CV axle play at front diff junction

I’ve got a lot of play in the driver’s side CV axle where it meets up with the front diff. Trying to figure out what I need to replace.

The truck is a 2010 Tacoma 4.0 SR5

The symptoms the truck is exhibiting is:
1) Loud humming that is speed dependent, and not RPM dependent.
2) the humming disappears when I make right turns.
3) the humming originally started to show up around 55mph, now it shows up around 20mph.
4) the sound is still present when I shift into 4WD.

I’ve ruled out the following:
1)Wheel hub/bearing
2) tire balance
3) front end alignment
4) ball joints
5) uv joint
6) tire cupping
7) needle bearing? I think since the sound is still present in 4WD
8) Front differential internal derangement?- (best way I can describe it) I changed the fluids and found small metal shaving that were within normal limits.

I had the truck on jack stands today and put the truck in gear, in 4WD. The play was very apparent, the entire front drivers side CV axle would shake occasionally, and the play was visually apparent.

What the hell is wrong with my truck? I’m driving from Central Alaska to the Midwest in a few months, and with your help, I’d like to diagnose and fix this thing before I go.
Thanks,
-Kos

 

Look up ECGS bushing replacement. There's a lot of discussion on it here. I had the same thing after a lift and the replacement bushing took care of it. Some folks report the same thing without a lift.
Same symptom, lots of play in the CV shaft near the diff on the driver's side.
Don't despair, it's a pretty easy fix and your truck won't self destruct before you do fix it.

 

What about when you make left turns? Are you getting a "popping" noise?

 

Would that be the culprit if the symptoms are still present in 4WD?

 

No popping noise during left turns, the humming remains constant at left turns.

 

How many miles are on it?

 

You say you ruled out wheel bearing. But it sounds to me like a wheel bearing. Hums when you load it, quieter when unloaded

 

I am trending in that direction too.

 

Tell you what. Jack it up on that side. Grab ahold of the tire and see if you can move it up and down or side to side. If you can, and you will know what I am saying if you can. It will feel like a loose tooth. Then it is probably the wheel bearing.

 

If it’s far enough gone yes. Probably need new axle shaft too then

 

Replace needle bearing with ECGS bushing, replace axle and wheel bearing. All of your problems will be solved with the drivers side. Good luck.

 

My driver side will went out at like 80k.

 

114k miles.

 

The majority of the vibration is coming from the front passenger side. I checked the wheel play on both sides and didn’t feel anything abnormal. I still went ahead and replaced the front passenger wheel bearing/hub assembly- still no luck.
I’ve also had three separate mechanics rule out the wheel bearing.

 

Rebuild ft diff with all new bearings.

 

So lets get back to basics. What makes you think you have a lot of play? I am being the devils advocate here.. Where did you find the play?

 

My truck had all the same symptoms except for the play. I swore mine was the passenger side wheel bearing so i swapped it one day and test drove it, the hum was still there. The next day I swapped the driver side and it went away.

Also when I was trying to diagnose the bearings there was not play or noise coming out of them when on jack stands. The bearing was just dry enough where i could feel it only after removing the hub.

 

The play is at the front drivers side CV axle where it meets up at the diff. I checked both sides and there was minimal play on the passenger side, and around 1/4” on the drivers side.

 

I really hope that isn’t it, but you may very well be right

 

I’ll probably do that this weekend. It isn’t an expensive job.