Hoping the photos give a good idea of what I'm seeing. Changed all diff fluids today. No issues except front diff I felt had excessive amount of shavings and metal particals on the magnet. Some of those you can see sticking up off magnet were little shards. Thoughts? I also noticed the center and front diff oil had an Amber hue to it. It wasn't especially dirty, but color was not what I am used to as far as gear oil. Per Lexus records it was last changed at 74k miles. Currently sitting at 134k miles.

 

I'd just send it until it blows up knowing that you'll need to replace it at some point.

 

So it's not normal?

 

I'd just try to stay up on changing your fluids more often. Thats definitely on the upper end of normal for metal shavings

 

With 60k on the fluid, that's still more than I'd like to see.
Did you save any of the fluid to send off for analysis? Like to Blackstone Labs (don't forget the dash in the URL!)

Chip H.

 

I just changed my front diff. fluid yesterday and I didn't have anything close to that. I have 170,000 miles, It had been changed regularly up to 115,000 but I don't think since. So maybe that's not normal or just that your fluid hadn't been changed regularly.

 

Looks like bronze to me, likely some carrier bearings decided to go south. Are the cv axles seals on housing leaking yet? I have 216k miles and front diff never gave me any shavings like that, maybe some slight fine shed material.

 

not normal.