02 taco Pinion Bearing going bad?

Hi all
My 02 taco with the electric diff locker has started making some wub wub noise from the rear end. Most notable when off the gas coasting between 40 and 15.

Felt the axle when i got home from work. Most of the axle including wheel bearings was cool. The diff pinion was not hot but considerably warm. Im pretty sure i know what this means.

The question is whether the diff is likely to be a gonner or if a decent shop can replace the pinion bearings and be good as new?

Anybody know part numbers off hand?

Thanks for anything

 

Diffs get plenty warm while in use even when there isn't a thing wrong with them.

 

Id like to believe that.
Then whats the wub wub?

At the pulse speed i would sooner think a wheel bearing than a pinion which is spinning roughly 3x faster and has no significant load upon the bearing besides torque.

Both rear bearings were replaced shortly after i bought the truck about 4 years ago. Granted this modern crap cant be trusted much farther than i can throw it.

Meanwhile the price tag on a diff job is prohibitive for exploratory maintenance. Need to know for sure, eh.

 

I'm with @fxntime - diffs get plenty warm during normal use; I'd say that unless it's too hot to touch, you can't tell much by temp.

Driveline wub wubs are generally (I've found) u-joints. And, usually it's the rear-most u-joint that goes first. When's the last time you greased the drive train? If it's been more than an oil change, give all 7 zerks a good greasing and see if the wub goes away. Usually - if the u-joint is just starting to go out - that will take care of it for a while and you'll know your culprit.

You might also check the center support bearing for play.

 

I dealt with a lot of bad u-joints in my 63 ford... like a pile of em. I never had one sound like this.
For one, the frequency is too slow.
My money is on the right rear wheel bearing.

I greased everything and replaced the gear lube in both axles and transfer case just a few months ago.

I did have a lovely cyclical screech that i attributed to a rock in a brake that lasted a few thousand miles despite checking and cleaning right after it started. It did finally quit a few weeks ago. Might have been the semimetallic autozone special break pads

 

Start by removing the fill plug and checking the level with your finger, should be close to the top of the fill hole. If it is a wheel bearing all I can say is do your research on who is going to do the job. This is not a job for Bubba and it might not be a job for the dealer either, it all depends on the tech.

 

No joke on the wheel bearing job.
Took axles to a shop in northern michigan. Had to replace brake backing plates was the only reason i replaced them.

The guys were fools. Couldnt figure out the snap ring. Cut one of the retainer/sealing rings off with a grinder. Put a notch in the axle. Stacked the (not used)abs ring and slammed everything together blindly assuming it had been like that without weird space measurements.

Had to get them to pull it back to proper demensions and they welded the notch as it was under the sealing ring. Ive been leery of this since day one.
Right axle seal leaks due to seal lip likely riding on the chamfer as he refused to turn it around.
Overall an awful experience

 

Three things are needed in life, a trusted spouse, a trusted financial person and a trusted mechanic.

 

Ive got one of those

 

And we are to guess... you might have opened a can of worms here.

 

Well
I tried to replace the center bearing on the driveshaft
Of course i discovered the hard way that i had purchased wrong parts from ebay and am unlikely to get refunded.
Put original back in. I have my doubts if its the culprit. The wiggle of the rubber is about 3/8 inch but is in good condition. Bearing spins smooth.

When put on jacks and spun the wheels with engine i get no noises. Sounds great. Nasty wub noise going to be more elusive than that.

When i forcibly pull on the rear wheels they move just a tad. The left side i can hear the axle moving in the diff. I assume this is normal. But the right side creaks. Is it just the brake? I dont know.

Also it seems that my electric diff locker is inop. Any ideas why? Everything back there is hooked up and in good condition. I push the dash button and the indicator dummy light blinks quickly. I give a wheel a spin and the other side hangs limp. Certainly not Locked. Driveshaft spins when either wheel is turned.

 

Following... Similar wub-wub in my '15, louder when cold, independent of load, no play or clunks.
Local garage chasing it suggesting full rear end replacement as "no one presses bearings anymore"...

 

Thats.... retarded. Geez

 

Warning. Stay away.

 

Parts replacers...