What went boom in the front of the Runner

[Outdoorlogic]

So this last weekend something started to go wrong before the wheeling even started.. On the highway the driver front kept making an audible thunk. Figured it might have been I dunno gremlins...

Make it up the first obstacle with out much problem. Did need a little extra wheel speed to get up but figured that is the price of open diffs.

Make it to the next set of obstacles and can not make it up..Forced to take the tow strap. In the process it is noted that the passenger left is wobbling around like a broken CV.. ( just put new ones in the day before)

So after a little sweat and a whole lot of looks from the crowd CV gets swapped. ( note the CV was fine had a little play in the half shaft but changed anyway)

Make an assault on the next hill... NADA rear wheel drive only no front.. So we all figure it must be in the diff. Decide to turn around and head home.. Defeated.....

After some interesting 2 wheel drive climbs and descents make it to pavement.. Now the fun begins...

Hit the highway and at 25 MPH the front end sound like its grinding itself to pieces.. Hmm make it back out the 12 miles to the main highway of suffer a costly tow.

So we gas it and cross our fingers..I realize the drive to the highway probably caused more damage but ......

Make it to the main highway and air the tires back up.. Hobble the rest of the way home.. But every few miles the front end would growl and sound like the spider gears had come apart...

I haven't had a chance to pull the drain plug to see if the front diff spews out metal shavings, but figured I would start some research and figured this post could help others who might have or will have similar issues.

Could it be :

exploded spider gears
Wheel bearings

What say you ( IFS is a whole new beast to me)

I will be bringing her in for a look see in the next day or so..But if this has happened to anybody else post up your findings and resolution

 

[J-money$$$]

allright, well if the grinding is on the drivers side its most likely the little spider gears. The jack shaft is on the passenger side.

the front wheel bearings are hard to mess up, and they are sealed its not like you can re-pack them. The spider gears are small as is, plus what many dont realize is that they spin whenever the drivers side front tire rotates. Even in 2wd. THey see alot of miles, even though the front ring and pinion dont rotate

 

[Outdoorlogic]

Yeah ...all the noise was front end driver.. It would even kick the steering wheel..

 

[J-money$$$]

just drain the oil and if its the spider gears you will instantly know. You should see some metal chunks

 

[brian2sun]

just drain the oil and if its the spider gears you will instantly know. You should see some metal chunks

Metal chunks..

 

[Outdoorlogic]

I hope this doesn't pour out of my diff:lmao:

Metal chunks..

 

[brian2sun]

I hope this doesn't pour out of my diff:lmao:

If it does just hit it a few times with your breaker bar before it gets a chance to bite you.

 

[Outdoorlogic]

Juggalos or however you spell that.. Are scary what nightmares are made of

 

[Hepar]

Metal chunks..

Hahaha. That would be a single metal chunk.

 

[brian2sun]

Hahaha. That would be a single metal chunk.

Correct. It's very likely that many metal chunks may come out. In that event, I would keep a gun ready, loaded with wooden bullets.

 

[JohnsD90]

Check the LCA on the driver side, the bushings wearing/tearing out causing the arm to make a thunk (very noticable, i went through the same thing) every once in a while whilst driving, and to also affect steering. The whining and grinding i have no idea, but i wish you luck.

 

[J-money$$$]

LMAO> Too funny. I miss seeing those kids all over high school. It made the day funner

 

[Outdoorlogic]

Well no Juggalos

But I do feel like a coal miner
So is this the spiders or my ring and pinion;...

 

[driffter33]

Either way it dose'nt look good but I would say spiders.

 

[J-money$$$]

I can tell thats all spider gears. I just had them out and they have those rounded teeth. Looks like a front locker could fix that little issue

 

[YotaZach85]

Definitely spider gears, hopefully you didn't mess up your ring or pinion and you can just throw a locker up there like J said.

 

[Outdoorlogic]

Yeah.... I could toss a locker in and solve the problem...Plus I can get some of my money back when I SAS and off the locker...

 

[Pikeman]

Aussie or Lock-Rite hopefully will fix it. Although a True trac would be nice since it is limited slip and not full time.

 

[J-money$$$]

Aussie or Lock-Rite hopefully will fix it. Although a True trac would be nice since it is limited slip and not full time.

I personally am not a fan of those. I have seen cv's break just as easily with those. They cost more, dont provide the same traction, and require a diff setup. Its honestly close to 3x more money to run a tru trac over an aussie or lockright.

Good luck with it jimmy. Once you get the PITA front diff out I bet you really will think twice about putting it back in.

 

[maclean216]

I happen to have a truetrac for sale. Should be available by this weekend.