1974 FJ40 Rear Axle Binding Noise (4 Viewers)

[DaveyB]

Hey all, recently I restored a non-running 1974 FJ40 back to its glory. I’ve been working out some bugs as it’s back out on the road and driving. I’ve come into a situation where the rear axle seems to be binding? I get a metallic noise and a slight pop. It doesn’t seem to be a problem as I’m accelerating, just mostly coasting or even rolling the Land Cruiser back and forth in the garage. I’m about 80% sure it’s the rear differential. It could have been messed with in the past before I picked it up. Is there anything specifically I should check on the rear diff? Thank you all.

Also included a before and after. I was pretty meticulous in this restore. I did not however get into the differential itself (besides oil drain and refresh).

 

[bhsdriller]

put the rear on jackstands and have someone turn the wheels while you listen and try to pin point it

 

[brian]

Pop the cover

 

[Mark Jennings]

I sooner think a rear axel wheel bearing or a rear drum dragging, differentials don’t pop or click, they have tendency to rumble…get louder as speed picks up…..unless you have a ‘lunch box’ locker, then it’ll pop every time you make a sharp turn

 

[DaveyB]

I sooner think a rear axel wheel bearing or a rear drum dragging, differentials don’t pop or click, they have tendency to rumble…get louder as speed picks up…..unless you have a ‘lunch box’ locker, then it’ll pop every time you make a sharp turn

Hah! No lunch box locker… it’s not a welcoming pop. More of a concerning-binding pop.

I’ll get it up on jack stands, disconnect the driveline, and see what happens. TBD

 

[DaveyB]

Well… I lifted the rear axle off the ground on jacks and put it in gear so the wheels were turning. The sound seemed to be coming from the parking brake housing. Took off the driveline, hand spun the rear axle yoke (there’s some slop back and forth there) but spun the wheels without any odd sounds. Turned the parking brake housing and got some awful noises. Took off the parking brake housing and half a spring fell out, the other half twisted up… this one was probably from my own doing (replacing springs with non-OEM…)

 

[brian]

what vender sold you those springs?!?

 

[DaveyB]

what vender sold you those springs?!?

No vendor, just found some at a hardware store. Obviously didn’t work out lol.

 

[DaveyB]

No vendor, just found some at a hardware store. Obviously didn’t work out lol.

Well, let me rephrase. They worked out for a few weeks. Must have been rubbing ever so slightly on the inside of the housing until it finally broke.

 

[brian]

What was wrong with the springs that were in place?

 

[DaveyB]

What was wrong with the springs that were in place?

Rusted into nothing