CV axle failure? Front diff issue?

I think I already know the answer to my question but I figure I would ask.



When I drive my truck around 40mph, I notice a pulsating noise coming from the passenger front. I thought it may be a wheel bearing so I didn’t pay much attention to it. Today I decide I would take a look. Everything seemed fine. I didn’t have any play. I decided attempt to turn and rotate my tire. While doing this I could turn the tire about 20 degrees forward and back before it had resistance. I attempted to turn the driver side and it spun freely. When I went back to the passenger side I decided to try again. There was resistance but I forced the tire to turn. When I did that I heard a click that came from the CV axle where it joins to the front differential. The cv axle pops/clicks at a certain point and doesn’t allow the tire to spin freely.



My question is... is my CV axle the issue or could it be a front diff issue as well?

 

How much lift do you have and what type? Spacer lift?

 

I have a 3 inch spacer lift.

 

You're hearing the driver side needle bearing in the diff. It's a standard Tacoma issue. Toyota should replace it for free, or you can fix it more betterer with the bushing that ECGS offers.

 

Do you have a 4x4?

 

I do have a 4x4.

Will the needle bearing do the same on the passenger side? Because the humming that I hear is coming from the passenger side, not the driver side like most post say.

 

I'm guessing that the binding you are feeling is the suspension hanging down much farther than designed due to the spacer lift allowing more droop. The inner CV shaft is binding against the edges of the CV housing. That's just a guess though. Jack up the suspension by the lower control arm and see if it still binds.