Help Please?? Front diff/cv bearing bad?

Ok so last week right before I left for vacation I had a bad vibration up front and notice my passenger side axle seal was leaking badly. I knew I had a wheel bearing failing and had planned on doing that soon so I was hoping that was the vibe I was getting. I didn't feel like worrying about the truck while I was away so I dropped it off at the shop to fix. I let the mechanic know to check the axle bearing where the seal was and he said it was fine. I come back from vacation pick the truck up and it still has the vibration but not as bad.

So tonight the vibes got much worse so I got under the truck and now the driver side is leaking oil. I can grab the cv right where it enters the diff and wiggle it a fair amount. I am guessing I should not be able to do that? am I right in thinking that?

Also there is a very good chance there is water in the diff from a deep hole I was in a few weeks ago

I'm thinking the water caused the bearings to fail. How easy are they to replace?

Thanks for any help you may have!

 

Anyone?


Looking at the FSM it looks like the bearings are inside the clamshell. If I pull that apart will I have to worry about realigning the gears and such?

 

Subbing just cause this would be good for me to know.

 

Lol nobody cares Haha.

Going to buy Gregs front diff with 4.88s and locker. No 4 wheeling for me for awhile until I can get 4.88 for the rear. Also buying a DD so I won't be so stressed when shit breaks.

 

Where is yours leaking from? The CV seal correct? I had leaks there too but replacing the seal corrected the issue. I feel like your vibes could be anything from alignment to driveshaft to who knows?

And I love that everyone I wheel with bought Greg's stuff haha I still need to pick up the coilovers.

 

Yea both sides. I have replaced them before. Never noticed the slop in the cv going into the diff before though.

It definitely feels like it's up front. It doesn't get any worse or any better if I'm in gear or not so that makes me think it isn't a driveshaft. I put it in 4 high for about 100yds and didn't notice much of the vibes. I did see something with second gens about the needle bearing creating a vibration but it disappears when 4x4 is engaged so that's kinda why I think it's the bearings.

 

Idk maybe I'm freaking out over nothing lol. Plan on replacing the driver side seal tomorrow and draining the fluid. Maybe I'll find some metal.

 

This is a link to the CV axle assembly, and how to remove it. You install in reverse order. When you remove the CV axle, you can use a seal puller to remove the seal, and install the new one. Order the seal before you start the project. I think it can only be ordered through Toyota. Some odd $13 I think.

 

Thanks for the links. I ended up just removing my front diff and putting cv plugs into the wheel bearings. The needle bearing on the driver side felt pretty gritty.

Going to be a pweewunner until I can get 4.88s for the rear.

 

I knew you were going with the new diffs. I had just seen your help wanted ad. in the 'What did you do to your taco today' thread a couple days late. Figured I would just hit it late lol. Good luck with your truck buddy

 

Cv plugs? To run without cvs? I really need to do that so I can drive my truck until I can order the bearing. Where do you get the plugs?

 

they are just old cv's that were cut at the joint closest to the wheel.

To update this... I think it was the driver front wheel bearing that was causing the vibes. This past weekend I replaced both rears and the front driver wheel bearings. I haven't installed the front diff yet. Debating on whether or not to put the old diff with 4.30 back in or just wait till I can regear the rear to match the 4.88's and locker I bought up front.

 

UPDATE: Nothing wrong with the diff. I reinstalled it and no vibrations. I should have thought of the wheel bearing but I had just put a new used steering knuckle in with a good bearing and didn't expect it to fail in such a short time.

 

UPDATE: Nothing wrong with the diff. I reinstalled it and no vibrations. I should have thought of the wheel bearing but I had just put a new used steering knuckle in with a good bearing and didn't expect it to fail in such a short time.