Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Does it feel like the front end binds up and releases? You get a slight surge froword when it happens. Does it happen to the rt wheel when turning rt and left wheel when truning left? If you trun in a tight circle and go round and round, does it do it over and over? Does it do it when at startup or when vehicle is hot? Lock the center diff, either with the center diff lock swithch if you have one or by putting it in low. Try this on a gravel lot/road. WIth the center diff locked and truning, the wheels should feel/see the wheel binding and releasing on the gravel. Then do it with the center diff unlocked.
kurt
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Al,

>> a loud squeek noise came from the right front kunckle then followed by a loud grown just as I was making the attempt to stop ... <<

This was what sounded like it could be the brakes if there doesn't appear to be a birf problem. As I said, something in the RF knuckle is the likely problem. If that turns out OK then it could be the ABS.

I cannot grasp "the skip/overturn feeling in the front axle" and what you are attempting to convey. I know it's hard to describe noises and vibrations so that others can understand.

It could be a busted wheel bearing but I think you would feel that when going straight.

-B-
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

To All,

I hooked up with LANDTANK and it was very nice to meet a great person like him.

He was kind enough to test the rig and of course what ever I was experiencing yesterday never came back today, Rick took the front right tire off and checked the brake rotor for signs of wear or claipper stickiness, his findings were negative, also advised that if it was the ABS sensor I would have gotten an indicator for that on my dash board. Also Rick drove in circles turning right and left and nothing similar to what I have experienced showed up.

Although I moved with his recomendations earlier this morning and phoned to Lexus HQ, and opened up an official business case as the upper MGMT. in lexus will have to review the case and possibly grant me the opportunity to have the rig fixed by Cruiser Soltions up in NH, (thanks Rick for the shop lead) and possibley covering me up for the damages, if not they will have to recommend another dealer for the work and I have indicated to them that it is not an option for me at this point.

I will know their answer by next Wednesady.

I still think something is wrong in the right knuckle or the short axle, I thing like Rick had suggested the axles are held in place by a C-Clip, and that clip could have moved or relocated which prompted for the feeling I experienced yesterday and the possible diff. oil contamination.

I will keep you all posted and Hope that Lexus approves the case, so a specialized shop in LC can get the job done once and for all.


Again Thanks to all of for your directions and help.

Rick, Thanks for taking the time out of your family to help me out.


Al.
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Just a little clearification.....I said that if there was something wrong with the sensor I'd expect a ABS light. It's close to what Al wrote but not really and I don't want to give anyone the wrong idea. I would have pulled the sensor except I only had a half hour or so and didn't think the parking lot at Weathervane's seafood restaurant was the place to do it. Everything felt normal to me and nothing jumped out when checking the brakes. Because there is no working parking brake I wasn't comfortable placing the transfer in neutral and jacking the front right wheel off the ground to be able to rotate it and try to feel anything that way. In short I really did very little and accomplished nothing, that said, I'll still be more than happy AL to stop by and drink your beer :G or better, down on the beach :G :G
 
Al
The binding and rollover feeling I had was from my viscous coupler (controll coupler)was heating up (at hwy speed) and locking the center diff up and my very worn birfields would pop/surge forword as the balls in birfield would pop out of the race. Had I had good birfields the tires would of made noise. When the t-case was cool or driving as slower than 60 mph I couldn't get the birfields to pop. I hope this is not your problem.
:(
I had to get a new t-case and newfields to solve the problem$$$$
kurt
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Al,
It would take about 2 minutes to pop the center cap and the dust cap to get a look at the end of the stub axle. There should be a circlip holding the birfield in position inside the drive flange. The C-clip that C-Dan mention holds the inner axle to the other side of the birfield. Both clips should be on but looking for the C-clip is impossible without removal of the birfield.
-B-
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Rick,

Thanks very much for doing your best in the short time you had to spend with me the other day, sorry I miss presented your intentions / interpretations regarding the ABS sensor.

Kurt,

Actually I do not get it on highway speeds, I just get it going very slowly, normally when completely stopped then I proceed in first gear I feel it, it never happend in other speeds or during gear messhing 2,3 or OD.

Keep in mind it happened as I was pulling out of my driveway in the morning last week, truck was running for about 5 minutes to warm up then I felt it making a left turn, Also I took it for a short ride yesterday to eliminate the same thought you presented above by driving it for about 10 -15 monutes @ 70 miles / hour, slowed down, got of the highway made a left turn then a right turn then full circles to the right and to the left at a parking lot and nothing showed up (very frustrating).

