OFFICIAL 2nd gen 4x4 front differential bearing vibration thread

Hey has anybody from Canada ordered the bushing from east coast gears. I'm not too sure about the shipping when trying to buy online?

 

Mine just started making the noise last week.

Has anybody had the dealer replace the needle bearing? How much did it cost?

I talked with two dealerships and they both wanted to rebuild the front differential sight unseen rather than just pull the bearing.

I was surprised how loose the shaft is, check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0KT_Bz2nAs

Anybody know a good shop in Northern AZ or NM where I can get the ECGS bushing installed?

 

Most dealers won't tear into it (one person on here is an exception to that). Cost to swap out the front diff is $2,200, as many of us experienced in the past. My advice is not to bother replacing it with another needle bearing.

 

Has anybody had the East Coast Gear bushing in for awhile now? How many miles? Any issues?

 

i can sell u the bearing puller if you want if you're somewhat local. $40

 

ya i'll buy it from you, I'm only in kamloops. PM me about it

 

Just ordered up the full kit (bushing, seal, puller, & driver) from ECGS. Looking forward to getting this thing fixed.

This thread really should be a sticky

EDIT: Checked out my CV last night and it is loose just like in the video above. Hopefully my stuff from ECGS shows up any day now, but I have been living with this for the past 40,000 miles.

 

Bought all the parts but just didn't have time to do it while on vacation. Had a local shop do it here in RI and he charged me $165.00. Very fair price. Smooth as glass now. He ended up using the new cv shaft that I bought even though the old one wasn't scored. The new one fit a little tighter in the bushing and has less slop. Not sure if it really matters.

If anyone wants to have it done in RI I can pm you the guys number and you can use my bearing puller.

 

Here's a goofy question. My 2007 reg cab is still stock but I had planned on a lift sometime this year. Would it be a good idea to do this BEFORE I do a lift ?

 

Mine has been in for 20000 miles now. I have no complaints.

 

You may not need to. No sense in replacing parts that haven't failed yet.

 

thing is though EVERY lifted Tacoma has this problem.....so you honestly have a 98% chance that it will be a problem..........Why not just do the lift and the bushing install all at once while your there

 

I agree, the moderators need to stick this thread!

 

Not every lifted Tacoma has this problem. There are guys reporting the problem with no lift, and there are guys reporting that they lifted and absolutely no problem. If anything, I would say the chances of the needle bearing going bad on you are 50/50. As the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

Like I posted above, did mine this week and the needle bearing was in perfect condition after running it for 30k with the lift. Now there is no slop in with the CV shaft at all.

 

Thanks, sound like the ECGS bushing is reliable. I will go with it.

Has anybody also put one in the passenger side? I was thinking that as long as I have the tools, I might as well do that side as well. Did the passenger side wear out in anyones truck?

 

From what I've read, the passenger side bearing is a completely different design/type, so the ECGS bushing is not needed and/or does not apply.

 

I was the first to do the right side earlier this spring while consulting directly with Chase at East Coast Gear Supply.

My truck is bone stock and both CV's had enormous slop at 20k mostly highway miles.

The structure of the right side is such that the CV feeds into a rather thin ball bearing that can not be removed without first taking off the ADD tube from the diff. Four Etorx (E14) bolts attach the ADD tube to the diff. Three come off easily, one is a bear. I used the 3/8" impact Etorx set from harbor freight, tried a number of extensions, etc. and a long breaker bar to get the tough one.

While I went in there to do the ball bearing I decided to take a look at the RH needle bearing since I had just completed the LH side. A short stub shaft rides in it on the right. I used a slide hammer to remove the stub shaft and was astounded as to what I found. The running surface had gouges on it from the needle bearing just like those on the LH side of the CV shaft one of the members pictured early in this thread. I removed that needle bearing as well and put in Chase's bushing and a new stub shaft.

Obviously, something is seriously wrong with some of these differentials. If you do the RH side needle bearing you will need a different circlip for the stub shaft (it is not the same as the CV shaft circlip), a new stub shaft if it is gouged, and an oil deflector.

 

Additional info. for Post No. 678 above.

I should mention that prior to examining the RH needle bearing and stub shaft on my truck that Chase at ECGS told me he felt there would be a much lower probability of problems on the right side with the needle bearing and stub shaft there because that side is not subject to the same conditions as the left.

I should also mention that the left side CV shaft was in perfect condition without gouges on it so I reused it.

Otherwise I probably would not have taken a peek at the right side but I had to go in there anyway to replace the ball bearing. So I am only left with questions as to how the RH side could have gone bad on mine. At any rate I now have the ECGS bushings on both sides of the diff. and a new ball bearing. Hope it lasts.....

 

Thanks for sharing your experience Taco'09. If you grabbed the shaft and tried to move it, was there any play in the RH side (like the video I posted above of my LH side)?

How does it run now?