Sounds like I put mud tires on

I don't know if it has anything to do with it but I put my 2006 TRD Off Road in low range last week to pull my kayak trailer up the river bank. Now I have a noise coming from the front, sounds just like I have aggressive mud tires on. Any ideas? Also seems like I can feel it in the pedal

Thanks!

BTW, I put it in 4 wheel drive high while at 30 MPH and the sound didn't change or go away. When I turn the steering wheel left to right while driving, the sound changes some

 

Grease front driveshaft u-joints, Wheel bearings going out, ECGS needle bearing

 

And use the 4WD allot more often on occasion / once a month even if its just on your driveway

 

I use my 4wd but never in low range. Should I exercise my low?

 

I didn't get I'm the water and I use my 4 wheel drive at least once a week in the spring summer and fall when I go to the river. I probably out it in low more than my Land Cruiser

 

Sounds like a bad wheel bearing to me. After you drive it for a while, feel both of the front hubs and see if one is warmer than the other.

 

Years ago, my dad was checking out a job site out in the country. It had rained a lot so he had some downtime. We were in his old F-150 and he drove through some water that was up over the hubs. A little while later, I really had to take a leak. He pulled over and I jumped out to take a whiz. I never liked that truck so while I was draining, I pissed on the passenger side back wheel. It sizzled! I said, "Dad, we've got a problem!" He got out and felt the dry part of the wheel and said we'd better head for home, keep an eye on it in the mirror.
We got about a mile from home before it started smoking so we pulled over, walked home and got one of his semis with a low boy trailer and brought it home.

The point of the story is, whenever I think I have a problem like a wheel bearing or something like that, I always check the temperature of the hubs from sided to side to see if there's a difference. In that case, it saved us from being stranded out in the middle of no where.

 

I drove the the truck about 20 miles the other day and checked the wheels but they both felt cool. It sounds just like a tire, almost thought about rotating them and see if the sound changes. I'm thinking u joint but not sure. I guess I'll start with the easiest and cheapest first and hope for the best.

 

Low range is just in your T-Case simply engaging 4WD will exercise everything that needs to be moved in the front. I belive Toyota recomends 10miles of using 4WD a month and 10 switches in between 2Hi and 4WD wichever range. Again your T-Case determines range and as it's always slap full of gear oil everythings rotating and getting lubed in there anyway.

Although you may want to use 4WL simply to make our electronic actuators go through a full throw. Kind of forgot about that. So used to my 1st gen J shift case.

Really need to do the FJ twin stick case swap...

Mmm tripple sticks... Front digs..

But you should make sure your gear box fluids are changed on the regular and use 4WD from time to time. I use it almost anytime I'm not on pavement or when in heavy rain mostly just because I want to make sure it keeps working.

 

Does it do it in 2WD? If it does, jack up the front end just high enough to get the wheels off the ground. Sit down in front the tire, grab the top of the tire and shack the s##t out of it back and forth ( like try to push it into the engine and pull it back to you) if there is ANY movement.. wheel bearing. Super easy fix! With hand tools 1hr tops. Shop tools... I have done both fronts in an hour.

 

I think the only "specialty" tools you need is a 35mm socket and a BF torqure wrench. If your wheel bearings have been done a time or two before you may want new stake nuts too. Just incase.

This is coming from 1st gen experience so double check me on the size of the socket.

 

Not sure about the front diff and all that spinning. My first gen has electronic actuators on the front diff. I believe the diff and the tcase both disengage and engage with 4wd/2wd selection. Obviously the halfshafts still turn but not sure about the gears...

 

I thought all first gen's were vacuum actuated front ADD's?

 

2nd Gen are whole bearing and hub assembly units. Can't just swap the bearing anymore. Wish it was that easy and especially that cheap

Try doing a 2nd Gen rear wheel bearing without a machine shop and $400+ lol!

(I did both of mine)

 

Whaaaat! Lame!

 

Not sure what ADD stands for, but I have an electronic actuator on my front diff and tcase. And my front driveshaft does not spin in 2wd

 

This is what I'm thinking.

 

ADD stands for "Automatic Disconnecting Differential" it's Toyota's brand of 4WD on demand. I.e. not manual hubs. I haven't eyeballed the front diff on my 2nd too hard yet but I know my 1st was a vacuum actuated fork for the front diff. T-case was a J-Shift lever and the E-Locker was electronic as the name implies.

 

So maybe its different for different years or something? I have the button on the shifter for 4wd engagement, then my 4wd shifter changes from high/neutral/low range. I'm not too familiar with the design but I know my front driveshaft is stationary in 2wd

 

So tomorrow we're going to hook up wireless chassis diagnostic mics and see where the noise is coming from. I want to add a few mods to my Taco but I need to figure out where my vibration is coming from and fix it. I still think it's going to be a wheel bearing but my buddy swears he can pinpoint the sound with his new toy / chassis mics. Has anyone used one of these? Just curious how accurate they are.

Another question, I want a little lift, just tired of the stock height. Can anyone give me a suggestion of what I should go with? I would love to go with 285/75/16's but I don't want to hurt my fuel economy and factory ride. I've lifted several Land Cruisers but have not done a Tacoma so not really sure what I need to go with. My mechanic friend has a Tacoma that he lifted a little and he says I should do a leveling kit and no more than 265/75/16's. My Tacoma is a 2006 TRD Off Road so would I need to change the shocks or can I leave them? This is my daily driver so don't want a lot of change, just beefier tires and look. I use my 100 series Land Cruiser for my trail rig so very doubtful I'll be taking my Taco on the trails. I use if for work and I tow my kayak trailer to the river 5 or 6 times a month. I found a used Leer camper top I'm picking up this Friday so I'm excited about changing the look a little. Thanks for the help and lift advice