Loud pop while backing...plus front diff is leaking again

yeah they did it last time under warranty (i was lifted then too)... I really think the popping is coming from the tie rods since the boots are leaking (see pics above)... but I also, drove back and forth about a dozen times trying to get it to do it again and it wouldn't... only difference was that I had the differential skid plate off...

I can't imagine the front diff is causing the popping problem since it doesnt pop while driving forward, just turning in reverse.

 

well it looks like i have two-three problems though...

1. leaking axel seal on the front diff (familiar problem)
2. Leaking tie rod boots (due to spindle)
3. unknown pop that may be related to 1 or 2 or neither

is it a distinguished pop/clunk while backing and turning (a full lock....or always)?

 

when mine burnt up it occasionally clicked on turns andvibrated at highway speed. the boots could very well be the proble asd they seem to have water in them. could the skid be hitting something.

the best thing to do is to try and get a friend to drive and duplicate the issue while you listen for it outside the truck and find the source

 

well shit I hope the front diff ain't burned up... there is very little oil coming out as compared to the prior failure (good if slow leak, Very bad if all the oil is gone)

the skid is a narrow piece that just covers the bottom of the diff...its connected to the front and rear drop brackets (cross member)

 

also check you diff fluid level. it may not be as much on the skid simply cause its all gone. the skid could cause it, but i say prioritise. get the axle seal leak fixed first and the broken boots at the same time then see if the clunk persists. also check for too much play in the cv axles. its very unlikely your front diff is burnt up though, mine burnt because of a wreck that effed everything up so i had no fluid in it for a few months

 

well last time the axel seal was leaking there were consistent drops of oil on the ground...every morning for about a week, this time there isn't... I didn't see any I only noticed it leaking because I was under there investigating this pop sound.

I'm going to take it to toyota tomorrow for sure.. the tie rods won't be covered by warranty though... this was obviously caused by the lift... hmm maybe I can get RCD to cover it... considering it was there poorly designed spindle that cut my tie rod boots...

 

10-4 be sure to tell them EVERYTHING if you are still under their warrenty.

if not you always have friends to help with diagnostics

if you dont have any friends find a hobo and give him 20 bucks

if even they refuse to be around you well youre SOL my friend

 

bump for more incite...I'm taking it to the dealer this afternoon for the axle seal

 

I have three problems:
1. Phantom popping sound
2. Leaking diff
3. Busted tie rod boots

below is the status of the three problems

1. the popping I have no clue...haven't been able to replicate it...(I think it was rocks in the suspension)

2. as for the front diff... yes the drivers side axle seal has failed, diff is fine... however the drivers side axle has some play in it and is probably what is causing my axle seal to fail repeatedly... truck is currently at Victory Toyota and they are figuring out what to do with it, they don't want to just replace the seal and have me back in 6 months later for another failed seal.

I hope they replace whatever they need to reduce the play in the axle.

3. now the tie rods...I'm going to have to replace the tie rod ends and shave down the RCD spindle to reduce the lip that is causing the damage to the boots.

I'm not sure why I'm having this problem while others with the RCD kit are not, but the small boot is contacting a sharp edge on a lip part of the spindle

 

The popping only happen twice I have not been able to replicate it... the CV look fine externally.

Besides, it was not a small clicking or popping sound, it happened twice and was a loud bang/pop.

Unless I'm able to replicate it or it happens again on its own I'm inclined to believe it was a rock stuck somewhere in the suspension, since it did it only after travelling 10 miles on a rocky fireroad

 

for the tie rods you can just replace the boot

 

not what I heard its all one piece... its called the tie rod end

http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...=2006&graphicID=F802070&callout=1&catalogid=1

 

hmmm might be different for 1st gens. most autoparts stores carry a boot kit for tie rods ball joints ect

 

Yep, only way to fix a torn tie rod end boot is to replace the tie rod end. Its a different story on cv boots, which there are kits for.

Any word on the front diff yet? I imagine they will check the bearings in the front diff for play causing the half shaft to have play... could be related to your first seal leaking.

As for your phantom popping sound, I'd say it might have been a rock or something. Especially if you havent heard it for sometime. When you get your truck back, roll down your windows, open the rear window and drive near a big solid wall and listen for the sound if you hear it again, you'd be surprised how well things echo off a big wall.

Hope they take care of your issue. Keep us posted. Feel free to pm me if you ever have any questions.

 

thanks, I definitely will

 

Update:

Toyota dealers says the the axle seal keeps failing due to excess play in the axle... the play is from lifting the truck.

The result is that the drivers side axle and the front diff need to be replaced... ugh


probably not caused by the RCD lift though... the seal failed the first time about 6 months after my first lift, and failed this time about 6 months after that...

 

daaam thats a pricey fix

 

nope

 

the noise only happened twice on the same day after driving on a rocky fire road for about 10 miles...

as for the leaking diff... this is the second one... the first one I had a 3" lift at the time