Can I drive w/ out the front DS??
Hey guys, I am new to toyota-4runner.org but not vehicle maintenance or repairs. Actually. As a project I am swapping a 97 3.4 into a 88 4runner as we speak. Unfortunately my Girlfriends 4runner has me side tracked.
We made a 1000+mile trip, on our way home we stopped at a buddies for a night 350mi away. My buddy and I went playing in the snow with my gf 2002 t4r limited on his property. We eventually got stuck and upon spinning the tires with the center diff lock on, the front end started clicking. We assumed a blown CV joint as it was dark. We unstuck the 4runner with my buddies ranger and parked it on solid ground and left it for the night. The next day, we got loaded up to leave and I thought I had put it in 2wd but had forgotten. I then chalked it up to a blown driver side cv, i figured the inner race was stripped or something. So we put it in 2wd and drive home. I slept the entire way home and the gf didn't complain of any weird vibrations noise etc. Next day she goes to work and says the front end "feels funny". I take it for a drive and feel/hear slight growling/grinding in the front end in 2wd. In 4wd it is awful and something definitely does not feel right. So once again I assume cj joint.:redbrick:
I install a new driver side cv shaft only to discover this is not the problem. :redbrick::redbrick::redbrick:
I removed the skid plates but have not drained the diff oil yet to see the carnage. The little bit that dripped out changing the CV looked as if It MIGHT have specks of metal shavings in it. :redbrick:
When I put the trans and TC into neutral and spin the front drive shaft it feels as if there is metal chunks that prevent the front DS for spinning freely. Its as if it will turn several revolutions sometimes, and then dislodge a metal chunk and clog the diff. gears. Does this make sense?
It is a stock 2002 Toyota 4runner Limited 3.4 Auto with 146,xxx miles. Not beat on much, its my GF's daily driver. When she bought it at 122,xxx she got some sort of extended warranty that I need to find and see if it past the millage the drive train is covered. FINGERS CROSSED ITS NOT past the mileage!
Also all winter here in MI she and I have both complained about how long it takes sometimes for the 4x4 light to stop blinking. Was this the first sign of a problem we over looked?
With any luck someone will chime in and say that its the front diff 4wd engagement mechanism messing up....but is doesn't seem likely to me...but either does blowing up a front diff in snow not playing roughly at all.... Its supposed to be a Toyota!!!
Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions?
I am planning of pulling the diff 2 weekends from now and replacing it...assuming this is the problem. Any one ha ve a good write up? In the mean time can I pull the front drive shaft and drive with out it to avoid the front diff seizing up causing the 4runner to be un-driveable. My gf wants to go see her parents this weekend, a 450mi round trip. Can someone please confirm it is ok to do this with out causing further damage? The 4wd shifter is a button on the 4wd shifter btw.
I have searched have not been able to find much relevant information.
Edit: there is definitely metal shaving in the diff fluid that leaked out when I changed the cv shaft!
Is this a common weak point on 3rd gens?
Hey guys, I am new to toyota-4runner.org but not vehicle maintenance or repairs. Actually. As a project I am swapping a 97 3.4 into a 88 4runner as we speak. Unfortunately my Girlfriends 4runner has me side tracked.
We made a 1000+mile trip, on our way home we stopped at a buddies for a night 350mi away. My buddy and I went playing in the snow with my gf 2002 t4r limited on his property. We eventually got stuck and upon spinning the tires with the center diff lock on, the front end started clicking. We assumed a blown CV joint as it was dark. We unstuck the 4runner with my buddies ranger and parked it on solid ground and left it for the night. The next day, we got loaded up to leave and I thought I had put it in 2wd but had forgotten. I then chalked it up to a blown driver side cv, i figured the inner race was stripped or something. So we put it in 2wd and drive home. I slept the entire way home and the gf didn't complain of any weird vibrations noise etc. Next day she goes to work and says the front end "feels funny". I take it for a drive and feel/hear slight growling/grinding in the front end in 2wd. In 4wd it is awful and something definitely does not feel right. So once again I assume cj joint.:redbrick:
I install a new driver side cv shaft only to discover this is not the problem. :redbrick::redbrick::redbrick:
I removed the skid plates but have not drained the diff oil yet to see the carnage. The little bit that dripped out changing the CV looked as if It MIGHT have specks of metal shavings in it. :redbrick:
When I put the trans and TC into neutral and spin the front drive shaft it feels as if there is metal chunks that prevent the front DS for spinning freely. Its as if it will turn several revolutions sometimes, and then dislodge a metal chunk and clog the diff. gears. Does this make sense?
It is a stock 2002 Toyota 4runner Limited 3.4 Auto with 146,xxx miles. Not beat on much, its my GF's daily driver. When she bought it at 122,xxx she got some sort of extended warranty that I need to find and see if it past the millage the drive train is covered. FINGERS CROSSED ITS NOT past the mileage!
Also all winter here in MI she and I have both complained about how long it takes sometimes for the 4x4 light to stop blinking. Was this the first sign of a problem we over looked?
With any luck someone will chime in and say that its the front diff 4wd engagement mechanism messing up....but is doesn't seem likely to me...but either does blowing up a front diff in snow not playing roughly at all.... Its supposed to be a Toyota!!!
Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions?
I am planning of pulling the diff 2 weekends from now and replacing it...assuming this is the problem. Any one ha ve a good write up? In the mean time can I pull the front drive shaft and drive with out it to avoid the front diff seizing up causing the 4runner to be un-driveable. My gf wants to go see her parents this weekend, a 450mi round trip. Can someone please confirm it is ok to do this with out causing further damage? The 4wd shifter is a button on the 4wd shifter btw.
I have searched have not been able to find much relevant information.
Edit: there is definitely metal shaving in the diff fluid that leaked out when I changed the cv shaft!
Is this a common weak point on 3rd gens?
Last edited:
arty
She bought it in Eau Claire WI, and we now live in Traverse City Mi. The extended warranty wasn't in the Toyota computer here, i had to call eau claire toyota and have them fax it over.:wtf:
