17 Taco - back from dealership after 3 weeks?

Any help/info on this would be great..

I use my 4WD often on my 17 OR-TRD. I use it on trails and beaches in Florida. Some strange noise was coming from the front of the truck - like a dragging noise. The dealership said they found a failed "pin" ?? in the front end. They had to order the parts. 3 weeks later, I have it and driving it seems "tight". Maybe it's me, but it feels like the breaks are on a little.

Does this make sense? My biggest concern is WHY would a NEW 17 Taco have this issue with less than 9K miles?

Attached is the repair sheet from the dealership?

 

Looks like all they did was replace your needle bearing. Did you feel a vibration in the front end or steering wheel before the repair?

 

Someone will chime in soon I hope because I don't know the technical terms here.

There's a needle Bushing of sorts that has been known to fail or break. A lot of guys replace with the ECGS or something like that bushing.

I know this comment probably looks like a 3 year old wrote it but I feel someone will understand what I'm saying and elaborate.

 

Correct. Most people who lift their truck replace that bearing with an ECGS bushing because the angles of a lifted truck make it more likely for that bearing to fail. However when that bearing fails you usually feel a vibration in the front end and steering wheel.

 

Sorry about your bad luck. Curious, was it left stock, Or did you lift it? If so, how and by how much? Haven’t heard of a bad needle bearing going so soon on a stock truck- but if you are driving on a beach, dont you also have to worry about salt water getting into parts? Im in Cali, we cant drive on beaches but we do have dry lakebeds and playas with lots of salt in the desert.

 

Thanks all for the replies. It's interesting already. My truck was lifted by the dealership. I would only buy if they lifted.

I don't recall any vibration but a slight pull. The sound that it was making was like a rubbing in wheel well. If I switched to 4WD, the noise went away.

From what I already gathered here, if they just replaced this pin, I assume it will happen again?


OnHartung'sRoad: I avoid the water and the beaches are wide. A lot of trucks and jeeps run out there. It's fun. My assumption may be wrong but I am hoping sand won't get in anywhere. I thoroghly spray the underside down when I come off the beach.

 

Sounds like an ECGS bushing is going to solve your problems, especially if you lifted the truck more than 2” and are getting vibrations.

Interesting about the beach driving - we have lots if sand out here and deal with that like you have too. The salt is what would worry me- I feel bad for those poor guys in the Northeast that cant keep a rust-free body for much longer than just a few years.

 

these things can happen when you put non-factory parts on your truck (lift). More than likely it was the cause of the failure.

 

Easy fix, but you should plan on doing the bushing. Search for ECGS bushing and read up.

 

Has gas mileage been affected with this repair ?
That will tell if it's dragging.

 

TSB came out for it so its a known issue now.