worng transmission?

[4wdchico]

Not a huge difference in hassle swapping the pumpkin vs the whole axle. You can get just the pumpkin for a bit less and may not need to replace the wheel bearings (check for any roughness) if you elect to go that route. I would for sure replace the axle seals behind the wheel bearings. Note that you DO NOT drive the seals all of the way into their bores. The FSM has a specific depth to install them to. If you do pull the pumpkin, it is a good time to clean any debris from the bottom of the axle housing below where the ring gear sits while you have the pumpkin out.

If there are Autozone parts stores in your area you can use their tool lending program and pay for the slide hammer tool, then use it to pull your axles & return it for a full value refund when done. I have done a ton of work with their lending tools and they are better quality Chinese stuff than you would think.

[xirdneh]

odds are its a bad bearing
when you replace the differential you will be pulling the axles
so you can check them out
when you turn the bearing by hand it should be quiet
any noise at all means its going bad
it should not wobble freely
will need a auto machine shop to pull old and install new bearing

if you have a welder and some scrap metal you can make a slide puller
need a piece of metal plate (lug bolt plate) with holes drilled to match lug bolt pattern
weld a 3/8-1/2 dia rod in center of lug bolt plate (about 2-3 feet long
install something heavy with a 7/16-9/16 dia hole thru it onto the rod (it must slide freely)
weld a cap on end of rod

some axles come right out with little fuss (some can be pulled by hand)
most require a puller

bolt lug plate to axle with lug nuts
slide heavy wieght so it slams against end cap
if you want to salvage old seal watch the bearing as it begins to work its way out
before it gets all the way out stop with the puller and work it out by hand so axle does not drop on seal

[e2stew]

Thanks to everyone for there help and patience with my newbie questions.

Update-
Its fixed!
I found a rear '85 axle at a pull and part and with the my father in law switched it out with the original '83 axle.
Now with the matching transmission and rear differential it switches in and out of 4wd with out any problems.
More in importantly it works while in 4wd.

I've only driven it around the block but it defiantly seems like the rear wheel(s) are quieter too.

thanks again.

[e2stew]

one more question.

The drums on the '85 look different than the '83, a little bigger.
But my stock wheels fit on it anyway. Are there any issues or safety concerns with that?

thanks

[Petros]

I think they superseded the original narrow Tercel drums with the later corolla drum, it fits just fine, no issues. The Tercel shoe just presses against a narrow part of the drum face.