I had my 96 4Runner on a lift and noticed that the passenger rear axle moves slightly. I can grab the tire and pull and it barely moves but I can feel it and hear it. I don't hear anything inside while driving, what do you think it could be? Bearings going bad, something inside the 3rd?
Thanks
Jason

 

BUMP
Anybody have an idea?

 

well c-clip axles do this normally

but being that these rear ends have a removable 3rd then i don't see how they could be c-clip axles


the only thing i could think that could cause this would be the wheel bearing.

 

I'd say wheel bearing, mine was making a weird kind of clanging noise on the highway and I jacked it up and pulled on a wheel like you did. It was a bad wheel bearing, everything is much quieter and smoother now! How many miles are on yours?

 

are you talking about rotating the tire or pulling it out perpendicular from the vehicle...

 

a very slight amount of in/out movement is normal for the semi-floating axles Toyota uses. On mine, at least, it is enough to feel and maybe measure if I felt like setting up a dial indicator gauge. As long as you don't hear any strange grinding or whining noises from the rear, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

It's perpendicular to the vehicle, if I pull on the wheel I can hear a slight clunk from the movement. I didn't realize this until I had the tires put on but I hear and feel nothing out of the norm. I just wanted to see if there was something else I didn't know about. I was thinking the bearing as well but with no noises then I'm not going to worry about it.
Thanks y'all

 

The Yota rears are not C-lip axles... Yota rears have a bearing pressed onto the end of the axle that is held in by a snapring. The flange is sandwiched in there and it bolts to the housing holding it all in.

There usually is a little movement in rear ends pulling out.. Just depends on how much it is actually moving. You could sometimes have a decent amount on a c-clip axle such as a 10 or 12 bolt GM.. You may be developing some play in the bearing.

Does it pull out less that an 1/8th" or so? And do you have any up and down movement?

If it pulls out less then an 1/8th" I would say its normal. But if you get some up and down movement, it may be time for a new bearing.

 

Prolly not even 1/16th, just enough to make a sound when it stops moving but I can't even feel it move. Judging from your post I think I'm fine for while. The driver side doesn't do this at all. No up or down movement.