Front Differential Bearings Gone!

I just bought my 06 trd 4x4 and when i test drove it i noticed some howling in the front end and when i turned to right it went away. I wasnt worried and fiquared it was the left front wheel bearing, so i yesterday i jacked it up and turned the wheel and you could hear the noise, but it sounded like it was from the front diff. I noticed the left cv shaft wobbling a bit so i grabed it and.......where it slides into the front diff it moves up and down 1/4 inch!! Now my truck is bone stock, never offroad, maybe in 4x4 a handfull of times and was female owned and allways seviced at toyota dealership.....
The bearing in the diff is gone, checked oil and looks a bit dirty from the metal flakes im sure as it only has 42,000. I have to drop it off for the tick manifold TSB, leaf spring TSB, and rear Tran mount TSB because they didnt have the parts, so ill tell them that i needa new fron diff too!!!!

 

I thought the TSB's ran out at 36k.Heck if im wrong im going for the springs on my 07.My cv's have quite a bit of play hmmmmmm.

 

Prior owner....Female....that answers your question, more than likely didn't know what that dial on the dash did let alone when it should have been used, like on slick surfaces.

Or I could be completely wrong and it could have been *ucked up since day one since it has only 42k on the clock and it has never been offroad....yea right.....

 

I called toyota to start a claim, then the dealerership verified the rear spring problem, and the service manager is going to try his best to get them to goodwill the springs....but everything else is covered under warr.

 

sweet good to know, I didnt realize there was such a thing till I was at 40k, 45k now.Heck I will give it a shot.

JC

 

Have the dealership replace it under warranty. I had to have mine replaced. Gear oil started leaking out of the front diff around the drive shafts. It's around $1600 for a new front diff alone so get that shit fixed under warranty!

I got a newer model front diff on my 06 out of that, so I'm wondering if there was an issue with the one it came with (gray one, new one's black and thinner but hangs down lower).

 

Mine is also bad. having some crazzy trouble with the dealer right now.

 

Try another dealer? I had to go to a second one and play dumb to get mine fixed. Ended up saying "Uh yeah, I smelled oil and saw something leaking when I looked under the truck. My buddy said to get it looked at ASAP so can you look at it and see what's wrong?"

 

Wow does anyone else have this problem, both sides where my front cv joints go into the front differential it has about 1/2 inch of play! and i can move it in and out.

 

Exactly what mine is doing and now sicne i have my 5100 and a harder ride my truck has been vibrating for months dealer says nothing is wrong! Oh wait untill tomorrow when i bring it in.

 

I'm pretty sure I'm having the same problem. I'm going to price an ARB front locker and maybe stick that in and fix the bearing issue while I'm there, as well as weld up the motor mounts!!

 

Just dropped mine off so ill see what they say tomorrow, mine is black in color...you say yours was gret and then it updated to black..mmmmm wonder if i already have the updated one.

Why are all of these people have in from diff problems at 40,000.....mine never even been in the woods, just for a few hours here and there in the snow...

 

I feel even worse with only 23,000. And mine has way more then a 1/4" play in it.

 

Did all you guys, know about this problem, or did you just take a look at it after i mentioned that mine was gone? I counldn't find anything when i searched befor i posted..

 

i looked at mine after, because ive had this vibration. Went to the dealer this am and tested every new tacoma 4x4 there and there is some play, but not like my truck.

 

Dealer told me this is normal! Are they on crack! If this is normal why is my 09 so much better then my 06? ARg im so sick of this. Probly going to trade her in on a new tundra.

 

Ok sit down......I had to after they told me.......Its normal!!! Just got back from dealer and i made them put mine and a Brand new one up on two lifts!!! I hate to say it, and i dont believe it but.......the 09 tacoma did have play!!! It wasnt as bad but it had play that would make me a bit nervous....mine has about a 1/4 in and the 09 with 0 miles had 1/8 inch play....Im a mechanic myself and it blows my mind that this is normal, but there all like that.

The Dealer said there all like that and the more i think about it, and looked at it i think the play is in the cv shaft spline where it slides into the diff, so i dont think the the diff hs bad bearings, but just the slpines wear on the cv shaft and where it just slides in the diff. i may take mine out and grease it so it doesnt get worse as it is a live axle and spins all the time.

 

They did the same for me. And i checked my 09 yupp play. Im ready for a new auto for myself now anyway. Im pricing out new tundras, silverados and a new g8 gxp.

 

I would think a limited amount of play would be normal just to allow some give n take while wheeling. If they were solid and unmoving then the slightest extra stress might snap something.

 

It's a different type of bearing. Can't remember the name, but it does have some play.

However, mine (as well as many others) were worn. Pass. side mainly. Wheel bearings were gone, not the diff bearings. Lift it up, and spin the tire. You will hear the humming if you can spin it fast enough.

Replaced my wheel bearings and got rid of an annoying vibe and that loud noise! whew, glad that's gone!