front end growling noise

I thought it was cost prohibitive to have a shop replace the bearing? too much labor involved?

 

Hey guys orginally I had my truck at a 3" lift. It was making the growling type noise and did have the vibrations at 40-50 that would stop while in 4x4 when this amount of lift was on the truck. Because of the problems were all having I decided to lower it down to a 1.5" lift for awhile and these noises went away.
So I got tired of my truck looking small again so decided to put the Bilstein 5100's on a couple days ago at the .85" setting and a small top plate spacer which lifts it 1.5" which I had on before. My truck sits with about 2.5" of lift now in the front after the measurements, also I have the diff. drop. In the rear I have a 1" block, 2.5 degree shims, along with the rear TSB springs. Since I lifted it back up I have had no noises or vibrations!

No doubt on my truck it didn't like the 3" lift, due to the CV shaft angles and what ever else my be causing this problem. With it sitting at about the 2.5" lift now, it has no evidence of these problems I once had. I know some of you guys have had these problems with just the 2.5" lift, but in my case having the truck down at about this level it allows these angles to be within a better tolerance thus stopping the noise. I don't know if lowering your guy's trucks down a hair will help you out, but I thought I would share my results with you.

 

Thanks for the info.. However my truck is not raised... at least I don't think it is.. how do I tell whether it's raised? It's got the factory blue/yellow billys all around and the front drive shafts going into the diff look very straight (not a lot of angle at all)

 

Hey, I remembered seeing a thread here on TW where someone said he replaced the bearing without tearing it apart. I'm surprised no one on here remembered that and commented on it. I just couldn't find it while searching and searching, so I wondered if it was a misstatement by someone and they deleted the post. However, Prae found it and posted the link for me (finally, someone who posted in that thread and remembered it!). So thanks to Prae, here's the link to that thread where 05trdsport noted how he changed it (posts 14 & 27):
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...unk-found-questions-about-front-diff-now.html

 

Thanks man! I'm curious why toyota didn't think the bearing replacement was possible without removing and opening the diff?

 

That's part of why I discounted the change of the bearing from outside like he posted. If that wasn't the "correct" way of changing the bearing, maybe there's going to be problems with it down the road? I just don't know. But as time goes on and more and more out-of-warranty people have this problem, I guess we'll see. Or maybe you can be the second person to try it and let us know how it goes.

 

Moose , is the front diff included or excluded from the 5 year powertrain warranty ?

 

Included.

 

Thanks

 

subscrbed... thanks for all the info on this thread getting a 2.5 lift next week.
hope I dont have any problems...

 

any updates YWEN?

I myself have a vibration that only comes in the 18-22mph range on acceleration and deceleration

Has always done it since i bought it, the previous owner mention something about shimming the transmission something to level the driveline...Something that LesShawb did?

The vibration itself doesnt bother me, as long as i am not left broken down because of it
1st gen
2.5" billy lift with AAL in rear

 

ywen, mattleegee,

Both of you do realize that the primary problem being discussed in this thread is for SECOND GENERATION tacomas right? Your both in the wrong section of the forum as your problems can't be related to this issue.

 

I highly doubt it's the problem, but if you haven't yet, look at the simple stuff. Loose or rubbing mud flap? Brake line or something else hitting the tire on the inside?

 

You do realize that 4X4 technology has not evolved from 1st gen to 2nd gen where issues on one generation can't occur on the other. They both roll on 4 wheels right? LOL

 

does the vibration go away immediately when you pop it into 4hi?

 

i dunno i will try tomorrow... its only for a really short time like 18-22 mph on the accel or decel
I tend to drive to either stay above 25 or below.. haha untill i know what it is

yeah i know this is a SECOND GEN section thread that is why i specifically asked YWEN what he had figured out, not flying spaceships

This is were my "search" brought me closest to my problems.. just trying to troubleshoot

 

Do a search on google for Tacoma front diff vibration.. You'll find a ton of info on the other Toyota forums.

 

I agree with what you wrote. I worded my post badly. I was trying to point out that the factory designed parts are not the same between the 1st and 2nd gens. And the main problem in this thread is discussing the second gen specific issue.

Yes. What I was getting at was that the main problem that is discussed in this thread is a problem with the second gen front diff. It seems to be a design issue and coupled with inferior parts that creates this mysterious problem where the front diffs are slowly dying from scoring of the front driver side axle shaft. The lifting of the truck seems to magnify the problem and accelerate the death of the front diffs.

Your individual problem you say is identical but you have a 1st gen and you bought it used this year. Do you have a history of your vehicle? Did the previous owner have a lift on it? I agree that it is strange that your case seems to be unique, for a 1st gen.

Sorry not trying to be a jerk. I understand you're trying to fix your issue. That being said, do try putting your truck into 4Hi and see if your vibrations go away. It is a diagnostic procedure to determine if your issue is in the front diff or somewhere else. If it does not go away in 4Hi, then your problem is probably not with the front diff and you most likely have drive line shudder in which case that issue most likely has to do with the carrier bearing and some guys fix that with a shim. It could be a few other things as well.

 

Not quite. This issue occurs pretty frequently with all sorts of 4x4 vehicles with an IFS & front differential. Just google the appropriate words and you'll find forum threads on vehicles from domestics to german. all with the same symptoms that we're experiencing and the same failure point.