CV's, wheel bearing, or something else? Help!

[BattleWagonActual]

So here goes. I have a 97 SR-5 5spd and recently noticed my CV clamps loose and the inner boot on the driver side leaking grease. Not a ton but, some. Decided to pull and rebuild the OEM rather than throw on my Napa that's been laying around as a trail spare.

Everything went very smoothly, no issues until I went to test drive it around the block. Made it a couple of minutes away when all of a sudden heard/felt a pop and grind sound for about 5-10 seconds (basically until I came to a stop.) Actually sounded like something dragging more than anything. Looked at everything, nothing looked/smelled out of the ordinary.

Made it back home with no repeat of sound, decided to investigate further and pulled the CV again. Even decided to swap for the NAPA that was still new sealed in box. Tightened everything down after the swap and went to test it out. Same result, a few miles down the road with no issue and out of nowhere a pop/grid sound, stopped and checked before heading home.

I am at a loss as to what the issue is. No noticeable play in the wheel bearing. All ball joints and tie Rod's are new. The CV was fully seated with the snap ring popping into place during the swap. I just recently did the passenger CV about a month ago with zero issues. Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[BattleWagonActual]

This is on a 97 4Runner SR-5 5spd by the way.

 

[Run 4 Fun]

Just a shot in the dark, did you check your dust shield to make sure it isn't hitting the rotor? Any leaks from the cv axle going into the front diff?

Edit: Never mind, I didn't thoroughly read your post. You said it went a few miles without hearing it. Dust shield wouldn't do that.

 

[BattleWagonActual]

Yeah, both dust shields are in and not hitting. Had some fluid leak from the diff while the CV was out. Stopped as soon as the new one was in. Checked level and topped off, no leak yet.

 

[pluton]

Was any of this test driving in 4WD? If it was 2WD, then the front shafts should not have been rotating at all, correct?

 

[BattleWagonActual]

Testing was in 2 wheel but I have ADD so my half shafts are always spinning.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Does it make the sound if you plug the hole and drive it around the block with the CV missing?

It sounds like either your CV or front diff has something strange {when} in the neighborhood.

 

[BattleWagonActual]

Does it make the sound if you plug the hole and drive it around the block with the CV missing?



It sounds like either your CV or front diff has something strange {when} in the neighborhood.

Haven't given that a shot yet. The family and I are enjoying an early Christmas as we are driving out to see extended Family tomorrow (not in the 4Runner.) I'm going to put it on a lift and let everything spin freely and see if I can replicate the noise.

Just trying to narrow things down before I start ripping everything apart again.

 

[99Runnr]

Have you checked wheel bearing with the wheel on? Does the sound come when it's loaded side to side? Ie turning lefto and right?

Sway bar end links good? Just random thoughts I had. Skimmed post trying to keep my sanity at a McDonald's play room. Sorry if I missed anything.

 

[BattleWagonActual]

99Runnr, haven't checked for noise with it loaded. There was no play or noise in the bearing when I checked it but that was unloaded. End links are new and good. Basically the CV's were the last things to get replaced in the front end, everything else has been done with in the last 9 months except the driver side bearing in the diff. I did check that about 5k ago when I regeared.

I'll be leaving early tomorrow to Az and won't get to look at anything until I make it back. So far the plan is to lift up the front end and spin both sides to see if there's any difference or anything noticeable. If nothing is noticed I'll take it to the Auto center on base, where I'll basically pay a few dollars to rent out a work space and lift. Put it up on a lift and spin all 4 tires freely in 4wd to see if I can replicate the issue.

I suspect that if its anything it's likely from the diff as that's the oldest part on the front end currently. That, and it will be the biggest PITA to check at the moment, making it the issue by default.

 

[Chuckles89]

Can you replicate the noise by spinning the wheels by hand when the truck is jacked up?

Edit: wow, I should have read your above posts more thoroughly lol

 

[paulienkeo]

You said it went a few miles without hearing it.

 

[BattleWagonActual]

Chuckles89, I lifted the front and spun both sides with zero issues. I won't be tinkering with it any more for the next few days.

Paulienkeo, I did make it about 2-3 miles both times before feeling it. However, I went to move it out of the drive way just now, so that I had room to rotate the wife's tires before our trip tomorrow. In the 1/4 mile that I went to the end of the street to turn around and come back it happened again while only going about 15mph.

 

[97t4r81]

Dark shooter here too. Could maybe damage to inner diff splines/foreign debris happened in this case. If it worked fine before and you've twice swapped cv's and you're certain all else is done and torqued to spec. Than maybe crap got in or something chipped or was/ cracked. The cool part is that this is all easy to get at. Good luck

 

[BattleWagonActual]

Late update. Well, I figured out where the noise was coming from. The front driveshaft was coming loose at the front diff. Loctite and retightened with new bolts and the sound went away. Thankfully I never engaged it in 4wd or I'm pretty sure the bolts would have all sheared off and given me bigger problems. A little embarrassed to find out that was the cause but at least I can rest easy knowing it wasn't anything else.