ECGS Bushing Time?

Was doing some work under my Taco today and noticed the DS inner on the CV axle has a LOT of play in it. I've started getting the speed strip hum/vibe in the DS floor area a few weeks ago after going to OME 88s up front, but it starts around 65 MPH and disappears around 70+ MPH...peaks around 65. Seems like most have the needle bearing vibe at mid speeds (40ish MP). I really don't want to engage 4WD at 65ish MPH, but then I noticed there's lots of play in the CV axle where it mates to the front diff. I assume this slop/play is tell tale sign of a bad needle bearing...anyone regret going with the bushing over a new needle bearing?

 

Yup...just did it...no regrets

 

Did ECGS bushing. No regrets. It's a good product.

 

Thanks Anthony...how many miles did you have? I'm around 88K right now on my 09. Did you change the CV axle too or just the bushing and seal?

 

I changed the cv...seal...and bushing...I have 187k miles... Install was super easy. Only issue is the seal is still leaking pretty bad.

 

The seal can leak if you bottom it out in the diff. Just keep it flush with the inner lip and you should be OK.

 

I kept it flush...I'm about to out seal #3 in...I bought two just in case lol...

Apparently the drivers side is suppose be driven al the way in to the stop

 

OP. just engage 4x4 at 40mph and take it up to 70 and see if it still vibes (on a straight road of course). You can drive as fast as you want in 4x4 without any issue, also you can disengage 4x4 at any speed. So pop it in, then get up to the speed you would have the vibe and take it out. If the vibe comes back when it comes out of 4x4, boom, you know the issue.


Also i have had my ECGS bushing in for over 40k miles now (since the truck was lifted at 10k on the clock), zero issue and zero vibes since install.

Also when i did my bushing, i didnt replace the seal as the truck was so new.... i just made sure not to mess it up and cleaned up the mating surface of the cv, and it hasnt had any leaks since.

 

Sorry it's still leaking. I had the same problem 4 times and a mechanic suggested to keep it flush and it's never leaked since.

You're smart to get extra seals!

 

I've had the ECGS bushing in mine for about 25k miles so far and it's been great. All it took was 2" (OME 884s) in the front for mine to start making noise on the stock bearing.

 

Passenger side was leaking too but the new seal fixed that. Drivers side is being a pain in the ass. It probably got messed up when the seal started to go in crooked.

 

Ha, if the driver's side is worse I never want to experience it. I had a horrible time with the passenger side, ended up leaking just as bad as it was before so I admitted defeat and had the dealer do it.

 

Did they have to replace the cv??

 

Nope. They did insist on a Toyota seal, though. Service manager says every time they used an aftermarket one the truck came back leaking again and they've never had that happen on a Toyota seal.

I did change the CV on that side probably 10,000 miles before it started leaking, though. I may have disturbed it in the process but weird that it took so much longer to give out.

 

What brand cv?? Yeah I'm only using oem seals

 

A NAPA remanned one. Heard they're the best bet without going OEM or waiting for a CVJ axle.

It's been fine for probably 15,000 miles so far.

 

That's exactly what I'm running too!! I installed both sides then BOTH seals leaked...replaced both seals and drivers side still leaks...makes me wonder if it's the cv?

 

Hard to say. Mine must have just been the seal because the new seal has been fine.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if the NAPA one I got was new or remanned.

 

The odds of it being the seal seem slim...but knowing my luck lol...

 

Dealer told me that lots of times they go because people damage the seal when they replace the CV and you have to be careful lining the shaft up without nicking the seal.