CV axel angle/diff drop/weird sounds

Hello TacomaWorld, I need your expert help and guidance once again.

A little back story before I begin. A year ago this month I put the lift on my truck. 5100’s on the stock c-clip setting with Eibach lift coils. I have loved this lift since day one. Zero issues or complaints. All together I got a total of 2.25” of lift. After the lift was installed and everything settled all said and done the rear of my truck sit exactly one inch higher than the front. Didn’t bother me at all but as time went on I wanted the full 3”. So 2 and a half weeks ago I decided to go up that extra inch. I ordered the JBA UCA’s and adjusted the 5100’s to the second notch. Due to some repairs I needed to make on the truck not suspension related I didn’t actually drive the truck until about 2 days after everything was done. Got it aligned and everything was perfect. It was one inch higher in the front, so it matched the rear and it was the exact stance I wanted.

Now to my concerns:

After I started driving. I noticed that I felt a slight vibration/grinding feeling in the pedals. I’m pretty sure that was not there before so I assume it is related to that extra inch I went up? Second, the truck makes a very loud and concerning sound when I make sharp turns. Or even if I hit something like a curb when I pull into my driveway. Now I did post something about this a week ago and didn’t get many answers. I did instal sway bar relocation brackets so I know the sway bar isn’t hitting.

Lastly, I noticed when I was under there looking around, obviously from that extra inch of lift, that the CV’s were at more of an angle. I know that the boot can tear and lose grease and that is about a $20 fix but will the axel itself get damaged? Will there be damage to the joints? I just don’t want to be out on a trail and have some type of failure.

I added some pictures for you all to see. The last two pictures are of the curved plate on the lower ball joint. You can see where there are fresh bare metal marks where that is coming into contact with the other side. At first I thought this was causing the sound I keep hearing but I feel like it is coming from somewhere else and not that part.

Thanks again guys for the help. Hopefully I can figure this out sooner than later. I have a wheeling trip planned for next Saturday!!

 

Start by doing the ECGS bushing swap..that should relieve your vibes/grinding feeling under the pedals. ~$120 for bushing and bushing removal tool if nobody local has one- and a few hours of your time. If you’re worried about your boot, do that at the same time. Everything else, not sure. Drive it and troubleshoot, go from there. Good luck!

 

What exactly is the ECGS bushing swap?

 

Thanks for all the help! The sound is like metal on metal. Doesn’t sound like a tire rubbing. I for sure think it might be suspension related. I know that after I got the alignment done it felt way better. Ill look into the ECGS swap for sure.

 

I’ll check brakes tomorrow. I think it’s when I turn sharp. Not when slowing down at all. When I checked the LCA bolts they seemed tight. I didn’t want to wrench down on them too hard as to not throw the alignment out. I’ll check everything I touched. Maybe I should mount my GoPro down there and see if I can get a video of anything.

 

So the video that I took didn't get anything. Tires got in the way when turning. Still have not figured it out. I think I'm just going to take everything apart and put it all back together and see what happens.

Pretty annoying but I guess it is what it is.

 

I've only turned the 4wd on in a straight line to see if the vibration I feel in the pedals goes away. I haven't been on any dirt roads to test out making turns in 4wd. Maybe I'll try that this weekend.

 

I may have the same problem as you. I’m going to try removing the skid and sway bar once the rain subsides to see if that helps.

 

Any update?

 

Still haven’t had time yet.

I also am getting this metallic sound almost as if the coil is binding or turning every time I pull into a driveway.

 

I hear a similar sound from time to time also but mine sounds like its coming from the rear of my truck. Once the weather clears up I'm taking my truck apart and put it back together and see if that makes a difference.

 

having similar issues. Did you ever figure it out?

 

Whats happening with your truck?

I think it's the bump stop that's apart of the lower ball joint. I can't confirm that 100% since I can't see down there when I'm driving but that is the only thing that I can see when I look under there that has "fresh" scratch/rubbing marks.

As for the sound in the rear, that was just my leaf springs. Cleaned and greased them over the weekend and they squeak stopped. That is just a temporary solution until I can get some new friction pads or some rubber pieces to put in between the leafs.

I actually took my front wheels off over the weekend and loosened the shock bolts, sway bar bolts and a few others that I touched when I initially did the install. Re-torqued everything and put it all back together. Haven't heard any sounds since Saturday but I haven't really made any sharp turns either. Everything looks fine so time will tell I guess.