1994 Toyota 4 cylinder 4x4 truck - differential problems???

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ackleykid

10 Year
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
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1
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Location
Seattle
I have two issues with my 1994 Toyota 4 cylinder 4x4 truck.
1. Sometimes when I am at a dead stop and have it in 1st gear and start to let the clutch out it sometimes takes several seconds for the rear wheels to engage. As I let the clutch out the engine just revs and then after a couple seconds the rear wheels will engage in an abrupt manner. This is the only time this happens. When I shift to other gears I have no problem with the transmission or power to the rear wheels.
2. Sometimes when I am rolling to a stop I push the clutch in and shift to neutral. As I am almost stopped it feels as if the rear end to lock up slightly which seems to cause the wheels to skid a little bit.
Any ideas?
Thanks for your help!!
 
It kind of makes a thudding sound when the rear wheels finally engage. Just curious - if it is a potential clutch problem wouldn't I be noticing issues when I shift to other gears? I am pretty much mechanically illiterate so I am just trying to figure all this out. Thanks for such a quick reply!!
 
If you had a diff that out of whack it would be making some very nasty noises. I've blown up a few minitruck diffs and it was always business as usual until a big bang that basically ended forward motion after a whole bunch of nasty grinding noises coming to a stop. Sounds like your throwout bearing is seizing on the input shaft to me. At least on the first problem. Second problem could be the rear brakes. Maybe you've got a few springs missing allowing the shoes to lock the drum when the brakes are applied.
 
Ken, thanks for the reply. So addressing this - "Sounds like your throwout bearing is seizing on the input shaft to me" - where is the throwout bearing and input shaft located? Do you know how much to fix/replace something like that? Is this related to the clutch?

For the second issue, the only time the condition of the rear wheels locking up like that happens is just as I have let the clutch out and shifted to neutral. If it was missing brake springs woud that happen at higher speeds or just in the situation I described below?

Thanks again for the help!
 
The first problem reminds me of a buddy that had a similar behavior with his '93 V6 pickup several years ago. We dropped the tranny and found that all the rivets on the clutch disc had sheared off, so the friction material was totally separated and floating free from the disc. Here's what it looked like:

BadClutch.jpg


Really weird failure, and it was an OEM AISIN clutch too. New clutch and it was fine.

The throwout bearing explanation sounds plausible to me too, if the cast carrier piece was not sliding freely on the sleeve. Yes, it's inside the bell housing of the transmission, so regardless of the problem the transmission has to come out to check it out.

You might also drain the fluid out of the rear axle to see if there are any chunks visible. Make sure you can get the fill plug out first though!
 
Thanks for the useful post KLF. Since I don't work on mechanical stuff sounds like I am at the mercy of mechanics, eh? What is a reasonable fee for someone to take off the transmission to look at it? If it is very costly do you recommend just replacing the clutch and see if that fixes the problem? Doesn't it seem weird it is only doing that just in first gear when I am trying to start from a stopped position - and it only does this about 5% of the time. If the clutch was faulty wouldn't it do it in other gears too?

Anyway thanks for sharing all of your information. This is helpful to get some perspective on what could be potentially wrong with it.
 
You can have someone press the clutch pedal in while you watch the clutch fork on the pass side of the transmission. The fork should move smoothly when the slave cylinder moves it. If it hangs up at all, then that probably means the throwout bearing is sticking on the input shaft.

As far as the rear axle goes, I would chock the front tires, and jack the rear end up one side at a time. and spin the tires. See if you can find anything wrong with the brakes, or hear anything in the differential...

Good luck! :cheers:
 
Have you ever had the clutch replaced? How many miles on the truck now?

You have to keep in mind that it's an 18 year old vehicle. At this point it doesn't owe you anything. These are very reliable trucks, but nothing lasts forever.
 
ackleykid said:
I have two issues with my 1994 Toyota 4 cylinder 4x4 truck.
1. Sometimes when I am at a dead stop and have it in 1st gear and start to let the clutch out it sometimes takes several seconds for the rear wheels to engage. As I let the clutch out the engine just revs and then after a couple seconds the rear wheels will engage in an abrupt manner. This is the only time this happens. When I shift to other gears I have no problem with the transmission or power to the rear wheels.

Breaks sticking!

2. Sometimes when I am rolling to a stop I push the clutch in and shift to neutral. As I am almost stopped it feels as if the rear end to lock up slightly which seems to cause the wheels to skid a little bit.
Any ideas?
Thanks for your help!!

Breaks grabbing!
Click to expand...

ken_79-fj40 said:
Second problem could be the rear brakes. Maybe you've got a few springs missing allowing the shoes to lock the drum when the brakes are applied.
Click to expand...

X2 on the rear breaks.

My pickup rear break was grabbing. It would take a bit of force and revving before it broke free (problem #1) then when I would break one side would lock up (problem #2). Not as noticeable on dry ground but on gravel or in winter that rear would lock up when I would break and send me sliding at an angle. The problem was a leaky axle seal getting oil on my pads and drum making them sticky. I just cleaned up all the parts with break cleaner and problem solved. If you have a very leaky seal then you may need a new wheel bearing and oil seal too.

Sounds like you need to go through your rear axle and check it for leaks, oil, missing springs, etc. Not that hard to do if you have a weekend to do it. I would also do like others said and drain rear diff oil and check it if you don't want to pull the whole third member out. If it looks suspect then maybe you can find a good used complete third and just switch them out.

I think I would look into the rear before tearing into the clutch as it will be easier for you to do and likely solve all your problems.

I think it is your rear breaks sticking and grabbing. I think if it was your clutch going out you would notice slipping in every gear, or at least 1,2, and maybe 3, and 4 too.
 
I also like the idea of checking the rear brakes, you can do this for little or no cost. Pull the rear wheels off, remove the drums, see if everything is working OK.

Do you ever use your emergency/parking brake? That's how they get adjusted.

It could also be that the e-brake levers at the backing plates are rusted in the pivots, so the e-brake isn't fully releasing. This is a VERY common problem, I've replaced/rebuilt many of them. You have to take everything apart, unbolt the pivots from the backing plates, and try to pound out the pivot pins and get everything loosened back up again.
 
In my experience the rear drums are ALWAYS stubborn. Unless they have been off within the last 6 months. I'll need to do the whole emergency brake thing on my 89 again if I ever get it back on the road. But for the OP get yourself a repair manual, some tools, and a few cans of brake cleaner. Take the drums off and check things out. The clutch issue is certainly possible but you would notice it slipping on occasion in higher gears too.
 
Not sure what is so amusing, but glad I can do my part. :)

The threaded holes are M8 fine pitch. Stop at the hardware store and get a handful, using them to press off the drums usually destroys the bolts (mushrooms the ends).

Another reason I no longer own any vehicles with drum brakes.
 
Thanks for everyone's thoughtful replies. Looks like there are a lot of possible reasons for symptoms I am experiencing. I will have to get someone to get in there and look around.

Anyone know a good Toyota mechanic in Seattle????
 
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