Front diff bearing is going, now what?

2006 AC 4X4, Bilsteins at 1.75" and wheelers AAL. Been lifted for about 15k miles. The past few weeks, I have developed a vibration at slow speeds, 0-15 mph. I can only describe the vibration as a grinding feeling. I feel this the most when making slow speed left turns. My drivers side output shaft front the diff has a fair amount of play, up and down, maybe 1/4" at most.

I am convinced that the vibration is coming from the front differential. My wheels feel solid, to rule out wheel bearings. I dont want to go to the dealer. After I spend the time to remove my lift and go back to stock, they will just give me the runaround anyway.

Is there anyway I can pull the CV's and drop out the diff myself, and still be able to drive the truck? I know the CV shafts pretty much hold the hubs on, but there must be an alternative. Prerunner hubs maybe?

I dont know, maybe this is a crazy idea. I would just like to work on this thing myself. See what exactly is going on in there.

 

How do I check?

 

Drivers side shaft has play at the diff. There is about 1/4" of play if I push on the shaft out near the boot. CV's feel ok. When I jack-up the truck, turn the shaft by hand, it seems ok to me.

 

odds are, as far as im seeing it, that the cv's are the culprit. my truck had some horrible vibes, especially at higher speeds on the interstate, so after tire balances and such, i decided to replace my cv's. when i popped the old ones out....the knuckles in the cv's were shot, and caused alot of flop/movement, movement that couldnt be felt too much while they were still attached to the diff. when i put the new ones in...most of my vibes went away. i still have a lil vibes at speed, but its because one of my tires isnt balanced that good.

alos meant to say that there is a lil play in the cv's......up and down, while still in the diff.

 

The best thing to do is return it back to stock and take it in for warranty.

I've seen differential go bad. There were a few on TN that had it replaced under warranty.

It's expensive. So do it under warranty.

In reality they cannot deny your issue because of your 1.75" lift. Because the suspension is still basically stock. other than shocks. But it is better to be safe and remove the AAL's and lower the billy's, and take it in.



As for your earlier question? YES! you can run the Prerunner hubs and remove your CV shafts, and the differential. But why bother?
Let the dealer fix it!

 

I have had a lot of movement on my CVs, but the dealer said that was normal.

I have been driving with this excess movement for about 25k miles. Still no problems.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEjqtDg9gUs

 

wow that is alot of play i need to check mine out.

 

Wow! That is a lot of movement. Tell the dealer to show you a new truck that has that much movement? Mine barely moves.

 

My truck is a 2nd gen (2006).

That's a good point and all, but I just fear that after I spend the time to remove the lift, make arrangements to leave my truck at the dealer, they are just going to give me a hard time about it anyway. Also, I have read on TN of a few which had the diff replaced, only to have these vibs come back. I plan to keep this truck for the long haul, and need to know how to maintain it myself.

 

Hey red razor,

i have a 2007 tacoma 4x4 and have that same vibration/grinding feeling when turn left at low speed, there is also a good amount of play in my driver side CV at the Diff. Truck runs smooth after the turn when driving straight. What was the problem with your's? because mine is out of warranty and am hoping it is nothing to expensive.