1993 Stock 278K No Locker. I am looking for expert advice on clicking noise in front axle while turning please. Slight vibration after tire balance. Goes down the highway fine at 80MPH. I've been told front axle overhaul with gasket kit, Front Diff Trunion Rebuild, not sure if this is the same job? Also, that axles may be difficult to remove and can be bent in the process. I am not a mechanic but I would like to understand where and why this noise is coming from and if I am looking at catastrophic failure if I continue to drive it. I need to replace front brake pads and it seems like I should have this all done at once. Price for this job and shop recommendations greatly appreciated( Colorado Front Range, Boulder-Denver ). THANK YOU!
Front Axle Click While Turning (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Fred Witt
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New birfs most likely. You can swap them and buy some time.
If you have time Slee Off Road in Golden could be your one stop shop. They are one of the best authorities on late model Land Cruisers/4WD Toyotas.
- Thread starter
- #4
Any idea what this would cost?
sounds like a head gasket.
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Define "noise" how loud? Do the knuckles have grease, should be 1/2-3/4 full with moly grease. If the birf isn't lubed, will make noise, depending on how long it's been run that way, will ruin the birf.
- Thread starter
- #7
Not that loud. Sometimes I don't hear it at all. It's got at least 50K since noise. I am not a mechanic, can the knuckles be greased without taking it apart? Thank You for your help and patience with my lack of knowledge in this area.
Mine was just loose hub bearings.
Yes - there is a plug on the top of each knuckle, front side. Clean the area, remove the plug, pump in the grease of your choice, replace plug. I wouldn't go crazy pumping grease in.
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
To answer your original question, no the trunnion rebuild is not the axle service. Those are just the upper and lower bearings (they're the same) on the knuckle casting. What you want to learn about is the CV (or Birfield) joint. This is what it looks like, in cross section:
In this diagram, the road wheel is on the right. The Birfield in the part with the large ball bearings. When they either lose lubrication (lack of grease, it leaks out) or wear, they (the balls) bounce around inside the cages. That's the clicking noise you hear.
The knuckle is supposed to be 3/4 full of grease. The type (red or green) is up to you; Mr. T only recommends molybdenum disulfide NGLI Type 2. Anything that has that in the description is OK.
In this diagram, the road wheel is on the right. The Birfield in the part with the large ball bearings. When they either lose lubrication (lack of grease, it leaks out) or wear, they (the balls) bounce around inside the cages. That's the clicking noise you hear.
The knuckle is supposed to be 3/4 full of grease. The type (red or green) is up to you; Mr. T only recommends molybdenum disulfide NGLI Type 2. Anything that has that in the description is OK.
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If a person can bend one of these axle shafts while doing a rebuild they are doing something seriously wrong, they tough as hell, check grease first in the knuckles,then check free play in wheel bearings then check free play in diff yoke. It's pretty straight forward stuff I mean the japanese build these things with the same mechanical knowledge as the rest of world uses just better ha
- Thread starter
- #12
THANK YOU! This is what I needed to look at. Where is this picture available? I would like to print it.
Also, start buying paper towels
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
The first, best thing to do is grease the knuckle. There are two seals, one felt and one rubber, on the back side of the knuckle. As you rotate the knuckle thought its limits, the seals (actually wipers) clean the outer knuckle ball so that the internal grease doesn't become (too) contaminated.
If, after greasing the knuckle, you still have clicking problems (should only occur when you're turning the steering wheel), you'll need to consider replacing the outer driveshaft, at least.
The overhaul usually includes the seal set mentioned earlier, and
the trunnion bearings,
the inner and outer wheel bearings (they support the wheel spindle and outer driveshaft),
axle housing seal,
spindle bushing and seal,
and if they're damaged, the drive flange and cone washers.
If, after greasing the knuckle, you still have clicking problems (should only occur when you're turning the steering wheel), you'll need to consider replacing the outer driveshaft, at least.
The overhaul usually includes the seal set mentioned earlier, and
the trunnion bearings,
the inner and outer wheel bearings (they support the wheel spindle and outer driveshaft),
axle housing seal,
spindle bushing and seal,
and if they're damaged, the drive flange and cone washers.
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
Here's the video, if you're that kind of guy:
I wouldn't do everything his way, the FSM is better on all but one point: the PVC pipe is way better that the vise and brass drift for separating the inner/outer driveshafts. He's not wrong, he's just used to working on everybody's trucks/cars and treats them all the same. Typical for a for-hire garage.
I wouldn't do everything his way, the FSM is better on all but one point: the PVC pipe is way better that the vise and brass drift for separating the inner/outer driveshafts. He's not wrong, he's just used to working on everybody's trucks/cars and treats them all the same. Typical for a for-hire garage.
- Thread starter
- #17
Where do I add grease to knuckle? Is it the bolt in the above diagram that "upper trunuin" is pointed at?
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
No, it's not. There's a pipe plug on the upper front surface of both knuckles. That's the one you want to remove to add grease.
This is the driver's side knuckle:
It's the plug at about 11:00 o'clock, as you look at the wheel from the outside.
Oh, and not that it matters to the spin of the planet or anything, but the diagram has a typo; it's "trunnion", not "trunion". That's kind of like a triple onion, or something...
This is the driver's side knuckle:
It's the plug at about 11:00 o'clock, as you look at the wheel from the outside.
Oh, and not that it matters to the spin of the planet or anything, but the diagram has a typo; it's "trunnion", not "trunion". That's kind of like a triple onion, or something...
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
Joey won't like me for this, but...
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
And I highly recommend the FSM:
https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInf...urce_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechinfo.toyota.com%2F
It's the best $15 you'll spend this month.
https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInf...urce_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechinfo.toyota.com%2F
It's the best $15 you'll spend this month.
