Background
About 6 months ago purchased a '93 Land Cruiser with 284k (currently at 290k). The previous owner appeared to take great care of it with receipts to prove it. Had a full engine rebuild at 265k, just under 3 years ago, and had the work below done 1.5 years ago at 279k. Before buying the truck I spoke with the independent mechanic that he had do all the work for about an hour on the phone – seemed like a great guy, very meticulous in his work (as evidence of all of the write-ups on the invoices, similar to below). I'd happily take the truck back to him for service, however being 8 hours away, it's not an option. The truck has 35" tires (315 75-R16 KO2s) with an 3" OME lift. Truck has done little to no off-roading beyond a dirt road as far as I'm aware.
The issue
Being new to a solid axle configuration (although I'm no stranger to working on vehicles / motorcycles) the noise I'm getting appears to be a CV joint – the classic popcorn-popping sound when pulling away from a stop with the wheel turned to the right or left, (particularly when ascending a slight incline at same time). However, when looking back over the service history, it seemed odd to be encountering an issue with the Birfield when it was so-recently serviced.
Not related, front and rear sway bar bushings have all been replaced since purchasing. Vehicle tracks straight and true on the highway (honesty I can't believe how refined this vehicle feels for it's age).
Is there anything I can test definitely to verify that is indeed the issue? Am I totally overlooking something more or less obvious? Thoughts in general?
Thanks in advance for your time.
Invoice from previous owner:
Customer states that the front Birfield joints are leaking, recommend replacing seals, wipers and bearings. Removed front wheels from vehicle, removed brake calipers and pad assemblies. Removed dust cap and circlip. Removed otter flange for 4WD. Removed lock nut, stake nut, lower preload nut and preload washer. Removed outer wheel bearing. Removed hub assembly from vehicle. Removed back side dust seal and inner wheel bearing. Removed rotor from hub and steam cleaned all parts. Pressed out both the inner and outer wheel bearing races and pressed in new wheel bearing races. Packed new wheel bearings with grease and installed into hub. Reinstalled rotors onto hubs and installed rear dust seal into hub. Removed Birfield snout from outer housing with dust plate and wheel seal. Removed Birfield CV axle from vehicle. Removed upper and lower trunion bolts and pins. Removed outer housing from Birfield joint. cleaned out all old grease and steam cleaned housing. Cleaned joint ball and buffed with scotchbrite. Removed axle seal from housing and replaced with OEM axle seal. Removed Birfield felt ring, rubber seal, rock guards and plate. Greased up inner axle housing and joint. Removed and pressed out both upper and lower trunion bearings. Packed new trunion bearings and installed outer housing. Packed Birfield with grease and installed CV joint into differential housing. Installed Birfield joint sweep seal, ring and felt. Torqued rock guards to spec. Torqued trunion pins to spec. Re installed front snout and filled Birfield with grease. Installed new front seals and gaskets. Re installed dust shields and ABS sensor. Installed front hubs with new bearings and seals. Set preload to specification for both front hubs with new bearings. Installed locking clips and lock nut. Re installed hub flange and dust caps with circlip. Filled axle housing with gear oil and test drove vehicle. Drives normal at this time. Inspected both front Birfield joints and there is no leaking at this time.
Parts installed:
Toyota front axle rebuild kit for Birfield joints
NTN wheel bearing - Toyota Genuine
Front hub wheel seal
Front axle seal- Toyota Genuine
Mobil 1 Synthetic wheel bearing grease
Steering knuckle bearing - Trunion bearing
Front wheel bearing- Toyota Genuine - Timken
Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W-90 gear lubricant LS - With limited slip friction modifier
About 6 months ago purchased a '93 Land Cruiser with 284k (currently at 290k). The previous owner appeared to take great care of it with receipts to prove it. Had a full engine rebuild at 265k, just under 3 years ago, and had the work below done 1.5 years ago at 279k. Before buying the truck I spoke with the independent mechanic that he had do all the work for about an hour on the phone – seemed like a great guy, very meticulous in his work (as evidence of all of the write-ups on the invoices, similar to below). I'd happily take the truck back to him for service, however being 8 hours away, it's not an option. The truck has 35" tires (315 75-R16 KO2s) with an 3" OME lift. Truck has done little to no off-roading beyond a dirt road as far as I'm aware.
The issue
Being new to a solid axle configuration (although I'm no stranger to working on vehicles / motorcycles) the noise I'm getting appears to be a CV joint – the classic popcorn-popping sound when pulling away from a stop with the wheel turned to the right or left, (particularly when ascending a slight incline at same time). However, when looking back over the service history, it seemed odd to be encountering an issue with the Birfield when it was so-recently serviced.
Not related, front and rear sway bar bushings have all been replaced since purchasing. Vehicle tracks straight and true on the highway (honesty I can't believe how refined this vehicle feels for it's age).
Is there anything I can test definitely to verify that is indeed the issue? Am I totally overlooking something more or less obvious? Thoughts in general?
Thanks in advance for your time.
Invoice from previous owner:
Customer states that the front Birfield joints are leaking, recommend replacing seals, wipers and bearings. Removed front wheels from vehicle, removed brake calipers and pad assemblies. Removed dust cap and circlip. Removed otter flange for 4WD. Removed lock nut, stake nut, lower preload nut and preload washer. Removed outer wheel bearing. Removed hub assembly from vehicle. Removed back side dust seal and inner wheel bearing. Removed rotor from hub and steam cleaned all parts. Pressed out both the inner and outer wheel bearing races and pressed in new wheel bearing races. Packed new wheel bearings with grease and installed into hub. Reinstalled rotors onto hubs and installed rear dust seal into hub. Removed Birfield snout from outer housing with dust plate and wheel seal. Removed Birfield CV axle from vehicle. Removed upper and lower trunion bolts and pins. Removed outer housing from Birfield joint. cleaned out all old grease and steam cleaned housing. Cleaned joint ball and buffed with scotchbrite. Removed axle seal from housing and replaced with OEM axle seal. Removed Birfield felt ring, rubber seal, rock guards and plate. Greased up inner axle housing and joint. Removed and pressed out both upper and lower trunion bearings. Packed new trunion bearings and installed outer housing. Packed Birfield with grease and installed CV joint into differential housing. Installed Birfield joint sweep seal, ring and felt. Torqued rock guards to spec. Torqued trunion pins to spec. Re installed front snout and filled Birfield with grease. Installed new front seals and gaskets. Re installed dust shields and ABS sensor. Installed front hubs with new bearings and seals. Set preload to specification for both front hubs with new bearings. Installed locking clips and lock nut. Re installed hub flange and dust caps with circlip. Filled axle housing with gear oil and test drove vehicle. Drives normal at this time. Inspected both front Birfield joints and there is no leaking at this time.
Parts installed:
Toyota front axle rebuild kit for Birfield joints
NTN wheel bearing - Toyota Genuine
Front hub wheel seal
Front axle seal- Toyota Genuine
Mobil 1 Synthetic wheel bearing grease
Steering knuckle bearing - Trunion bearing
Front wheel bearing- Toyota Genuine - Timken
Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W-90 gear lubricant LS - With limited slip friction modifier