Toy Boy

I've got a 98 Taco with manual hubs. Had it in 4-wheel drive today in the snow. On deceleration with the hubs locked, the right front made a rotational thumping noise. It only happens when decelerating in gear! I stopped to check that the hubs were engaged, and the right front had backed off a little. I turned back to lock and still had the same noise. Checked the hub again when I got home and it was still fully in the lock position. Now these hubs don't engage solidly or click into place like I'm used to on Jeeps, I'm new to Toyotas, so I was wondering if this is a bad hub or a CV? Could someone explain how to diagnose this further? I don't have a heated garage and it's pretty darn cold outside!!!!
By the way, the 4-wheel drive seems to work fine other than the noise! Went anywhere I wanted to go! Just that darn noise on deceleration! HELP!!!!!

Toy Boy

Any one with an idea?

If it is a hub is it easy to rebuild or should I go ahead and replace with a Warn? Found a pair for $156.

Toy Boy

Anyone?

I'd like to fix it before it gets worse. Since it only does it in 4-wheel, has to be one of the two??

Toy Boy

Okay, still have the noise. Here's what I know so far.
Now that I'm listening for it all the time, I have noticed it occasionally in 2H with the hubs unlocked.
It was warm enough yesterday to crawl under and have a look. No leaks or split boots. With the hubs unlocked the axles spin freely with no noises when rotated back and forth. Lock the hubs and crawl back under and rotate the axles again. With a slight twist on the axle on both sides there is a click from the hub that engages it fully. I tried to rotate back and forth quickly to generate some sort of noise. They were both quiet and solid feeling. No slop. Unlocked the hubs and both axles spin freely again. Checked the u-joints on front and rear drive shaft, no slop there either. The noise isn't getting worse, but I can't locate it! I even checked the exhaust thinking it might be a pinhole causing a decel pop. Grabbed the top of the tire and shook the truck side to side and no noise, and tried the 9 and 3 postion, no noise. Any other ideas I haven't tried??

Nuthuts96

iTrader: (1)

that sounds not good...i have no clue what's up, how bout a bump?

MudHippy

Have you been givin' it hell? I have that noise every so often. Don't wanna be the bearer of bad news, but you may have gear damage. If you've chipped a tooth off of a gear, ring or pinion, or the side gears, that's the noise you'll hear. I have had 3 front end gear failures, 2 ring and pinion, one side gear disintegration. They all started with thumps. The sound can be intermitent, but will eventualy worsen as the gears tear themselves apart. If you can crack open the differential and take a look, it may save you some parts that haven't gone yet, for a rebuild. A whole new front axle assembly, might be the best option if your not into the rebuild. Not a lot more $, if any, than the gears alone. Hey, I hope I'm wrong for your sake, sorry. SAS SAS SAS

MudHippy

Hmmm...

Toy Boy

Thanks for the replies. I think I figured it out. Drove it quite a bit to today. I now can here the noise when sitting still and slightly revving the engine. The noise happens when the revs return to idle. And definatley coming from underneath somewhere. I'm guessing a loose exhaust or a pinhole somewhere. Guess I'll have to check it with a fine tooth comb.
It sounds like the same noise I was getting while driving that only happened under deceleration. I seriously hope that's all it is!!

MudHippy

Phew! Had me worried there.