I haven't had a chance to take a pic yet. Is there an exact area you want me to take a pic of ?
here's what the order said.
42421-35050 case, rr axle bearin 69.14
90310-50006 seal, type s oil 6.84
90301-88077 ring, o 4.43
90363-40068 bearing, radial ball 68.27
90313-54001 seal,type k oil 13.11
42423-20010 retainer,rr axle be 19.09
technician replaced right rear wheel bearing.
42181-34011 gasket, differential 7.73
41110-35751 carrier assy, differ 1297.99
8 npn gear oil 20.00
technician replaced center differential.

Then they replaced my front brakes and resurfaced them which was 210.00
labor amount was 772.50
parts was 1594.75
total 2377.25
with tax total was 2473.54

They didnt replace your center differential, they replaced your rear differential. Did they say why? Was it an E locked diff?

what is an E locked diff ?

It is an electrically locked rear differential thats locks both rear wheels together giving power to both rear wheels instead of one as in most Tacomas. Unless you have the TRD Offroad package you probably have a standard differential. If its a locker there would be a push button switch on your dash to the left of the steering wheel and next to the clutch cancel switch. I still cant figure why they called it a center differential when its the rear. Did they call you with an estimate first? You could have gotten a used third member "rear differential gears" from a junkyard for alot less.

The truck is automatic, so I have no clutch cancel switch. They only gave me an estimate after I was there at Toyota. My actual total bill was about 300.00 less than I was told it would be.
All I really know is that when I took the truck in and the tech, drove it to find out if I had a bad wheel bearing, he came back and told the service advisor to tell me that the center differential was bad too. That I didn't need to drive it until it was fixed, that it was really bad. After it was fixed and I went to get it, I did speak to the tech, who put the old diff in the back of the truck for me, he said that it was so bad that it's a wonder that it didn't mess up something about my transmission also. He said he drove it after replacing it and it seemed fine.
Another thing I am wondering about. As far as the right rear wheel bearing. Picure this : if you are at a stop sign and when you take off and turn right, the right rear wheel has always spun with me, as if I were on wet pavement and the wheel was spinning a little. It's always done this but since having the wheel bearing replaced, it has not done it one time. Does this mean I've had a defect since my truck was new ?
I am going back to Toyota this saturday morning to have them put my skid plate back up right. It is only bolted up on one side. I assume they removed it to change the differential, am I wrong ?
Before I go saturday, is there any questions I need to ask about concerning the things I've recently had fixed ?
Another thing while I'm thinking about it. The tech took the old bearing out of the box and showed me how it was hard to turn. I assume this had to do with the diff since all I asked for was parts from the diff. As far as roundness, it's probably as big around as a tennis ball or maybe a bit larger.

Im not sure how they could tell the differential was bad just by driving it without taking it apart and checking. I would have them show you what was bad on the old one. The bearing would be the rear wheel bearing. The tire spinning could have been your old tires. Did it still happen with the new tires? Now for the confusing part. There is no skid plate on the rear differential. Are you talking about the front skid plate or maybe gas tank skid plate? Theres no reason to have removed those to do the front brakes or rear axle and differential.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

The skid place I am talking about is at the front end. I am now concerned also with a squeeky noise I hear. It sounds like shocks or something. It sure wasn't squeeking before I had all this stuff done. I don't know where all exactly it comes from but did hear it definetely coming from the area of the rear right. Since all of this work done. I am also hearing a sound when I brake and get to a complete stop, a sound like a spring would make and also somewhat like a wheezing noise. As a smoker, I sometimes wheeze, it almost sounds like a quick wheeze , yet springing sound and I think this is from the front. I've had front brakes replaced before and have never heard sounds afterwards. I have had new tires before and yes, the rear right tire did spin a little on take-off.
I didn't make it to Toyota saturday as I had planned. They are only open till noon and my computer tore up friday. So I chose to get the computer fixed saturday instead. I will be taking it in the 1st week of July sometime because I am off on shutdown and will have time.
I will ask them at Toyota to explain to me about how they knew it was my diff. and why they are calling it a center diff., if it doesn't exist on my truck.
Hey guys, Happy 4th of July this friday <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

First and foremost, find a different Toyota dealer.

As said, they cannot tell you that the differential is bad via a simple test drive. Believe me, I'd munched rear diffs and all you'll usually hear is a slight whine that sounds like bad wheel bearings.

Look under the truck - in the center of the rear axle, on the front, where the driveshaft connects, is the differential. Does this part look NEWER than the surrounding parts (cleaner, shiny black)?

When I munched the diff on my 96 4Runner, Toyota would ONLY sell me a complete differential, not a carrier assembly as your bill states. The estimate was $1500 for the assembly. I can't believe they would charge you $1200 for anything other than a complete differential (called a third member, or in this case, carrier assembly.)

Where in TN are you? I'm sure people here could recommend some 4x4 shops that provide excellent service.

While I agree with most of what has been said ,I would not get too hung up about the phrase"center diff".Third members are commonly referred to as a "center section".

Ok guys, It is 9/3/08 and I am finally back. I've been checking in from time to time but hadn't been back to toyota service in awhile. I asked while I was there about the center diff, because you guys say it doesn't exist on a 01 tacoma. The advisor said it's really what I would look at as being the "rear diff". I crawled under the truck this morn to verify it and I could tell that it was new looking at the rear.
Now I am concerned about the issue where at the same time I had to have the right rear wheel bearing replaced. I believe it is leaking oil, grease or whatever is back there. The inside of the right rear wheel has a film of nasty looking oil stuff all over the inside of it. I asked them at toyota to check. Advisor said that tech looked and saw no signs of leaks. Well, this morn while under there, I wiped it off best I could with paper towels, so now I'll look again in a day or 2 to see if it's oily again.
Now guys, I hate to ask again but if you read back to the first of this and see where I am asking if you think the diff. could have been damaged due to the wreck, please think about it again since we know for sure it was the rear diff. Although my truck was hit on the left side, and it was hit hard, could it have bent or un-aligned something that caused the diff problem to finally come to a head. Parts and labor, 2K was a lot of money. I could atleast get the parts money back from my insurance if ya'll can think of a way that this could have actually been caused by the accident.
Please gimme your advice. Thanks guys...