This is what happens with a cracked wheel ball bearing

2003 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 TRD Offroad with e-locker. It's been making sounds for weeks now, and now it finally gave out. I wasn't sure what it was, but now I'm 100% sure! haha. Anyway, was making a 100 mile round trip the other day, and the ABS light comes on for a bit, then goes away. Next I hear some very loud sounds, clunks even, and the rear of the truck starts vibrating. I drove like this all the way home because I had no other choice. When I got home, took everything apart, and this is what we get... see pics below.

This is looking inside the axle housing/shaft and if you continue on down gets to the differential.

My question is, what can I do about this? As you see in the pic, where the ABS sensor sticks through is where the crack is. Is the entire axle shaft messed up? or can a truck shop fix it some how? Or is it wiser to go to the junkyard and pick one out? We can across a 97 tacoma but it did not have the ABS sensor input. Any help is appreciated.

 

so wait this is the axle end on the rear diff??

and DAMN that is F***ed up dude lol

 

I'll watch myself but....I mean, you knew you had a problem...for several weeks. Ignored it. Then you completely blew apart a wheel bearing. Now your asking questions?

And it happened in the rear axle.....geesh.

Hopefully you just damaged the bearings race and not the actual axle tube. Best case, replace the bearing and race and your're ok. Worst case you have to replace entire rear axle b/c of a cracked housing and damage to where the bearing race sits.

There are specialized "drivetrain" shops that you could call. Places that specialize in driveshaft rebuliding and things like that, they may be able to help you.

The place that is well known in my area is a place called "DriveLine 1". Here is thier webpage, find a place like this.

http://www.driveline1.com/index.htm

 

That sucks. I wouldn't drive my truck ten feet if I had noise like your talking about...

 

I think I speak for most when i say, ""

You turned a relatively easy fix into a potentially major issue due to laziness.

Here's to hoping it's just the race.

 

SBX22.....was the noise off and on? I've been having a similar problem for like 2 months now with my 2004 TRD. only once though did my ABS light come on for a little bit before it went out. I took it to the dealership the other day and they said everything in the suspension looks good. I specifically asked them to look at the wheel bearing but they said they didn't see anything wrong with it. They say its probably because of my oversize tires and aftermarket wheels, but i'm only running 32's. they didn't charge me anything for looking at it, but I still have a rubbing/grinding noise in the front end. I don't have a shake in the steering wheel, but i can feel the vibration on the floor and through the gas pedal when im coasting or driving at a constant speed. After reading your post, i might ask them to replace the wheel bearing???

 

Thanks for the "mature" responses. And calling me lazy... that's just wrong. For those who would like to know, here is what I did prior to the problem trying to figure it out:
1. Changed brake pads
2. Changed from my M/T tires to A/T
3. Changed R front CV axle thinking it could be that
Still, same ol' sound. I had not run into this problem before, therefore did not think to check bearings. Call me a rookie, that's fine with me.

Anyway, headpin, your symptoms are similar to mine, may want to take a look at bearings or just replace it to be safe.

Appears the actual housing is fine (just with scratches), will have to replace bearings, I think the ABS rotor sensor, and the actual sensor itself. Will get on this tomorrow.

Anyway, it's done, toast.

 

There, i fixed your original post for you.

I called you lazy because your post fully implied that you'd had the problem for weeks and were laughing about it. ergo, my response.

Gotta love the internet eh? Good luck with your repairs, i do honestly hope they go smoothly.

 

Geez a bunch of know it alls around there.