OFFICIAL 2nd gen 4x4 front differential bearing vibration thread

Dude, just read up a few posts! Your first 3 posts on TW and you didn't even read the thread!

 

UPDATE,
So I go to pick up my truck today from Toyota. The technician did take it for a road test and did hear the evident "resonanting humming" noise comming from the front driver side. I told them to switch in in and out of 4WD to see the difference when I dropped it off this moring. Unfortunetely they forgot to try this and blame the noise on my tires (Mickey Thompson ATZ's), fricken morons!! They claim they inspected the entire axle and differential and say it's in perfect shape, wow!, amazing!, I guess they can see through steel. I fought with the service manager for awhile until I got bored and walked out. BTW, the F^@%er's tried to charge me $90 for something that should be coverred by warranty anyways, I did not pay. To make me feel warm and fuzzy inside they told me to come back again soon and gave me an entry form to win a camry, which of course I didn't win.
I too am waiting for a permanent fix for this, hopefully it comes soon.

 

Nothing you haven't already heard. I had a new front diff installed 4 months ago and the growling is back between 60-70 kph. It is nowhere near as bad as the last diff but I imagine it will eventually get there. I think I can manage one more diff on warranty but this time I'll make sure to replace the shaft as well, just to be safe. I think I'll head over to the ecgs website and have a look.

 

TwoTacos, I just noticed you are from Winnipeg. I use to take my Tacoma all the way down to the boys in Steinbach to have all my work done. I did not trust or like a single Toyota dealer in the city. Maybe try them out.

 

Thanks, I might have to do that if they keep screwing me around in the city. Did Steinbach cover your front diff even with the lift in it? If so I'll have to give them a call. Thanks.

 

I didn't put my lift in until I moved to Vancouver. The guys down there provide good service and are eager for business from the city so I'm sure they will more than likely help you out. One of the service guys, at least when I was there, was a Tacoma nut. He used to come with me for test drives to help diagnose different issues. Just let them know how unhappy you are with the city dealers and they will be even more inclined to help. Good luck.

 

just waiting to hear back from chase for when he gets the bushing in, then we will test it out on my truck

 

Keep us posted. How long you going to run it before you make it available (to verify everything is good over time)?

 

Toy mech diagnosis: Bad diff carrier bearings, both sides. He had it up on the hoist and let me listen with a stethoscope to the diff bearings and wheel bearings. A slight grinding can be heard on both diff bearings, nothing on the wheel bearings. Only slight noise since they're wasn't a load on the drivetrain.

So, they're not covering it since it has a lift, just as I was afraid of. It looks like others here have had the diff replaced only to have the issue return.

Question: The ARB is the solution then? How does it work actually to resolve this problem? Better bearings, better angles, or What?

 

Here's my experience.

Part 1: Two years ago, at 35k miles (right before bumper warranty is up) I took truck in with this issue. I had just bought the truck with a revtek lift and 33" tires. The noise was obvious (to me) but not to the tech. They gave me the runaround saying it was the BFG/AT tires. Whatever... I file a "claim" with Toyota directly but they also give me the runaround saying it has a lift and big tires. Ok...

Part 2: Last week, I take it in for an oil change, and mention this issue again as it has gotten a bit louder (now at 55k miles). I've since lowered the truck 1" all around with 5100's and AAL (got rid of spacers and blocks), went to 32" tires and installed diff drop and wheel spacers (not that the spacers would matter).

Dealer say they can hear the noise (miracle!) but I'm out of drivetrain warranty by 2 months. I tell them the issue is documented and to see what they can do with Toyota. Got the call this morning that Toyota would cover 1/2 of the $2200 cost of new front diff.

I was waiting for this and gave them the green light. This gives me a year warranty on the parts and keeps me from wasting a weekend doing it myself and potentially running into other issues.

Glad it's finally getting fixed, but $1100 hurts when it could be fixed for $100 in parts... bit the bullet on this one.

I'll keep yall updated if the issue comes back. Worse case I'll lower to .85" on the 5100's and remove AAL or overload...

 

Did you purchase it from the dealer new with the lift installed? If so, it should have been fully covered since you bought it from the dealer lifted already.

 

This thread should be STICKY so all the discussions are centralized. Moderator?

 

sub'ed

 

So, with an ARB locker installed, does this totally eliminate the problem? If so, this is a good fix to allow us to run a lift AND have the benefit of a front locker.

Chase?

 

I purchased it used from a sister dealer (Chevy) and it was purchased new from an entirely different Toyota dealership brand in town. No way to know if it had a lift on it when it was purchased new. I even have the original window sticker and no mention of it, although dealers tend to like the RevTek lifts...

 

the arb has a new carrier which has a bushing instead of the needle bearing, thus tightening the clearences on the cv shaft not allowing alot of play

 

Ok so I may be a new member to front end vibe/noise club but I am not sure. It seems like many of you have lifted your truck but mine is stock, in fact I drove it off the lot three weeks ago with only 10 mile on the od. I heard this noise the day I picked it up but I thought it was from the tire and that it might go away after I put some miles on. It sounds like what you all describe but I can't pinpoint where it is coming from, to me it sounds like the front passenger side or under the center console. Also I think I tend to hear it when it is warm (of course it is winter so how warm is it actually getting) or warmer but honestly I don't know. I now have 1700+ miles and last week I got so fed up that I went back to the dealer, of course before I read through this thread, but their service manager was not able to hear the noise and told me that I was probably hearing the fresh air pump for the exhaust system (?) that on the 2012's is located above the right front wheel well. After the SM told me that I decided to test that theory and I ran the truck up to 40 mph put it into neutral and shut the truck off and heard the noise plain as day so obviously it not the pump but is a bearing or something like that. I called the SM back and told him about my test but he said I should wait until I bring it in for my first service or the noise gets louder so he can hear it. Also its not the brakes because it doesn't go away when I hit the pedal. I haven't been able to do the 2wd to 4wd test yet but will do that tomorrow. My question to all of you is do you think it could be something that just needs to break in or do you think it is the same as what you all are experiencing? Has anyone else ever heard this with so few miles? Any help or insight would be appreciated.

 

To greenrustic, it is a large possibility thet you are hearing the bearing noise this early in your trucks life. The only way to tell is by doing the diagnostic checks that others have done. Get your truck going to where the noise is the loudest. It is ok to engage 4hi as long as you are driving under 55mph. If you engage the 4hi and the noise goes away instantly, then unfortunately it is the front diff bearing. If it remains while in 4hi, you may have a another issue such as a wheel bearing. If you want to try and pinpoint this yourself before taking it to the dealer, do these checks, and you can get the front end on jack stands, with a medium length flat head screwdriver you can place the end of it where the bearings are, spin the wheels ,and listen for excessive noise. Hope you get your issue resolved.

 

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Why would the noise stop when engaged though? The axle spins regardless of being in 4wd or 2wd. Is it because the wheel bearing becomes loaded when in 4wd? I'm just trying to understand better what's involved here. Thanks

 

Man this going to be an expensive fix! But the choices are this or fix and remove the lift