Front end... Is this normal (1 Viewer)

[GXO]

FYI, this can also be a birfield that is past it's usable life and the bearings are getting out of the normal wear channels and causing binding.

VC can be an issue, but if the front end bearings and birfs haven't been looked at I wouldn't go tearing into your t-case just yet

 

[7schulz]

The birfields look dry and no clicking, like not leaking but could also be no grease. Is there a way to re-grease without tearing it apart as it still seems to be good? What kind of grease. moly, lithium? both?

 

[GXO]

square nut on top...open and pump in the grease.

I suspect if you havent rebuilt them and they have been dry you have undue wear which is causing your issue.

 

[Tools R Us]

Similar issues that Interconnect had recently. Looking at his avatar should be enough incentive to stop driving it around until you determine the problem, which is likely the VC.

I agree the VC is suspect, but disagree on Interconnect's case. My guess is the front diff had an issue, the front drive shaft was removed to lessen the noise and the CDL wasn't locked, causing the VC damage. The drivetrain is pretty stout, driving with the CDL or VC locked will add load, but not really significant when compared to wheeling loads.

I would also check/adjust the toe, if out will cause tire scrub, low speed howl.

 

[-Spike-]

The VC in my wife's daily driver has been locked for 3-4 years. It chirps around corners occasionally. I wouldn't sweat it until you're ready.

 

[Ebag333]

The VC in my wife's daily driver has been locked for 3-4 years. It chirps around corners occasionally. I wouldn't sweat it until you're ready.

I wouldn't recommend driving daily with the VC locked on pavement for the same reason I wouldn't recommend driving daily with the CDL locked on pavement.

Can you get away with it? Sure. Is it likely more wear and tear on the front end? Absolutely.

There's been several threads of people having issues with their front ends that was eventually tracked down to a siezed VC.

 

[-Spike-]

I wouldn't recommend driving daily with the VC locked on pavement for the same reason I wouldn't recommend driving daily with the CDL locked on pavement.

Can you get away with it? Sure. Is it likely more wear and tear on the front end? Absolutely.

There's been several threads of people having issues with their front ends that was eventually tracked down to a siezed VC.

I agree with you that there is likely more wear. I have argued this with Sumotoy on occasion. However, it's not shock load, and I have a hard time attributing any damage to birfs or other front end parts solely to a locked center diff. If the birfs are worn and clicking (or dry) then any extra strain on them is going to exacerbate the issue, but they were damaged first, or not properly maintained at the least. It's only my opinion though, obviously Toyota put the center diff there for a reason and it would be best if it was functioning properly. My personal experience of several years says that it's not something to panic about.

 

[7schulz]

Well I filled the birfields with moly grease and I still have a whine at 20+ and still have some binding up when turning tight at low speeds. I will take it into a neighbor mechanic tomorrow. I couldn't get to the grease fittings in the drive line, could a drive line be causing the whine? It increases with speed but if I let off the gas and coast it completely goes away. Could tension on the driveline while under power cause a whine and when not under power not? Only other thought would be a wheel bearing but I would think that would be all the time and not just under load. Or are we back blaming the VC again?

 

[-Spike-]

Or are we back blaming the VC again?

Brutha, 'we' ain't blamin' nuthin'. It's nearly impossible to accurately diagnose a whine over the internet. We can only suggest things for you to look at, you'll have to do the blamin' on your own. You'll get a lot of opinions, and some of them might even be right, but rarely will all of them be right, if any.

 

[7schulz]

I'll have a real mech look at it b.c all I do is tinker and break s***.

Do:
Grease fittings on driveline and chassis (Lithium Grease) (I tried and couldn't get to them or the ones I could wouldn't take grease.)

Estimates:
Fix of whine
Binding steering (maybe viscous coupler in transfer case)
Rear wheel bearings (syn grease)
Rebuild of birfield joints
New belts?
Fuel filter?
Spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor?( I will probably tackle this)
Change PCV valve and 2 hoses on valve cover(and this)
Anything else that looks bad?
Trustworthly nieighbors shop and many people have told me they only fix what needs to be fixed.

 

[Sanchez]

When driving in parking lots and tight turns the front end seem to bind up and will skip or push on the tires. I have just replaced all diff's with new fluid and it still seems to do it. Is this normal for the solid front. It does have E-lockers but they are not engaged. Kind of seems like they are at turning extreems.

Did you ever find the issue? i'm having the same binding problem.

 

[-Spike-]

Did you ever find the issue? i'm having the same binding problem.

Read through the posts, you almost certainly have a seized viscous coupler. My '95 was driven with a seized VC for several years, maybe even a decade. The fix is to either replace it or simply remove it. Search the board for more info.

 

[Dave 2000]

Almost certainly a VC issue. If you do not have time or skills dive under and pull the front propshaft, you will have RWD only. It will give you some time to get it fixed while taking the loads off the rest of the drive train.

Regards

Dave

 

[-Spike-]

If you remove the front drive (prop) shaft, lock the center diff to avoid more damage.

 

[Sanchez]

Ah man not good, okay thanks