Front Axle Blunder

[Mekanecman]

I really hate to admit this but, the other day I left the drivers side hub locked and the passenger hub free and drove down the street at about 50mph. I heard some noise from the left front like a popping sound. I drove from home promptly and when I was about a mile from home it made a scary grinding noise then quit. When I got home I jacked it up and found that the snap ring on the end of the axle shaft had popped off. There doesn't appear to be any major damage but, the wheel does have a pretty good wobble to it. I'm going to tear into it on wed. Anything to look for? Any help would be apprcieatted.

[dgangle]

Originally Posted by Mekanecman

I really hate to admit this but, the other day I left the drivers side hub locked and the passenger hub free and drove down the street at about 50mph. I heard some noise from the left front like a popping sound. I drove from home promptly and when I was about a mile from home it made a scary grinding noise then quit. When I got home I jacked it up and found that the snap ring on the end of the axle shaft had popped off. There doesn't appear to be any major damage but, the wheel does have a pretty good wobble to it. I'm going to tear into it on wed. Anything to look for? Any help would be apprcieatted.

Assuming you have an open diff, doing as you did does nothing other than giving your spider gears a workout. As far as the popping sound, it sounds to me as if the drivers locking hub wasn't fully engaged. Hard/too much grease can do this or possibly not turning the dial enough. Not sure how a snap ring pops off. Possibly it was either not instaleld correctly or when it was last installed it was oversprung. Wobble?? What is wobbling, the rim? This sounds completely unrelated. Just take it appart, clean, inspect and note what doesn't look right. If you haven't done this B4 there are eleventy billion writeups avail on the Net.

BTW, what are working on?

[Mekanecman]

Its an 85 4Runner. I think the snap ring wasworn out. The drivetrain on this truck is pretty worn out. I also did not have the pliers for taking them off so I used to 2 screwdrivers. The wobble wasn't felt when driving. When the wheel and tire are off the ground you can grab the bottom of it and wobble it back and forth. Feels like the knuckle bearings are bad. Those are new as well. Could the spindle nuts come loose because of the snap ring being bad? Could this cause major damage?

[dgangle]

Originally Posted by Mekanecman

Its an 85 4Runner. I think the snap ring wasworn out. The drivetrain on this truck is pretty worn out. I also did not have the pliers for taking them off so I used to 2 screwdrivers. The wobble wasn't felt when driving. When the wheel and tire are off the ground you can grab the bottom of it and wobble it back and forth. Feels like the knuckle bearings are bad. Those are new as well. Could the spindle nuts come loose because of the snap ring being bad? Could this cause major damage?

OK. A snap ring doesn't wear out. If it came off it either was the wrong part, installed incorrectly or damaged when installed. The wobble you describe is either the knuckle bearings or most likely the wheel bearings adjustment. Look around while you are wiggling and see where the movement is coming from. In answer to your last question, no. They have nothing to do with each other. You really need to get a manual or if you have one, read it.

[lowtideride]

Could have popped an old/dry birf. But it also sounds like your wheel and knuckle bearings are shot/loose.

[WristPin]

Originally Posted by lowtideride

Could have popped an old/dry birf. But it also sounds like your wheel and knuckle bearings are shot/loose.

Honestly, have you ever encountered this?

[WristPin]

you need to follow dgangles advice. but the "knuckle bearings" are called trunnion bearings

[lowtideride]

Originally Posted by WristPin

Honestly, have you ever encountered this?

Yulp, on an fj62 that had a blown inner axle seal. Washed all the grease out from the birf and broke the cage and damaged the bell.

Happens more often on 80 series that have not had axle services, but they are full time 4 wheel drive.


The reason I mention this is.... he said he heard the noise after the hub was locked. Meaning the front axle was engaged. Could have toasted the birf if the front axle was in need of service. A wobbly wheel can be caused by the wheel or knuckle (trunnion bearings) but normally don't make grinding noises unless they really let loose i.e. (lock up, explode )

Knuckle bearings dont make any noise when they let loose, they just cause you camber to go wacky. Kinda makes your truck look like its IFS in the front....


Which leaves your birf the cause of the noise. Its at least something to check out as its only a 20 min job to pull one.

[Mekanecman]

Thanks guys. I will let you know what it turns out to be. I apprcieat the help.