I belive something was not put together correctly the last time the dealer's mechanic did the front axles, it took a few miles to show up and I am pleased that it did not wait after the 12K parts labor warrenty expired.

Note: they also changed the birfields with new ones. so almost everything in the front end is new except for the third member (diff. unit).


Hope this helps

I am still waiting to hear back from Lexus HQ for final decission on who should fix the truck, I hope they grant me the opportunity to have it done outside of their dealer network.


Al.
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Christo,

Did you end up replacing the birfield with new one due to this problem ???


Thanks
Al
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

We never did the work on it. The dealer did the re-build and then had to fix it. Replaced the brass bushing in the spindle.
Click to expand...

I think I had to have this part replaced as well after poor service from a (non toyota) dealer. I brought it to Toyota and they diagnosed it instantly. It may a very distinctive noise - although not all the time.

Cheers, Hugh
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

A customer juts had a front axle rebuilt done by the dealer. 2 weeks later the truck started making noises. It ended up being the brass bushing in the spindle. I think the dealer did not put grease on it and it got trashed against the birfield due to lack of lubrication.
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Rick,

The only clip I can find from the write up is:

(Generous coat of MP grease on outer axle splines and flange.)

Unless I am messing it, I could not locate any reference to it in the write up.

Christo, Thanks for the reply.

Al
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

There is a tool made by AST. it is a bushing greasing thingy. The number on the tool is TOY 140. it intended to be used to grease the spindle bushings on IFS trucks. Basicly it is a cap that threads over the end of the spindle(same threads as the spindle nuts). It has a grease fitting in the end. You take the drive flange off and screw it on the end of the spindle and pump away. Since the cruiser and truck have the same threads I don't see why it wouldn't work on a cruiser. I think it would be difficult to over grease it as the grease would just go into the knuckle. (As long as you didn't go nuts pumpin' away)
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

I thought it was black diff oil that meant trouble? After I installed a new toyota e-locking rear diff in my runner, did the standard gear break-in for 600 miles, the diff oil came out dark green, and since the rear axle is a semi-floater, there's no moly grease. I think the green color was caused by the phosphates or whatever on the gears burning off.

If one has replaced the inner knuckle seals on the front axle of an 80 and they are not leaking, should the diff oil still necessarily be golden after a few thousand miles? Wonder if the toyota design inherently allows a little bit of grease seep into the axle housing?
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Hmm...I'd better check my diff oil!
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

To All,

I spoke with Lexus HQ and to my surprise they did not grant me the opportunity to have the Front Axles done outside of their network.

They offered the following as an alternative solutions:

1- Bring the truck back to the dealer who had done the work last time to re-inspect my claim then re-do the work all over again without any financial liability on my end if it is required.

2-If I choose not to do that and possibly go to another dealer, Lexus HQ will a take care of the diagnostic charges only, if my claim is correct and the front axles must be re-done, I have to bring the truck back to the original dealer
who had done the work initially & if I opted to have the second dealer take care of the work I will be liable for the repair charges as the intial dealer refused to pay the second dealer or any other dealer for the repair charges due to the fact that they are independantly owned & the initial dealer believes that he can get the job done in his shop.

3- Lexus HQ told me if I feel that the initial dealer was incompetent in getting the problem resolved, they will assign a Master Technician to over see and supervise the work until it is done correctly. (The Master Technician reports to Lexus HQ directly).


4- And this is my option, I spoke with Cruiser Solutions this morning and I have described to them the nightmare that I have gone through so far and they were very surprised that the dealer changed so many unnecessary components in the front axle, as I was going through the different part #'s that I have on my invoices, to make the story short, he belives that the front right birfield might be out of business based on my current problem discription and the only way he can confirm that is by re-doing the front axle work all over again. Total estimated charges can range between $1,300 to $1,500 depending on his findings on the birfield. and of course Lexus will not reimburse me back for the financial damages.


I have not made any decissions yet regarding this matter, I am torn because I feel the job should have been done correctly from the begining and after 3 attempts by the dealer I am back to square one with more issues that I have started with due to their lack of knowledge on how to work on these type of trucks.

My only concern is if I give them another shot at it, I might get out of it with more issues than I have now. And I have to contempalte whether I can live with $1,300 - $1,500 in the hole and have the real LC mechanic get it done right once and for all.


Thanks

Al
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Al, ask for the master technician to supervise and get your dealer to do it again. They are trained mechanics working for the premium division of the highest rated manufacturer out there. Sooner or later they will get it right.
 
Re: Something Major Have Gone Wrong  

Al,
You're obsessing. Do #3 and get on with your life.
-B-
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom