F'n Front diff bearing! Why cant I lift this Tacoma!

So this is an update from a previous post about the problem I had when I put bilstein 5100s on and set them to level (1.75). http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...on-30-40mph-after-5100s-installed-1-75-a.html
When done I had a vibration felt mostly in the gas pedal. Come to find out the vibration went away when in 4x4. Had the front diff replaced by toyota under warranty and now maybe 10000 miles later I think its coming back. I was going to put a aal in the back to get back a little rake but now I dont know what to do with this truck. Maybe I will trade it in for a FJ! Anybody else dealing with this or solve this problem? I know there have been many remedies but reading through many post nothing really seems all that good of a fix.

 

One thing you can try is to add some limited slipp additive to the front diff. Additive reduces chatter and may help to keep those bearings rolling instead of binding.

 

When they replaced the front diff, did they replace the cv axle on the driver's side? I think that was my problem and why it came back. If you're following the other front diff bearing threads, you'd have seen the pics of my axle after I changed out the bearing. But just in case you didn't, I'll share it again. Remember, there have been more than one of us that realized replacing the axle and the front diff bearing was necessary. I think this last time, I may have been able to replace just the axle and have the vibe go away (but since I was in there, it was worth just swapping out the bearing anyway...besides I had no idea the axle had these deep grooves in it until after I removed it).

Obviously, to get grooves in the axle at those positions would require the truck to be in 4wd and the axle sliding in and out. Note: The grooves are longer than the width of the bearing which means the axle had to be sliding in and out of the bearing for these grooves to appear. I didn't think the wheel articulating up and down caused the axle to slide in and out. Maybe it was a fluke during a drop off of a rock (I don't do hardcore off-roading). It just doesn't make sense how these grooves could even be possible.

Anyway, it might just be your axle causing your vibes and not the bearing (or maybe the axle is causing the bearing to wear out which is another reason why I'm still glad I replaced both at once). We'll see if mine come back in another year (mine went 8 months and around 15K miles before it started up again after getting the new front diff without replacing the axle).

 

Im not sure what they replaced I have to look at the paperwork, I think the whole front diff but not axle. Pretty ridiculous that you cant put a mild lift on a 4x4 without destroying your 4x4. All I want is 2"-3" lift max. Damn Tacoma.

 

It's not the lift that's cause the issues, it's the shitty bearings. The Lift just brings the problem to light (Via noise and vibration.) If you went back to stock height the sound and vibs would disappear.

 

Yeah I know. That shitty bearing. Hate to go back to stock but worse would be to kill that bearing. Maybe I'll drop to next one down 0.82. Whats the point though, I should just drop to stock and sell the billies if I cant raise it.

 

Dang, reading threads like these make me not to lift mine. All my stuff is sitting in my closet too.

 

Did you install the diff drop spacers? I've read that anything over 1.5 lift needs them....

 

Diff drop spaces correct the angle by like 1 or 3º. Not enough to warrant using them and they put your diff at risk for hitting stuff. I'd just leave it myself. Mines been like that for I dunno how long with my 3" OME lift and it hasn't gotten any worse. I don't even notice it any more with my tires. (Feels like tank treads coming to a stop)

 

Diff drop does decrease the vibe by quite a bit. It may or may not get worse over time (mine did in 6 months but others have gone a long time with no change). And I will tell you that it will sound like a dry grinding when it gets really bad. And I know you're not at that point because you'd be afraid to even drive it. Until then, keep it where you want it and ignore the noise/vibe. When it gets really bad, spend the $25 for the bearing and seal, get yourself another axle, and drive up to one of our mod days and we'll swap out the bearing and axle.

Or live with it for awhile and I can let you know by next spring/summer how mine's doing. I started feeling the vibe after 7 months with a front diff replacement. If by next summer the vibe is still gone, then I'll know the only reason it came back this last time was because of the axle. That would be peace of mind to know that the bearings aren't just failing over and over.

 

if i got 5100's for the front and left the back alone just to level the front to the back, i would need a new axle and diff drop?

 

Moose Definitly let us know. You may remeber me posting on the older threads about this problem. I changed the bearing but not the axle (It looked healty). But my problem is starting to return slowly. Looking forward to know if I can fix it once and for all.

Thanks for all the great input!

 

Will do. You can bet if I hear it before then that I'll post it.

 

Rather than having the shocks doing the lift, why not not try OME or Eibach springs to give the lift? That might eliminate the vibes.

 

It's not shocks giving the vibe, it's the lift. The lift changes the CV axle angle where it goes into the front diff. This causes the axle to apply more pressure against the rollers in the front diff bearing. If the bearing and/or axle isn't smooth enough (worn, defective, etc), then you get the vibe.

 

i see now...thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

diff drop took away my vibes on my truck set at 1.75, and FWIW i'm pretty sure the FJ has the same drivetrain as the tacoma so you're not gonna gain anything from making that switch lol

 

Thanks 05Moose for all the info and great posts! Definately need to get out to a mod day, I've decided the hell with it and will put on my rear aal because at "level" I still notice that -1/2" (bro lean) in the back which for some reason drives me crazy. Also just want a little rake. I guess I will just save a $1/day then maybe will have enough cash to fix the front diff when it takes a crap!

Thanks to everone else who have posted info about fixes and other info. I may try diff drop if it gets worse.