Urgent: cruiser not driving

[chrsar]

Hi all,

I'm on the last day of vacation with the family in Hilton head with my 2000 Land Cruiser. Everything was going great until today. I was driving and heard a loud clunk when driving at low speed. A few minutes later I heard a louder thunk. Now when I try to engage to reverse or drive I just hear a spinning sound.

I have a few questions and would really appreciate any help.

Any ideas on what this could be? U-joint? Transmission shot?
Should I get it towed to the closest Toyota or does anyone have a recommended mechanic in the area?

Thanks very much for any help. Trying to decide what to do right now.

 

[oakback]

If you lock the center diff, do you still hear the spinning sound when you shift in D or R?

If one of the front cv axles stripped or came loose (if the retention washer came off), that axle would spin when put into gear, and you'll go nowhere. If this is the case, locking the center diff should let you drive until you can get it fixed.

 

[chrsar]

It doesn't make that noise when it is locked.

 

[chrsar]

So is it safe to drive a few miles under 40 mph? Just to get back to the hotel to figure out what to do?

 

[oakback]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but if that's the case it sounds like a cv axle problem. You should be able to drive it with the CDL engaged without any problems. I had mine strip, and I drove it for a few weeks (several freeway miles daily) until I got the new axle and hub flange to replace it. No towing or offroading or anything like that, of course.

If the cv axle is stripped, then it may rotate within the hub flange a bit when turning (as the outer wheel and inner wheel move at different speeds). If the hub flange isn't already damaged, this will likely damage it. The hub flange isn't a big or difficult piece to change.

 

[DirtDawg]

As @oakback said, it sounds exactly like your CV to drive flange is stripped. You will need both to replace and fix.

 

[chrsar]

Ok. Thank you all so much for the help. We were a little stranded but I locked it and this got us back to the hotel.

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether we can make it back home (400 miles)? I'd like to save the money and fix it myself. What if we took back roads? Or is it not worth the risk?

Thanks again.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Best would be to remove both drive flanges and the front driveshaft, that removes the front axle from the equation completely. Worst case is to just drive it locked like you are, it continues to grind, but it's parts you're going to have to replace anyway.

 

[oakback]

Mine stripped halfway through the Tray Mountain trail in north Georgia. I finished the trail (then posted a panicked message on here), then figured it out and drove 360 miles back to Florida, then commuted a few weeks, before changing it. The damaged parts were still just the axle and flange.

FYI changing the axle isn't bad at all. It think the hardest parts were knocking out the flange cone washers, and getting the tie rod and ball joints out (I didn't have the specific tool for this), and those aren't bad at all. The CV axle went in easy, and of course the flange just bolts on.

 

[chrsar]

Mine stripped halfway through the Tray Mountain trail in north Georgia. I finished the trail (then posted a panicked message on here), then figured it out and drove 360 miles back to Florida, then commuted a few weeks, before changing it. The damaged parts were still just the axle and flange.

FYI changing the axle isn't bad at all. It think the hardest parts were knocking out the flange cone washers, and getting the tie rod and ball joints out (I didn't have the specific tool for this), and those aren't bad at all. The CV axle went in easy, and of course the flange just bolts on.

Thats good to hear. It is expensive to stay here in HH and I'd love to do this job myself. I cant express how grateful I am for this forum. Such quick replies saved me a tow and taxi amongst other things. I am going to try the trip back home unless otherwise advised.

 

[montegofd3s]

Do you have some emergency tools with you?

Hub flange removal writeup