UPDATE: Front Diff TSB with Lift

[IrishRover]

Hey everyone, relatively new to the forum and Toyota world. Traded my 07 Xterra for a 19 TRDORP this year and love it! The truck already had a bilstein lift set to the highest setting (I’m planning on dropping it to the 2nd or 3rd notch this spring). However.. I’ve started to notice a whirring noise when driving at 35-40 mph and so naturally I went to this forum to investigate and found this TSB.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10153276-9999.pdf

My question is: has anyone taken their truck in for a power train warranty claim with a lift installed and received any pushback from Toyota? Other than the bilstein lift, everything else is stock.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!


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[Matt831]

It all depends on the dealer. There have been many folks who have had the diff replaced with a lift installed and others where the dealers pushed back and blamed the lift.

I had the front diff replaced via the TSB on a stock suspension truck with no questions asked. I was not even able to replicate the noise when I rode with tech but he said not to worry and replaced it.

Best bet is to take it in and ride with a senior tech, duplicate the noise and show them the TSB.

 

[fkheath]

It all depends on the dealer. There have been many folks who have had the diff replaced with a lift installed and others where the dealers pushed back and blamed the lift.

I had the front diff replaced via the TSB on a stock suspension truck with no questions asked. I was not even able to replicate the noise when I rode with tech but he said not to worry and replaced it.

Best bet is to take it in and ride with a senior tech, duplicate the noise and show them the TSB.

Good advice from Matt. The problem is with the input bearing which has nothing to do with the suspension or a lift, so there shouldn't be any reason for a dealer to give you trouble.

For some large lifts, they lower the differential, which would increase the angle of the input shaft, and may cause the dealer to give you trouble. But from what you wrote, it doesn't sound like your differential is lowered.

 

[IrishRover]

UPDATE:

TLDR: they're replacing the front differential under 60k powertrain warranty!

Details: I went to the Toyota dealer this morning and did a ride-along with a service tech. Funny thing is that I pulled into the garage right behind another TRDORP who was there for the exact same issue! The service tech recognized the sound and felt the front differential whirring noise from the passenger seat. I left and in about 30 minutes they called and said they would have a new front diff, covered by warranty, installed and ready to go on Wednesday. When we were talking about what the potential issue could be, the tech asked about the lift and how long it was installed, but also mentioned that if the noise was a wheel bearing or CV it would also be covered (regardless of the lift). I hope the other T4R owner is getting the same treatment!