downward_force

Hi all,

New to the forum and this my first post.

I recently became the proud new owner of a 91' 4Runner. See pics below.. But after purchasing I have found some problems with her. When I took her for a test drive it never occurred to me to put her into 4WD This is only the second 4WD i have owned and the first one I have owned that isnt full time 4WD so I feel a dummy for not checking this!!!

So now that I've had her a week, I have since tried putting her into 4WD and locking the free wheel hubs. When I do this I get a wicked clicking noise coming from the front, whether in 4WD or not, it just seems as soon as those free wheel hubs are locked they click.. Now my question is what do you think my problem could be? I have read somewhere I could be the spider gears??? Or the free wheel hubs themselves.. Can anyone shed any light on this situation for me? If it is the hubs how do I know and if its spider gears how can i fix those? Also would installing a front locker sort it out perhaps?

Any info would be very much appreciated! Gotta get the ole girl sorted. She'll be taking me outback Australia in the next couple of months!

Great forum and thanks very much!




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waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Does it click WITHOUT the manual hubs engaged but in 4WD?

:wabbit2:

7m4x4dude

Also lock one hub in at a time while your not in 4wd and does it click?

downward_force

I was under the impression that it would damage my vechicle to drive it in 4WD but the locking hubs in 'free'?

I will try and get back to you..

downward_force

Just seen the sticker on the glove box stating:

[quote] IMPORTANT! Advice on corrective employment of 4 wheel drive: DO NOT Engage 4 wheel drive with front freewheeling hubs in unlocked FREE position [quote]

This makes me extremely scared to do such that it states not too

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Yep. Your truck will explode.

:wabbit2:

downward_force

ok so i didn't quite think it would explode ... just accentuate the already existing problems? I apologise for my ignorance here as my knowledge of the front drivetrain is lacking...

So you are saying I can run it this way without making things worse?
I'm assuming this will decipher whether it is the hubs or the gears that is causing the problem then??

Cheers

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

If the hubs are unlocked and it still clicks then it means it's not at the wheels and eliminates them.

:wabbit2:

downward_force

yeah it still clicks when in 4WD with the hubs in 'FREE'.. i assume this would eliminate the hubs and leave the diff or the CV joints as the suspects?

rattlewagon

Correct. Drive slow and have someone walk next to the truck trying to pin point the sound. Does it click more or less when turning? Sounds like a CV to me.

Its also really hard to diagnose a sound without hearing it. Anyway you could take a video or audio clip of the sound?

Utah4Runner86

iTrader: (1)

Somebody is confused - you said in your OP that it happens as soon as you lock the hubs, now you're saying it does it with the hubs unlocked too? And it does it in 2wd or 4wd? So basically, all the time?

Folks need an accurate description of what trouble you're having and when in order to help you out, man.

5runner

or just put it up on 4 jack stands and put it in drive and listen where it is coming from. or just pull the diff fluid guarantee there will be metal chunks cuz ur ring and or pinion has blown up!

downward_force

Correct Utah. If I lock the hubs but drive in 2WD it clicks, if I lock the hubs and drive in 4WD it clicks, if I leave the hubs in Free / Unlock and drive in 4WD its clicks.. the only time it doesnt click is if i drive in 2WD with the hubs in free.

Sorry for the confusion.

Rattlewagon, Good idea on the clip. I will try get a video clip up

Thanks peoples appreciate it

2012MongolRally

I am curious about the outcome of your situation downward_force, in regards to the problem being a ring and pinion. The sound you are hearing sounds like the clicking noise I had another one of my vehicles with a CV-axle. It turned out the boat was broken/gone and when I went lock to lock on the steering wheel the clicking noise would happen. Does the clicking noise happen when you turn the steering wheel lock to lock when you try to make a tight turn? Best on fixing the problem

92dlxman

money on c/v's

yotaman90

x2^^^^^^

2012MongolRally

Btw, downward_force, nice truck. I am making myself a snorkel out of PVC at the moment, hole saw and a Lowe's build Working on a budget, good luck on the repair (if its axles, no worries, i just the left front on my truck and it wasn't too bad). Best

downward_force

HI 2012MongolRally, thanks for the complements on the truck. I think she's a beaut B)

in response to your question it doesn't make much difference when turning a corner. Its a consistent sound only getting worse with speed...

To further on from 5runner's suggestion I went and bought gear oil today so the plan of of attack is to take the diff apart tomorrow to see whats going on there..

Tried taking a video this afternoon but im afraid to say the girlfriend cant drive manual. Didnt come out to well haha.. Going to have to get her to film and add commentary afterward

downward_force

apologies for the late response.. ive been flat out braking other things on my truck haha.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116.../#post51887424

Anyway so here is an update:

Took my truck for a decent drive in 4wd (im very hesitant to do this because of the gnarly clicking) but I wanted to get the diff oil out so had to warm it up a little. I noticed that when im making quite sharp turns the clicking is barely noticeable. So its only happening when im not turning the car...

I took the diff oil out thinking id find load of metal chunks, but found barely any (see attached pics) There was a few metal shavings and alot of sludge on the magnet.. Im going to hopefully take it down to a mate that works in a garage today and see what he thinks. I'll let you all know the outcome!

downward_force

So my problem is fixed and its only cost me a case of beer haha..

Really simple fix actually. Its amazing how easy some things can be when you have a hydraulic lift...
Took my truck down to my mate in the garage yesterday, even he though it was very bizare! If we drove with both locking hubs engaged it clicked, if we drove with one of them unlocked and the engaged it didnt click. Put her up on the hydraulic lift and gave her a drive with the mechy underneath. Turns out it was cover over the universal joint that had bent in slightly. Just needed to bend it back out a little and job done! No more clicking =)

I'll get a picture of the cover im on about today and post it up for your reference