Hi first time post please be patient. I have an 86 truck 4x4 4 cylinder standard tranny blah blah blah that has a grinding sound coming from the front axle. First question should I include some truck history before the run down on what I've tried with no results so far? The noise began couple months ago it sounded kinda like a shock with no bushing. It graduated into an intermittent grinding. You can feel the grind in the floorboard but not in the steering. It's now grinding 99% of the time. I've replaced wheel bearings both inner and outer, the front diff, the aisin locking things on the hubs, the rt axle and the only conclusion is grease is nasty stuff and it's on everything and my truck still grinds. Ive watched do many freaking videos....Today with the front end off the ground I did the tire and pin thing cause I know you guys will have the answer to WTF is going on. Tires off the ground with hubs unlocked in 2wd I spun the rt. Wheel and just the right wheel moved spun the lft. Wheel both axles turned and rt wheel remained stationary. With hubs locked 2wd spun the rt wheel axle turned the the lft wheel and axle remained stationary. Spun the lft. axle turns but not the rt. It tries with very slight movement clunk back and forth. Please help me out. And I failed to include I'm below poverty level taking parts off of donor trucks that were in tighter shape then mine. And also most of my driving is treacherous dirt roads. Hope this was clear and concise.

 

don't make multiple posts of the same question. it's annoying. have the patience to wait for a response - you asked your question early on a saturday morning. give it time.

 

I had a gnarly grinding noise like that that I chased forever, turns out I was missing a snap ring on one of my CVs, it lets the axle flop around and makes a hideous noise,

 

At what speeds do you hear the noise?
Does it change if you turn left or right?
Does it go away or change if you push in the clutch?
Does it change if you hit the brakes?

 

It doesn't change on cornering or braking the pitch of the noise does change with truck speed. It will start g grinding at any speed over 2-5 mi per hr.

 

just curious does it sound something like this? I was literally about to write a post about this too but then I saw your post. My 91 makes a grinding noise too. Check it out my link on YouTube! When I slow down with the foot off the gas, you can really hear it good. I have driven it up to speeds of 80 mph on the highway can you can hear it but not much (probably due to other noise and wind) but for sure <50mph its noticeable especially at lower speeds. Mine is a 91 Pickup V6 SR5 4x4 extended cab with 282k mi. Hope this info is good!

Sorry, I just barley made an account to day too so this is my first post as well. Your descriptions sound very similar to mines because the noise is a grinding noise and my floor board does shake as well. Here are my description from my YouTube video.

"91 Toyota Pick up Front wheel noise. Not sure where its coming from but its on the driver side. Happens randomly and at various speeds but as you can see when I put my foot off the gas and it slows down, you can really hear it. It sounds like something rubbing but I don't know. Weird thing was that I had a Power Steering leak and the noise was gone. Got a new PS pump and High Pressure hose and the noise is back and it seems louder. Possibly something with the power steering? The noise is pretty loud, it turns heads when I'm driving too. Any ideas on what it might be guys!?!? Its an old car but I love it! At first the speedometer needle was very bouncy, I removed it from the cluster and transfer case the lubed up the ends only (couldn't pull it out) and it seemed to fix the noise a little. Needle does not bounce as much any more but when the noise kicks in it does bounce a little. I though maybe it was the speedo cable but maybe not. Differently not the wheel bearing. Maybe something with the power steering (turns fine)? Old car so maybe shocks/axle or differential? Will be updating as soon as I find out"

 

My front wheels are off the ground in 2wd hubs unlocked. I can spin left wheel both axles turn in opposite direction ⁰00but the right wheel didn't move. I spun the right wheel and no axle movement on either side nor did left tire move. What does this indicate.

 

not sure how the left axle spins in the opposite direction the left wheel is spinning, that's a new one.

 

that's how differentials work unless they are fully locked or a spool.

This indicates that your left side hub is not disengaging.

 

Ok I will take left side apart again as soon as I get the right side back together. Since I really dont know wtf I'm doing I thought maybe I should double check the wheel bearings etc. And all of you that have responded my deepest gratitude.

 

that is not how an open diff that i’m familiar with works. how does the left axle rotate in the opposite direction the left wheel is spinning?

i didn’t realize spools had a significantly different mechanism from a locker. the locker in my cj does not do the described situation, ie, when i spin the left wheel forward, the left axle spins forward too, along with the right axle. the left axle never spins in the opposite direction that the left wheel spins.

 

From what I am reading the OP is saying that spinning the left wheel causes the right axle to spin the opposite direction. That is normal open diff operation.
the only difference between a locker and a spool is that when unlocked the locker acts just like an open diff, when the driveshaft doesn't turn the opposite axle will spin in the opposite direction when the tires are off the ground, front or rear makes no difference. the spool never will, the axles will always turn in the same direction and if the driveshaft is locked by having the tranny in gear or park you won't be able to spin the axles more than just the slop in the gears and such .

 

the OP might have meant that, but that isn’t how the description reads. since we cannot see it, i will not assume that’s what was meant and can only go by the description as given, ie, the left wheel and axle are turning in the opposite direction.