sawguy50

While trying to track down a howling noise (loudest at 40 mph, upon deceleration could feel a rumble all the way to stop. Like aggressive tire noise and vibration). Driver side tire had a little play L to R. Seemed like wheel bearing going out. After disassembly(knuckle off), I turned the axle shaft and I hear a clicking noise(like gears meshing). Nothing on passenger side, just driver side. Should you be able to hear this noise? Doesn't sound like it's coming from the CV joint. There is no roughness or grinding, just clicking. Any help appreciated.

MaK92-4RnR

sounds like a CV joint. what condition are they in?

Jomoka

With the ADD disconnected (i.e. not in 4WD) the right/passenger side CV shaft is free-wheeling - a collar retracts and disengages that side.

The left/driver side remains engages, and spins the spider gears in the front diff (this allows the ring&pinion and front driveshaft to stay put).

sawguy50

The spider gears could be what I'm hearing. The CV axles look great and no leaks at the boots. This vehicle has seen no off roading to speak of, just mainly snow and mud.

Are you supposed to hear the spider gears when turning the driver side axle? The sound isn't very loud. The clicking is very steady like a slow turning ratchet wrench. If that's normal then maybe the wheel bearing was my howling noise. I hate to have it torn down this far without exploring all possibilites. Thanks for the replies.

sawguy50

C'mon front diff guys!

sawguy50

Ok, update...I have raised the whole vehicle. No noise in 2wd, noise in 4wd. On the ground, noise in 2wd, same noise in 4wd. So far I have replaced both wheel bearings, driver side cv axle and axle bearing/bushing. Same noise. Anyone have a problem with spider gears, or is there a bearing turning in there in 2wd?

Side note...I purchased the axle bushing replacement for the needle bearing in the diff. from East Coast Gear, along with the installation and removal tools. The removal tool is a joke for $75 and am returning that. The bushing is 1/8" longer than the original needle bearing, so you can't tap it in flush with the diff case. I don't know if that makes any difference but it doesn't show that in the install video. I would not recommend this company. Upon calling for tech support, they said someone must have been inside the diff and screwed something up. Well, I'm the original owner and no one has ever touched it. So, any ideas on this noise would be helpful.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

When you drained the gear oil was there metal shavings or any metal at all?? In the gear oil

Sort of hard to diagnosis a random noise on line.

Just how bad was the wheel bearings you replaced??

sawguy50

Absolutely no metal in the oil. I don't think the wheel bearings were bad at all. Just did them because of 235k miles, and thought they could be the cause. This noise sounds like a drone or howl that gets higher in pitch the faster you go. Most pronounced at 40mph. When slowing down, you feel a light vibration in the floorboard and brake pedal similar to the sound and feel of very aggressive tire tread. I have just about eliminated everything.

aowRS

sawguy,
Take a look at the two videos I posted in my front wheel bearing thread and let me know if the sound is similar. I have not torn into this yet.

Original owner, 302,000 miles, all wheel bearings, CV joints & u-joints are original. I change the gear oil in the diffs & transfer every 50k miles.

my thread



Andreas

aowRS

This morning I again raised the left front corner via the control arm. I'm getting ready to replace both wheel bearings, clips & seals (303,000 miles) but this thread has me wondering if my front diff has an issue. As the weeks have passed, the noise/feeling through the front end is becoming more pronounced - which convinced me that I have a wheel bearing going out.

Bu the 'noise' description that 'sawguy50' gave is spot on with what I'm hearing. Once I lifted the driver's side front wheel this morning, I spun it and touched a mechanic's stethoscope to the inner surface of the steering knuckle, nearest the dust shield. I definitely hear a slight bearing sound. But when I touched the stethoscope to the front diff, I very clearly heard the rhythmic clicking sound described by sawguy.

Is this normal? The sound is a consistent clicking, without gaps. I change the diff fluids every 50k and have never seen anything out of the ordinary when draining.



Andreas

offset442

clicking typical is a sign that the bearing race has expanded and the tolearnce between the balls has incresed such the the ball are flowing free enough crashing into eachother making a ticking sound, this means the bearing is out of tolerance and needs to be replaced, also when this condation exsists is allows the saft that the bearing is carrying to move offcenter, which in ture puts stresses on the rest of the connected componets

the front diff has bearings for the cv spline recivers are on each side, and the internal carrier journals and pin i have often wondered if they go bad, or at least if they have shims that can get out of tolerance alowing for backlash, i think for sure the spiders could get out of tolerance since they are journal type bearings typically

http://www.awdwiki.com/images/toyota...disconnect.jpg

I thinking its time to repair/replace the diff and/or do a manual hub conversion if you only change the offending bearing

-incidently i just noticed my clamshell ADD clicks softly on the left side too, just changed the cv shafts while i did the ball joints, however mine has over 300K miles on it and had tons of metal on the magnet and some nasty metal filled oil, think I will be needing to take my own advice sooner or later here

sawguy50

If you're talking about the needle bearing that the output shaft of the cv axle rides on, I just replaced mine with a bushing from East Coast Gear and still same noise. I've eliminated tires ( because it makes it on gravel), front wheel bearings ( replaced ), needle bearing on driver side cv axle (replaced), driver side cv axle, (replaced). This is definately a bearing or gear noise of some type. Starting to really feel it at 10 to 20 mph now through the brake pedal.

aowRS

Fearing that my diff is worn out, I picked up a 40k-mile diff and a pair of 60k-mile half shafts yesterday.....


Andreas

sawguy50

Mine makes this noise in 2wd and 4wd, but when I raise the whole vehicle off the ground, no noise in 2wd. I don't think there's anything else turning in the front diff but spyder gears and side needle bearings when in 2wd.

lobukbuild

the slight clicking is probably the spiders with normal wear for the mileage, the vibration / growling could be pinion bearing or even in the front driveshaft. front drive shafts can free spin in 2wd caused by drag and windage within the diff. its a reach but possible

aowRS

Since the 4Runner is my daily driver, I need to forge ahead with this bit o' maintenance... Luckily a good friend of mine is letting me use his '98 for as long as I need it.

I only had a few hours today to get a start on this, so I set the front on stands, pulled the wheels, calipers, and halfshafts. Tomorrow I intend on dropping the diff and hopefully bolting the 'new' diff into place. Then the plan is:

- replace both wheel bearings/seals
- install 'new' halfshafts
- button everything up
- aim for 400,000 miles

I'm still astounded that all of these mechanicals have gone more than 300k miles without a hitch. Love this truck!












Andreas

rworegon

^^ great beer label.

sawguy50

I'm starting to think the noise is not the front diff. Even though it sounds like it's in the front. Going on a 500 mile trip today. Hope it stays together.

aowRS

Please report back.

I put a stethascope to my front diff. It did not sound healthy...



Andreas

sawguy50

When I return in 4 days, I'm going to find a shop that has a frame lift and have them do some listening to everything underneath. I really need to find out what this problem is. I'll update next week.