit under my car?

Thanks, Jeff

[new echo owner]

If the pinion bearings are bad, it will make noise when you drive it.

N.E.O.

[Nitro989]

If they are straight up broken not necessarily. if the bearings are still together and just bad i could see that.

[new echo owner]

What do you mean by straight up broken? Do you mean the bearing came apart?

N.E.O.

[Jeeves]

The only difference between the MA70 and the JZA70 is the engine that came in them, the 1JZ or the 7M line. Aluminum 1 piece drive shafts are known to have other noises and shimmy's and such at certain speeds and rpms and whatnot since they lack the carrier bearing in the middle. The particular one you've got, it's rather hard to say.

[TcmaBoy]

Small shavings (saw dust size) in the gear oil could just be normal wear. Chunks of metal in the oil is a problem.

I would say check for leaks, but with blown seals.....

Disconnect the drive shaft, grab the pinion flange and give it a good shake. It should not move.

When the pinion goes bad you will know in a hurry. It won't be a small shake or shudder. They tend to let go with a bang.

It could just be a small imbalance in the new drive shaft.

[willtotheumm]

You might want to take your new one piece driveshaft to a driveline shop to have it's balance checked and corrected (if possible). And yes, if your rear end went out, you'd definately know.

[Nitro989]

yea that makes sense. Well i know there's play in between the pinion and ring gear, from a dead stop on a flat surface when i go to take off i can hear the pinion gear slap the ring gear. but i dont think thats the problem. And its not so much a noise as it is actual shaking. I guess it could be the drive shaft, it didnt come with any balancing weights on it.
It doesnt shake at high speed is the odd part at least not too bad, like i said its only during a light take off very slightly releasing the clutch and putting the engine to just over 1K rpm. if it engage the clutch quicker and put the engine to somewhere between 2.5 - 3k it wont do it...


So would that diff. that is stated to fit the JZA70 fit under my car? i mean the mount points look the same from the picture...

[TcmaBoy]

It will fit, but you will have to make sure that the diff you get has the same gear ratio as the one you have. If you do get something with a different gear set you will have to adjust the spedo.