Unusual rear axle play

[mountainbiker42]

Hello,

I've noticed recently that my 4runner seems to wander more than it used it. After putting mud tires on it and a rear auto locker, I'm not surprised the handling was compromised. Maybe my control arm bushing are toast even though they're tight with a pry bar, idk. However today I got out, grabbed the top of the rear tire, and started pulling it in and out which shook the whole back of the 4runner. I noticed that there was an internal sounding clunk and play coming from both wheels. The play seems to be parallel to the ground. When the wheels are off the ground, I have no up and down play which I'm my mind would indicate a bad wheel bearing. I remember my Tacoma rear axle would do this when I grabbed the truck bed and shook the vehicle back and forth.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? It's kind of hard to explain. It's not a panhard, it's sound internal to the axle housing.

 

[sleepydad]

Hello,

I've noticed recently that my 4runner seems to wander more than it used it. After putting mud tires on it and a rear auto locker, I'm not surprised the handling was compromised. Maybe my control arm bushing are toast even though they're tight with a pry bar, idk. However today I got out, grabbed the top of the rear tire, and started pulling it in and out which shook the whole back of the 4runner. I noticed that there was an internal sounding clunk and play coming from both wheels. The play seems to be parallel to the ground. When the wheels are off the ground, I have no up and down play which I'm my mind would indicate a bad wheel bearing. I remember my Tacoma rear axle would do this when I grabbed the truck bed and shook the vehicle back and forth.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? It's kind of hard to explain. It's not a panhard, it's sound internal to the axle housing.

The wandering is the toe in needing adjustment in the front usually.

I would jack up the backend and investigate, you should not have any play or clunk in anything.

If your wandering around on the road and have something lose in the drivetrain, man get it fixed before something really bad happens.

Please!

 

[mountainbiker42]

https://youtu.be/zQTB_k-YQG8

This may help describe what I’m talking about. Unless I’m being ignorant I don’t think it’s anything that would cause the axle to drop out or lose of control. I think there is an issue though.

 

[nissanh]

The play horizontal to the road is something I have seen in the past but had no issues. What's bad is the up/down play.
Do you know the history of rear axles? has it been replaced? OEM bearings? Are the nuts securing wheel bearing/hub to the axle tight?

 

[JohnMc]

Have someone else wiggle the truck while you look underneath?

Sort of sounds like a loose joint on the panhard rod - it's the one that goes sideways from the axle to the frame, its job is to keep the axle in place side to side.