Front End Knock, Need Diagnostic Help

I'm not sure if the protocol is to start an new thread or not, but I just discovered something on my little problem. Appreciate any help!

When I jack this truck up on the left side and go to spin the left wheel I can not turn it. Its as if the front dif is locked up. The right side, when jacked up does not do this, the right wheel will spin freely. When the left is jacked up under the a-arm the left wheel will spin, with some resistance.

My thought is the different pressure on left axle the front dif is causing it to lock up slightly on turning. Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Clint

 

One ,hard knocking sound when turning left I think you said, sounds like you've pretty much covered the right areas in the suspension without finding anything too negative so I would start looking in the not-so-oblivious places like loose or bent or broken brackets, maybe a crack in the frame, I don't know enough about the type of miles driven on/off road, your driving habits etc; ( I mean c'mon now , I / we all get a little crazy offroad once in awhile we all want to feel what its like to have our Toy in the air. thats one of the reasons we have the damned things right ? & also along with this one loud knock you hear, do you feel it as well ?? After inspecting all the susp. components in the front without any real signs of damage you need to get the undercarriage clean & get a good light , and spend a couple of hours thoroughly inspecting all frame joints & welds , check where the body meets the frame & any parts that bolt to the frame. I don't know, can't hurt.

 

Well, here what this problem has developed into: [FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]Knock sound started to happen while I was going[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]straight down the highway. I would start about 65 mph(knock knock knock). [/FONT] [FONT=&quot] Its sort of a popping sound and it almost felt like it was right under[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] my clutch foot. [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]When I backed off it quit, for the most part. I am seriously wondering about that front differential.
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[FONT=&quot]Also, when I jack the front of the truck up and support it with jack stands on the frame the right wheel will spin freely. The left wheel will hardly spin at all, the axle will not move much. When I support it by the a arm it spins freely. At first I chalked this up to the angle of the axle to the differential but now I am begining to wonder.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]I seems as if there are gears meshing that shouldn't be. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any opinions are wanted.[/FONT]

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Thanks for the help!!!
Clint
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Did you check the oild in the front diff? Do you have any leaks on the front diff. You might have found the problem, but only further investigation shall prove it. I wouldn't know much since this is the first taco I had. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

Ok its been quite a while and I have lived with the knock when hanging a left for about two years. One single annoying knock that would happen every time I hung a left. Any way took it apart this weekend to change leaking seals at the front differential. That's when I noticed the real problem. Finally fixed it, so here's what it was not:
Left or right half axle
Ball Joint up and lower
Control arm bushings
Sway bar link
Leaf Springs
Rack and Pinion
Tie rod ends
Front differential (didn't change but pulled it and had a shop look at it)

I had two different TOYOTA DEALERS here in Denver look at it and either one had a clue either. (Don't like Go Toyota, stay away!)

So to make a long story even longer, I noticed that both front wheel bearings had sort of a hitch in them when spun with nothing attached to them, kind of a rough spot. So I put in new ones. Guess what, that was it!!!! Most of the stuff I changed was wore out, really wore out anyway, so I don't feel that bad. Now I have a truck that's ready for another 200k.

Hope this helps someone else.

Best,

Clint

 

I had the same issue and it may not be anything close to what you have but I chased it around for months trying to figure it out and finally it clicked... CV's were shot. Or rather CV (singular) was shot on the driver side, would pop when there was a lot of suspension flex and momentum. It was the inboard CV and roller popping... just a thought.


Nevermind, you found it haha...