I just want to know if I can in fact drive my 02 Taco without the front differential installed. I plan to take it out this weekend when I change my struts. I noticed a lot of play in the CV axle at the differential on the Lt side and not so much on the Rt side. I have also noticed that when I put it into 4wd it has a tendency to not want to unlock unless I move the truck. I think it gets stuck because that bearing is causing it to bind up because the left shaft has tension on it due to the bearing having too much play. Any thoughts?

 

It is common to have to move the truck a little to get 4WD in or out of gear.

This is normal and not necessarily a symptom of anything wrong.

If your cvs' boots are still intact and they make no noise in operation, you are probably wasting your time and money fooling with the axles.

Not familiar with your model trucks setup so can't say whether or not it may be operated with the diff out.

 

If you have ADD no

 

How far do you have to move the truck to get it out of 4WD? If its just a bit like 1 or 2 feet, then thats normal. And the CV axle will have play, it is held in the differential by a little circlip. If you think it has a problem, check the fluid and see what it looks like before tearing everything down to find out its fine and everything is normal.

 

I'm may have gotten a little anxious. I've had this thumping from under the front and when I saw what I thought might be a bad bearing I may have gotten a little disassemble crazy. I'm changing the struts this weekend and hopefully that is my noise. Occasionally it gives me trouble coming out of 4wd with bang, but that could just be the angle the truck is on.

 

The more torque bind the harder it comes out of 4wd

Like if your on black top or concrete even a real hard packed dirt road.

Any surface that does not allow the tires to slip. Will create Torque bind.

Sometimes I even need to back up to get things to disengage .

 

Come to think of it I was on the asphalt. I should have thought of that!