Whats wrong with my Runner?

Duhockey

Duhockey

Senior Member
Ok, so I've gotten some input from a few people, but wanted to see what everyone here thought.

So, just so everyone knows, Ive got a 96 Sr5 with 219k on it, Ive got 285/75/16 Toyo Open country mts 95% tread on the back, and about 20% on the fronts...

a few weeks ago it snowed and I put my 4runner in 4wheel drive for some sketchy, snowy/icy roads. when turning I noticed that i was hearing and feeling the "slipping/banging" that some of you might recognize from when you are in 4wheel drive and at full steering wheel lock. Only thing was I was only at a quarter to half a turn.

So luckily the next few weeks were all nice and fine in 2wd,

then today I put it in 4wheel and while I was at maybe quarter turn in reverse I heard and felt the slip/bang that you usually only feel at full lock.

then another mile down the road or so the 4runner starts pulling super hard to the driver side, I had the steering wheel about 45 degrees to the passenger side and was still trying to hold myself in a straight line on the road. And, I was only going maybe 30 mph..

I slowed down for a light to turn and the pulling lost strength as I slowed down, I turned and then shifted out of 4wheel. in 2wheel it drove just fine once again...

Thoughts?
 
Register to hide this ad
That's what mine did right before my front diff crapped itself. :(


Take care of that fluid before you are looking at major repairs!!
 
Front diff is either low on fluid or it's so old its basically non existent. Change it man, for the love of Jesus change the fluid!
 
oh when you drain the fluid check for any metal shavings on the magnetic plugs and the pan if there is a lot then it might be too late
 
t4r4life said:
sounds like your front diff is binding, when was the last time fluid was changed?
Click to expand...

I think I did all my diff and transfer case fluids at like 180k or something... I cant believe that they would be going bad so soon...

I will have to check those fluids out tomorrow hopefully..

If the diff is about to go, I think Ill put a Tru Trac LSD in there...
 
You said it was pulling hard until you got off the throttle? Your diff may already be gone, that sounds a lot like you lost power to the front left.
 
It sounds like the flux capacitor is out of balance.

Sorry Shon, I had to say it before someone else did.
 
Duhockey said:
I think I did all my diff and transfer case fluids at like 180k or something... I cant believe that they would be going bad so soon...

I will have to check those fluids out tomorrow hopefully..

If the diff is about to go, I think Ill put a Tru Trac LSD in there...
Click to expand...



So soon? Your vehicle has well over 200k miles. It is to be expected that your vehicle will now start to slowly need main components replaced.


Sorry about it though, right in the first of the snow center.

I want to add to the, it is already broken voice. It is. Whether it is low on fluid is secondary at this point, as if it were low would have been the cause, but from the way you are suggesting; it is getting worse. Sounds to me like progressive internal mechanism failure in your front diff. I wanted to not give you false hope, in case you are in a place you need to rely on 4wd often. Better to fix it now, at your own pace, than to have it sheer off and leaving you stranded.

It will, by the way. And by the sounds, soon. If the vehicle is showing progressively worse binding in the front end, it may very well have been caused by the low fluid, and the low fluid may very well have caused the damage; but fluid doesn't have magic restorative effects.
 
The key is "binding when turning".
Your spider gears are jamming and the diff is acting like a spool and you have no differential between the front wheels. When in 2wd, the ADD allows for wheel differential. Pull the front driveshaft and try driving in 4hi. (shift in/out of 4wd when stopped)

The cheap fix? Buy a junkyard diff and drop it in.
Time to regear? Rebuild with all new parts, except the housing.
 
With the amount of tread left on the front's vs. rears, the circumference is different enough that something has to give...
Is it an automatic? Is there a center diff in an auto? (I only speak 5-speed)
With no center diff it's kind of like having 4:10's in the rear and 4:30's up front.
 
Duhockey said:
If the diff is about to go, I think Ill put a Tru Trac LSD in there...
Click to expand...

Put LSD in the front and youll be blowing CV's faster than you can buy them. It will slip for a little bit until the limited slip kicks in then all that force will blow something up
 
PNWRunner said:
Put LSD in the front and youll be blowing CV's faster than you can buy them. It will slip for a little bit until the limited slip kicks in then all that force will blow something up
Click to expand...

no it wont, not unless you abuse it... a truetrac is a great idea, and imo better than a locker up front cause you are allowing the spillage before you break things, a true locker could be and issue and concern for breaking things.
 
Gerdo said:
How does a LSD, in front, handle on road while in 4HI? (snow covered roads)
Click to expand...

well the few times ive driven my buddies tacoma with one in it in the snow, id say great. ive never had an issue with under-steer or plowing (on or off the gas), its really like they say, unnoticeable untill you need it, like say climbing a steep snowy hill, he will out climb me all day with his truck(factory Elocker in the rear).

most of the time i have spent in it, was more playing around in empty parking lots where it pulls(in a good way) the front around a lot faster and better than the stock open diff. (say like when doing donuts ect.) i did drive it from his the dealer to his house after he picked up his fzj80 from having some work done and it was snowy out twards his house so i got some hwy and in-town driving in with it too, and again no ill affects. never felt any binding or feelings of it wanting to go strait like lockers give.

its what im gonna put in my spare 3rd when i regear it.
 
Last edited:
Gerdo said:
Kid
What snork do you have?
Picture please.
Click to expand...

??? do you mean snorkel? i dont have one yet, thats on the "soon to come" list, it will be the ARB safari for a tacoma though when i do get it. that is probably going to happen just before the lift or right after it.
ARB bumper is next in line on the list, two months or so and ill have that, its my birthday present from my fiance, and her saying "thanks for putting up with my BS and dedication/focus on nursing school and ignoring you in the process"
 
Ahh
I now see the "coming soon". Also on your list is LC 9 wraps. I know someone that has some for sale, me.

Shon, sorry for the hijack!
 
Gerdo said:
Ahh
I now see the "coming soon". Also on your list is LC 9 wraps. I know someone that has some for sale, me.

Shon, sorry for the hijack!
Click to expand...

really!? well man i should of had you throw those in with the skid plate when i ordered that to save on shipping lol,

oh well, i got a set sitting in my garage, along with some 8 wraps too, in case i dont like the 9 wraps, but i think im gonna have too much weight in the back with my spare dual batteries, and a winch under there where the spare used to be, not to mention eventually a CBI rear... so i think the 9 wraps will sit about level with the TT 3"+/- front(thats all im waiting on right now for the lift, but that can wait).


now back to broken or dieing front diffs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 165 (members: 1, guests: 164)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,306
Messages
3,554,045
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top