Grumbling when slowing

IAmTodd

IAmTodd

New member
Hey folks, I've had my 2011 T4R for about 3 weeks an 1200 miles so far and I'm in love with it. The truck has a total of 45,000 and besides a few small issues it's been great. I have had a bit of a worrying sound/feeling coming from it when slowing down/braking. It's very hard to describe and seems to happen more so when going downhill with foot on or off the brake. It feels like a cross between a cupped tire, bad bearing, or warped rotor. There is no feeling in the brake pedal or steering wheel and to me it seems like it is coming from the rear of the vehicle.

The other night I had the wheels off for a general inspection. The lot I bought it from had new brakes/rotors at all corners and new tires installed. Everything looks good and is greased (including front and rear driveshafts at all 6 zerks). Front wheels rotate freely with no noise and are tight. The rears I'm slightly concerned about but could be normal. With the trans in neutral and the drivers wheel off the ground I can hear a rotation noise. Doing the same with the passenger wheel does not have the noise. With both wheels of the ground and trans in park the sound is much worse. I suspect that is just the ring and pinion meshing together but should it be that audible? I don't remember this for the first 1000 miles I drove it for.

I'm still within the powertrain warranty but would like to have an idea of what is going on before I make my first stop to the dealer.
 
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Well it seems like you have covered all of the bases that I cold think of....I would just take it in, if your still under warranty. Hopefully you don't get the dreaded "could not duplicate" bs.
 
This might be a noise similar to what I am having. A local shop told me it might be a bearing in the diff that might have burned out.

Once I get my truck back together, I am going to have them look at it and see if they can determine what it is, and if it is going to be expensive to fix (which means new gears and lockers).
 
FrontRange4Runner said:
Well it seems like you have covered all of the bases that I cold think of....I would just take it in, if your still under warranty. Hopefully you don't get the dreaded "could not duplicate" bs.
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I'm worried about that as well. I have a 60 day 'bumper to bumper' from the place where I bought it but I'd much rather have Toyota do the work.

mikey's2010SR5 said:
This might be a noise similar to what I am having. A local shop told me it might be a bearing in the diff that might have burned out.

Once I get my truck back together, I am going to have them look at it and see if they can determine what it is, and if it is going to be expensive to fix (which means new gears and lockers).
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Thanks, that was what I was thinking was up but was hoping it wasn't. I have a trip coming this weekend. I'll probably call the dealer on Monday and see what we can schedule.
 
So I'm revisiting this issue, the temps warmed up for my last appointment and the sound went away so I canceled it. I just made a new one for Monday in hopes something will come of it. The sounds has gotten worse and I'm still guessing either a U joint or rear bearing. We'll see what they have to say and then go from there. The service writer on the phone seemed to elude that it was just the thick cold oil was causing it but I can't see that being the cause of it.
 
Just an update on this. The dealer had the car yesterday. They heard the noise but wanted me to go for a ride to make sure we were talking about the same thing. Sounds like I get a new front diff and drivers side axle shaft. They have to call Toyota for approval.

They said there is a TSB on this but I fall outside the range. I found this like but does anyone else have any more info on it? Service Bulletin 313096 for Toyota POWER TRAIN | AutoMD
 
Fantastic, Toyota won't do anything until I do a $145 front diff service to see if that solves the problem. I think after two months I'm ready to go car shopping again. Seems like deja vu with my old car. :noidea:
 
Ugh. Hassle.

If it makes you feel any better, my '08 Xterra had a similar groan/hum that was coming from the front axle, except I'd get it more at highway speed. A simple drain and fill eliminated the noise. The gear oil that came out was pretty dark and did have some water in it.

I don't blame toyota for wanting to try that first. I'm actually getting a VERY faint groan that sounds like a front wheel bearing (at just shy of 40k) and a full diff/tcase fluid swap in on my list of to-dos just to get on top of it.
 
IAmTodd said:
Fantastic, Toyota won't do anything until I do a $145 front diff service to see if that solves the problem. I think after two months I'm ready to go car shopping again. Seems like deja vu with my old car. :noidea:
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get it in writing that if the service doesn't fix the issue, they will refund that money.
 
nevada said:
get it in writing that if the service doesn't fix the issue, they will refund that money.
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Sadly it's too late for that. I'll be test driving it with a tech before I pay. If it still makes the noise they get to keep it and fix it.

I certainly hope I can eat my words and this fixes it but I have to wonder if there will be lasting issues.
 
Just wondering.....did you check you weren't in 4WD? Sometimes when road conditions change from snow/wet to dry, like at a stop light, I get the same thing.
 
wdlsmaerw said:
Just wondering.....did you check you weren't in 4WD? Sometimes when road conditions change from snow/wet to dry, like at a stop light, I get the same thing.
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Quite sure of that. It actually goes away when in 4x4.

mikey's2010SR5 said:
I wish I had seen that TSB sooner. Because I bet that would be my fix. Oh well guess I will be locker bound sometime soon.
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I'm looking that direction too if they don't do anything under warranty. I guess it's that whole lemons and lemonade thing. :mmph:
 
Good news to report today. The noise was still present this morning so they've been approved to replace the front diff. No charges for anything. Should be in in a week or so. Can't wait to have a quiet ride in the cold!
 
hey, sorry I just read this post. It seems like you finally have a handle on the problem, but if you still have issues the TSB number is: TSB-0175-10 and has to do with the front differential assembly. I had the same issue about a year ago. It was not present in 4WD. My dealer looked at the TSB and fixed it immediately. I hope you have the same results that I did. I have a copy of the TSB and work done if you need it, and would be happy to scan and send it to you. I have had zero issues since it was fixed. Don't give up on your truck yet and start looking for something else! Good luck.
 
ant-ny said:
hey, sorry I just read this post. It seems like you finally have a handle on the problem, but if you still have issues the TSB number is: TSB-0175-10 and has to do with the front differential assembly. I had the same issue about a year ago. It was not present in 4WD. My dealer looked at the TSB and fixed it immediately. I hope you have the same results that I did. I have a copy of the TSB and work done if you need it, and would be happy to scan and send it to you. I have had zero issues since it was fixed. Don't give up on your truck yet and start looking for something else! Good luck.
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I would love a copy of the TSB. I am starting the fight to get mine repaired under warranty.
 
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