mrNatural

for a while i've been noticing a clunking coming from somewhere around the front suspension on my 1995 4runner. i finally traced it to the right hand "side gear shaft ". when i grab a hold of the right side axle and wiggle it, i can see the side gear shaft move around where it goes into the diff case, as if the bearing is shot. but when i looked at the exploded view of the front diff. there's no bearing showing. only a snap ring and a seal.

what keeps this shaft turning true with no bearing, and what do i need to fix to get rid of all the slop?

here's a link to the FSM i'm looking at.

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1990-1995...f/differen.pdf

any help will be greatly appreciated.

mrNatural

nothing?

Matt94

That's my exact problem right now I'm currently ripping the diff apart now what did you figure out?

mrNatural

i haven't gotten that far yet, still trying to figure out if there's a bearing there or not. there must be one, not sure why it's not shown in the FSM exploded view.

kind of weird, because for the amount of movement the shaft going into the housing is doing, there's no oil leaking out.

did you pull the diff, or are you doing it in the vehicle? let me know what you find out. it seems like a hassle just to remove the inspection cover in veh.

Xeo

Could it be your tie rod? I know they make a clunking or popping noise when you hit bumps or dips in the road Caravans are notorious for those along with Water pumps leaking er sorry for getting side tracked

Matt94

No all that is fine with mine and you can tell with the movement in mine was slamming around, I just dropped it. Biggest pain in the ass by yourself. (having to get 5 stitches now)I just drained the oil, about pull it apart. And do you think I would be able to drive it without the differienetal if I take everything off and all I have to take pictures is my phone sorry

Matt94

What is the ratio ofthe stock runners diff somebody by me is selling a front diff that is a 4.56 ratio and wondering if I should by it

rattlewagon

Depends on your rig. There should be a tag on the inside of the drivers door jam with a axle code. That should tell you (as long as someone hasnt already changed them) what gears the truck has.

Check this link

http://www.brian894x4.com/Gearratiosanddiffs.html

mrNatural

driving it w/no front diff isn't a problem. my prerunner is just a 4x4 without the 4x4 parts.

Lumpy

I'm thinking the bearing you are referring to is the one coming off the Diff case in the lower right corner of the pic in SA-53 just below the Actuator in the pic.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

The axle stub fits into the diff on the pass side via a snap ring. The bearing is in the diff itself, and supports the actual diff. There is no actual bearing just for the stub on the pass side (since thats the short side)

You may have to just replace the diff, assuming that is even the problem. They are designed to move a little bit, but given that it has a seal surface, it can't move around much.

*edit*

Looking at the pic, smack dab in the middle is a bearing called "side bearing" that is what the diff rides on, and the stub snaps into the "differential case", through the "side gear"

mrNatural

that's the driver side, i'm working on the passenger side. it seems like there MUST be a bearing on the passenger side that has the same function as the one you're reffering to. but none is shown, just the side gear shaft, seal and snap ring.

the way they show it the seal would take all the load, which we know won't work.

Lumpy

DC was correct...Look for part # 97 (985, 71) then look to the left. that's your pass bearing and on the other side of the ring gear is the Drivers side bearing.

mrNatural

yeah i saw that bearing but didn't think that was what keeps the side shaft from flopping around. i thought it made more sense that there'd be a bearing pressed into the diff case, similar to the bearing on the long side. my passenger side shaft only moves maybe 1/4 inch when i move it, maybe that's normal, and my clunking is coming from another source.

Matt94

It is that main bearing I pulled the keepers off and I could see the bearing moving around andthere was metal shavings in the oil

peow130

My diff has the same issue.
Took it to a diff specialist and he said that it shouldnt have more than 1-2 thousandths of play, and mine was at like 30-40 thousandths..
mine doesnt clunk in 4wd, or leak oil.

spitfire4

same prob here. the Rh shafts goes in the diff and runs off needle bearings. all the side/side and up/down play has worn out the side gear (spider) My question now is what ratio do I get for the front if I have a 4.88 rear? (G144; Im about to count and make sure right now.) should I get a 4.10 or 4.30 front diff?
thanks
I can post pics and video if needed of the gears

kiyobrown

Must match the gear ratios or you will not be able to use 4wd.

4.88's rear axle, you need a 4.88 front third

spitfire4

ok; now I just counted and I have a 4.55 rear. is there a front 4.55? my prob is...are the front and rear ratios the exactly the same ratios or off a .0# (my Ford friend says they are slightly different) anyone have one?

how much damage would my transfer case have if I drove with different gears front/back? dont think I put more than 10 miles on it on hard surfaces since Ive had it. dont know about the DPO

rattlewagon

You have 4.56s. No such thing as 4.55

Whatever you get, just make sure they match.