Bad ECGS Bushing

I had a lift and gears installed about 2 months ago. Shortly there after, I started experiencing vibrations. Since we did the ECGS when we did the gears, this specific part wasn’t even on my mind as a possible source.

I did a diff drop, tried a Tom Woods driveshaft, rear shims and nothing worked. I broke down and took it to the local dealer and they told me the front diff needed replaced, and I called BS on that.

So we finally decided to try a new CV axle. While disassembling everything it became apparent, it was a bad ECGS bearing.

I would have never thought that it would be the culprit, but it was. So after a couple months I can finally enjoy my lift and gears! Just throwing this out there in case someone else might be chasing vibs.

 

How was it apparent that it was a bad ECGS? It's just a metal sleeve and no actual bearings so I'm not sure how it can go bad unless perhaps you were severely low on Diff fluid and it burnt up from friction.

 

ECGS is not a "bearing". The notes also mention the pinion bearing which is also not ECGS.

Can you add some more detail because what you are currently saying is not correct.

 

I'm very curios as well. While the ECGS bushing isn't a ball or needle bearing, it is an independent plain bearing. So calling it a bearing is still accurate. But if the dealer diagnosed a bad pinion bearing, that is completely different than the ECGS bushing. Did you run the heavier weight oil recommended by ECGS (75W-140) or 75W-85 as Toyota recommends?

 

The the point is to minimize confusion given the incomparability of a needle bearing and a bushing. For all we know the bushing may not have actually been installed or the needle bearing was misidentified as ECGS

 

Makes no sense unless the bushing spun. That would be a much bigger issue

 

I feel like there would be all kinds of metal in the diff oil, with no filter should be easy to see.

 

Sounds to me, if bushing went bad. Someone didn't check, or add enough gear lube and it was run dry. Unless bad install.

 

Curious about this, subbed.

 

So, the picture is just what Toyota said, which was wrong. The bronze part of the bushing was out of round and had some burs on it. A shop installed it and backed it and is sending it back to the company to show them what was wrong with it.

 

I actually just got home from the 6 hour round trip and it is good to go now. I trust the installer 110%, I just know the bushing was bad, ECGS overnighted one and it's fixed now.

 

The ECGS bushing install depth is critical as if driven too far in it will contain the front diff gears.
If driven in without the proper tool it could be driven in at an angle and that would account for out of round.
When I did mine with the ECGS tool I had to line it up several times before it started going in straight.
Then if they inserted the CV axle at an angle to avoid pulling the hub section apart (many do that) the splines could have dug into the bushing.
Doubt it was the ECGS bushing but ..... at least it's right now.

 

Agreed, I'm just giddy to have it 100% with no vibs!

 

Congrats! You might the first person I have heard having this problem lol. Lucky you.

That's wild. Glad you are GTG.

 

Ya, that's what the installer said too!

 

I would agree. Totally possible that something was machined incorrectly but unlikely, my bet is the install.

Would be curious what ECGS says.

 

Lol toyota notes