OFFICIAL 2nd gen 4x4 front differential bearing vibration thread

Better aftermarket (moog) greasable sway bar link is $30 each. Nongreasable is less.

 

I installed the bushing in my truck yesterday and now the 30-40 mph grinding feel and vibes are totally gone. I thought I may have waited too long to do the install and was worried that I may have some scoring in the CV shaft but it turned out to be pretty smooth and definitely reusable... kind of surprised me for having almost 99K miles on the truck.

For the axle removal I used the slide hammer and hose clamp technique. One note of caution if you use the slide hammer is be careful with the CV boot. I used the 3 claw attachment with one claw attached and it was wanting to push into the boot. So, I just pushed the boot in as much as I could to minimize any sharp edges pushing on it. Pretty much self explanatory.
For the bearing removal I had to chamfer the back edges of the small piece of the removal tool so it would slide into place. I just used a dremel with a grinder attachment.... easy enough to modify and worked perfectly.
For install of the ECGS bushing I used the removal tool and reassembled it with 2 sockets (one to fit inside the bearing and another to press on the edge) and it worked great for keeping the bearing centered while tapping it in.
To install the CV axle back in I used a long socket extension, putting the female end into the notch on the axle and tapping the male end with a hammer.

This was the most involved work I've ever done on a vehicle and it took me almost 6 hours to finish. I'm extremely happy with the results of this bushing!

 

Thanks ECGS. I bought a 2015 ac 4x4 and just bought a lift kit. I am glad that I did my research and found this. I am going to get this bushing in while I have it torn down, it will take a little longer but hey! I am glad that I spend some time on this forum.

 

Thanks guys! Had my mechanic install the ECGS bushing this weekend. Seems to have fixed the issue but now I have a new, smaller, steady and rhythmic rub/vibe in the 22 mph - 25 mph range. Totally different than the vibration prior to the bushing install and definitely was not there before. Anyone else have this?

Edited: and now I've noticed a harsh ride/rub in the gas pedal and steering wheel in the 65 mph - 75 mph range. I can get it to go away when I turn the wheel slightly to the left. I'm wondering if tightness of the bushing is causing this.

Seems like I've remedied one problem to create another

 

I'm not sure. Could be the mechanic didn't install it 100% correct

 

I have that same vibe but without the ECGS bushing. The 20 mph vibe does NOT go away in 4WD for me. I've been gradually lowering the carrier bearing which has gradually improved it. At this point I'm using the Streetacos CB bracket with two fender washers on each side and the vibe is very minimal.

 

When I put my truck into 4HI I experience a constant humming noise that sounds focused towards the front diff on the drivers side, is this a bad sign? Because I'm not totally sure if It's a vibration in the bearings, just seems weird. I have a front diff drop and a OME 90021s in the front with 884s.

 

I'm having this issue but it seems to start from passenger side to pedal. Is that normal? It does seem to stop when I put it in 4x4. So I'm assuming it's the same but I keep seeing that it's the driver side that vibrates.

 

From what I've read, if the vibe does not go away in 4WD, then an ECGS bushing will probably not help. You may want to try a carrier bearing drop- which ranges from adding washers to drop the bracket a bit, to OME's kit which drops it about half an inch, to Streetacos bracket which drops it 1.5." I currently am using the Streetacos kit and 2 fender washers, and most of my vibes have gone away, except for the 40 mph one which DOES go away in 4WD.

 

Ya I went down there to check it the this morning and my driver side moved slightly but my passenger side doesn't, so it is really tight right there so I might install my drop kit I purchased and see what happens.

 

Yup, the driver's side is where the ECGS bushing will tighten things up, but that still may not be where your vibes are coming from. I've installed lifts before and have never had this much trouble. What makes it worse is that every truck is different, so there are no magic bullet solutions.

 

See mine doesn't start making the noise unless I'm in 4WD which I find to be weird.

 

Probably totally unrelated, I haven't seen any mention of that and I've scoured the driveline vibe threads. BTW my good friend lived in Eagle River, he drives a blue 96 T100 with boggers that he's selling. He's in Anchorage now I think. Wondered if you know him.

 

I have a vibe/rumble strip sound coming from my right front at highway speeds when I turn the wheel slightly left??? I have a non lifted 2012 4X4 Tacoma TRD

 

If you have noise, vibe, roar and you veer the vehicle and the noise changes or goes away it is tire or wheel bearing noise. When you veer the vehicle it changes the load on the bearing so the pitch of the noise will change or go away. The only time the noise does not change and its a wheel bearing is when the bearing is very bad. Very bad bearings are typically easy to diagnose by running the vehicle on jackstands/lift. Keep in mind the suspension should not be at full during this test or other noises will occur masking the bearing noise.

If you are only experiencing noise in 4wd I suspect there is something actually wrong inside the diff (pinion bearings most likely however it is rare for these bearings to fail unless the vehicle has been operated in 4wd at higher speeds for extensive mileage). It could also be front driveshaft issues. Also keep in mind these are true 4wd systems that should be only used in low traction conditions. IE when you lock it into 4wd the front and rear are coupled with no slippage so operating them in a full traction system can produce noises.

Chase@ECGS

 

Thanks for the reply. I figured it was a bearing. Hopefully the CPO coverage I have will pay for that.

 

I'll just add one more diagnosis tip for the driver's front diff bearing in addition to it going away in 4wd. I found it would also disappear in 2wd when doing the typical 40 mph (when it was at its worst) and making a strong right turn because the truck would sink down on the left and straighten the CV angle on the bearing.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnA_R3gFf2s

 

Alright guys, I follow what's going on in this thread but I didn't read every post, and I have a question.

I have 65000 miles on my truck, and had a 2.5" lift since ~42,000. Does anyone think that the cv that is in there now is going to need to be replaced when I install the bushing? I would answer my own question and pull it out before I order anything, that way I could order a cv from the cheap OEM cv thread if needed, but that's a lot of work to get "nothing" done. So who thinks that my cv is going to be worn badly?

 

I'll hopefully be doing mine soon and I have a decent bit of miles with a similar lift height. I could tell you then what the outcome was for me.