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is it bad to run my front diff with no oil if i dont use 4wd?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 97yota4wd, Nov 3, 2012.

  1. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:52 PM
    #1
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    okay so long story short my front diff hates me and i cant get the passenger side inner axle seal to stop leaking. took it apart and put it back together about 4 times now.
    i have went through 2 new seals so it cant be that....

    i have to use my truck tonight, i was wondering if it was okay to drive it but just not use the 4wd? i can pull my front drive shaft really easy. what do you think? as long as i dont put it in 4wd i would think its fine.
     
  2. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:55 PM
    #2
    95 taco

    95 taco Battle Born

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    if i understand the 4wd system right then you would have to pull the cv's for the front diff not to spin
     
  3. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:55 PM
    #3
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Lockout hubs?
     
  4. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:57 PM
    #4
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    yes they are locking hubs so i can unlock and lock
     
  5. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:58 PM
    #5
    95 taco

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    then i would imagine it would be OK, personally i wouldn't do it but i think it would work.
     
  6. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:58 PM
    #6
    Leggo

    Leggo slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

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    Sounds a little crazy to me but if you pull both axles and cover the holes somehow, theoretically you can drive it if you don't engage 4wd.
     
  7. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:58 PM
    #7
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    and i would assume if its not locked in at the hubs the axle wont spin right? so the diff wont spin?
     
  8. Nov 3, 2012 at 4:59 PM
    #8
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    whats that going to do though? cant i just keep my axles in there and keep it un locked?
     
  9. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:01 PM
    #9
    85GT 79FJ40

    85GT 79FJ40 Well-Known Member

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    Unlocked you'll be fine. I actually drove a 91 I had a long time ago with no front diff in it at all for 2 weeks in the middle of a ring and pinion swap. Had the axles duct taped to the horns on the frame where the motor mounts are. It was fine. Would have been a mess had I locked the hubs though. If you've changed the seal twice and it's being installed correctly I would suspect the axle surface the seal rides on is damaged. You may need to swap another axle in.
     
  10. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:01 PM
    #10
    BradleyScottETC

    BradleyScottETC Class IV Category 8 Elite VIP Member (Only)

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    Best advice- fix it. If you can afford to have that setup you can afford to have a professional take a look if you've already failed twice. Just my $.02 brother
     
  11. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:02 PM
    #11
    nfs257

    nfs257 Well-Known Member

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    Do you have manual hubs?

    If so then unlocked the shafts dont spin correct?
     
  12. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:03 PM
    #12
    Leggo

    Leggo slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

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    sorry I didn't read that you are not talking about a 2nd gen.
    Unlock the hubs and you will be okay not using 4wd.
     
  13. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:03 PM
    #13
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    damit i just went out and had it in 2wd and drove and my axles do spin.....
     
  14. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:04 PM
    #14
    95 taco

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    yeah, manual hubs
     
  15. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:06 PM
    #15
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I'm pretty sure if you unlock the hubs, the diff won't spin. Easy way to find out is, if you have a go pro, or a willing volunteer, unlock the hubs, keep the truck in 2wd and drive foward. See if the shaft from the front diff to the x-fer case moves at all. If it doesn't rotate as the truck drives ahead, you're good to go (it shouldn't move, there shouldn't be anything driving it).
     
  16. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:07 PM
    #16
    nfs257

    nfs257 Well-Known Member

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    If they are spinning that means the inside gears are also spinning even if the diff isnt engaged. Tells me that it would NOT be ok to drive unless you pull the front arms...
     
  17. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:09 PM
    #17
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    So... why won't you have oil in the differentials? Is it because of an oil seal or some other reason?
     
  18. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:12 PM
    #18
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i work on all my own stuff, if i cant do it i usually know someone who can.. next week it will back apart and we will figure out whats wrong.

    but the axles spin?
    thats what i thought, we put it in 2wd and drove forward, the axles spun in opposite directions, one forward one backwards.
    pull the front axles you mean?
    what do i need to do to run in 2wd? pull my axles?
    a seal i think.... we have changed it 3 times and its not doing anything, i dont really understand. this side was fine untill i changed my driver side, once i changed my driver side my passenger side started to leak overnnight, i didnt even drive it.
     
  19. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:13 PM
    #19
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    will pulling my front drive shaft change anything?
     
  20. Nov 3, 2012 at 5:20 PM
    #20
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I think it's just spinning out of friction. There's no power to it, so if you could grab the front gear by hand, you could hold it still but with those hubs spinning, it's making the shafts spin and then the differential. I don't think removing the front shaft will make any difference. Does your truck have the ADD system or is it a manual transfer case and manual hubs?

    Even if it's a little low on fluid, just spinning will be fine, just keep an eye on it and don't run it dry.
     

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