Stockdog

I just bought an 86 4x4 with 210,000 miles. It's all stock with small tires. everything sounds and feels good on this truck untill you lock the hubs in then it makes a grinding noise in the front end. Without the hubs locked in I can shift to 4-wheel drive and no noise. I took it out of 4-wheel drive locked in the right side and it made the noise. I unlocked the right side and locked in the left side and the noise was a lot louder. I pulled the wheels and hubs off and the right side looked pretty good still had a lot of greese and no rust but the left side was dry and rusty the snap ring on the shaft was out of the groove and worn. The shaft had some slack in it ( where I could shake it up and down and side to side) The right side had some slack but not as bad as the left side. ANY HELP WITH THIS ONE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

rattlewagon

So are you asking how much play is allowable? or wanting info on the grinding? Have you checked the diff fluid?

Utah4Runner86

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like your whole front end is thrashed to me. You could change the fluid and see if that helps, but the damage is likely been done. I think you're looking at a rebuild.

Bassmastry101

iTrader: (1)

Looks like you already have it narrowed down to the driver side axle and hub. Their pretty cheap to replace.

Stockdog

Yes I was wondering about how much play there should be.

I've been told the noise could be spindle bushings. Going to try to grease them.

Have not checked diff fluid. Looking back I realize that should've been the first thing to do.