Front Diff Noise?

[Daryl Elmore]

I need some help. I have a kind of growling/rubbing noise coming coming from the front of my 2000 Limited. It happens after driving for a few minutes and I thought wheel bearings and it turned out one was bad so I replaced both sides wheel bearings, while I was there i replaced the upper ball joints and replaced the CV shafts with long travel version. LBJ's are almost new. My buddy and I have narrowed it likely to the front diff as the sound definitely has a pattern to it based on vehicle speed not engine speed. It also makes no difference if its in 4wd or 2wd or if coasting in neutral or in gear. It does get a little more significant when you let off the gas. Are there bearings accessible that go bad? HAs anyone else had similar symptoms? and lastly are the front diff's universal if the ratios are the same?

Thanks, for the help.

 

[phattyduck]

Look into front differential needle bearing issues. Most often happens on lifted 4Runners/Tacomas, but anything can happen with age and/or neglect. That might be it.

As long as the ratios match, you can use any front diff from a 3rd gen 4Runner or first gen Tacoma. You might have to swap ADD actuators (or the whole right side stub shaft if it is from a manual hub Tacoma - those tubes are worth something...).

-Charlie

 

[calimobber]

I kept hearing a front end noise and It didnt seem like the wheel bearing or anything. I kinda ignored it for a long time. One time I tried to get the front diff fluid changed and he could not get the drain bolt off(there's your sign).

Not long after I was in 4wd in the snow and the front locked up. I was able to reverse and slowly get home with the front end locking up from time to time. When I got home some of the broken teeth had punched a hole in the diff and fluid was draining onto my driveway haha.

At the time I just removed the front diff and seperated the CV's to plug the axles. I picked up a junkyard front diff for maybe $300 and swapped that in. Its been good ever since.(100k miles on it)



X2 on just making sure your ratios match. I jacked my rear axle up and put tape on the drive shaft and tire. I spun the tire and looked at the drive shaft counting the turns. Mine was 4.2 which I think is the most common for automatics.