2006 LC making a terrible noise Maybe Center Differential??? Help! (1 Viewer)

[timberwilde]

I am in need of a reliable shop in San Antonio, TX to look at my daughter's '06 Cruiser. While driving back to Houston from Colorado she heard a knocking sound and after pulling off the road onto uneven ground the truck would not get power. I had her turn off the Center Differential Lock and it seemed to help. She made it SATX but today it is making more noise and shudders when she turns the wheel while going forward slowly.

I can get it towed to Houston but wanted to see if anyone knew a reputable shop in San Antonio that could take a look. I'm also open to any advice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Turned the center diff lock on or off?

If something in the front end breaks and the truck doesn't move then turning the CDL ON will make it move and is a diagnosis that something is in fact broken out front.

If she was running on the highway all that way with the CDL ON it could cause some damage and turning it OFF would make it sound better but may also stop it moving.

So for clarity was it on or off to begin with and what exactly happend when it was switched to the other mode?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I bet drive flanges/c-clip slipped off.

 

[jLB]

I am in need of a reliable shop in San Antonio, TX to look at my daughter's '06 Cruiser. While driving back to Houston from Colorado she heard a knocking sound and after pulling off the road onto uneven ground the truck would not get power. I had her turn off the Center Differential Lock and it seemed to help. She made it SATX but today it is making more noise and shudders when she turns the wheel while going forward slowly.

I can get it towed to Houston but wanted to see if anyone knew a reputable shop in San Antonio that could take a look. I'm also open to any advice.

Thanks in advance.

I've seen someone post about a shop in Boerne, but I personally don't know anything about it:

Performance Cruisers in Boerne, Tx (outside of San Antonio)

rear window problem and fix with pics
Performance Land Cruisers​

The closest shop I've had dealings with, is LCS in Austin LCS Austin's Land Cruiser Specialist! (My brother describes it as Austin's Javier)

Agree with Trunk Monkey on probable cause.

​

 

[timberwilde]

Andy,
Sorry for the confusion as I was getting a rather rushed/flustered play by play from my 21yr old daughter while on a West TX highway. She reported that she heard what she described as a whining sound coming from the driver's side tire (?) so she pulled over the check the tire. No issue seen. She drove on and later heard a bit of a knock and thought she felt a vibration. This time she pulled off onto some gravel and when turning the vehicle to get back on the highway she got no power just a revving sound. I told her to make sure the shifter was in "H". Still no power. I told her to press the CDL lock button which made the VSC OFF indicator light illuminate on the dash. When she did that the truck got power and she was able to drive another 4 hours to San Antonio. This morning when trying to drive to Houston she tried to press the CDL button and once again got no power while in gear. The only way the truck would roll was if she pressed the CDL button ( I assume it means the CDL is locked because the VSC OFF is illuminated.

Anyway, I am having it towed to Alamo Auto Doctors now. My man Javier here in Houston didn't have a name for me in SATX but I found Alamo Auto Doctors while searching this site. They sound like a good/friendly/knowledgable shop.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Thanks for clarifying, it sounds like you are onto the problem and made the right call. I agree with @Trunk Monkey that this is most likely an issue at the drive flange/axle interface...
If the clip slipped off and the axle moved inward out of engagement then it's as simple as pushing it into place an putting on a new circlip.
However, it's likely that the drive flange or CV axle splines are now gone and the CV axle and drive flange will need replacing.

Glad it does not sound like the diff or anything major.

 

[timberwilde]

As an update...
I got off the phone with the shop in SATX and the initial report is in. Trunk Monkey is the winner!
Driver's side axle c-clamp came off and destroyed the flange and, of course, the splines.

Hopefully an easy repair. Now waiting on parts.

Thanks to everyone for weighing in. I love this board!!

 

[timberwilde]

I am glad to have the experience behind me and glad to have the Bruiser back on the road. I wanted to give a shout-out and extend my thanks to Kim & Rick at Alamo Auto Doctors in San Antonio, TX.

If anyone is need of a great LX & Cruiser shop in San Antonio please don't hesitate to stop in. I could have been totally jacked-up by a shop wanting to take advantage of a father trying to get his daughter safely home. Kim was awesome. They got the parts in expedited and kept the price down. They were swamped when the cruiser arrived on the flat-bed but they worked us in and got her back on the road in 24 hours.

Alamo Auto Doctors
6450 Randolph Blvd
San Antonio, TX 78233

 

[Couvi]

Would you mind sharing what parts were replaced? Axle, flange and new C-Clip? I just had the same thing happen Friday and am taking it into my mechanic in the morning. Popped off grease cap and C-Clip was off. Drove it home with CDL engaged. Thanks for any info.

 

[timberwilde]

I was not there but I was told the Axle Shaft, Flange, and C-Clip were the parts replaced. I am unclear as to if the bearing was replaced as well. The truck drives great.

 

[Couvi]

Thanks for the info.