Vibration with 4 wheel drive engaged

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dizzidave

dizzidave

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
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20
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98
Location
Colorado
Still new to site with pathetic knowledge of mechanics. At low speeds with 4 wheel drive engaged lots of vibration. Mellows out at higher speeds. Problem with front axle Ujoints? If so how easy or hard of a fix? If not, what is it. :confused:
Thanks
83 Toyota
 
Well first off, you should not drive in 4 wheel drive on dry pavement, and definantely not at high speeds, you can break something that way. Just FYI...

How low/high of speeds are we talking about? And with the front hubs unlocked and the transfer case in 2 Hi does the whole problem go away? Get a little better? No change?

If it goes away when in 2wd, it has to be in the drive shaft or axle somewhere.

Try giving your front drive shaft a good shake and see if you have excesive play in it. If that's tight, then the problem probably is in the axle.
 
I live in Alaska. Very icy. Need it in 4x4 all the time right now, pavement or not. Just had a driveshaft rebuilt. Now there's no more chirping, but still vibration. Never vibration in 2x4.
 
Ohhhhhh I see. Where is the "grease" coming from excactly? If it's a slimmy gooey mess coming out of the ends of the axle where the ends turn you probably have worn out inner oil seals and the gear oil is washing the grease out of the birfields. This will cause wear and that can result in bad things.

If it's leaking right from the diff, is the fluid level ok? You could be having ring and pinion issues.....
 
I have an 81 and it used to have that same problem when I bought it. My front differential was no good because the front drive shaft created the problem. It usually starts at the transfercase output -> front drive line (make sure it's in phase, ujoint and double cardin joint are ok) -> Front differential Flange -> Differential -> Birfields -> Bearings. That's how I found out that all the problem started with a loose transfercase flange/bearing and down it went.
 
Just that 2MK you just can't run around with you'r hubs locked wait'in for the bad stuff then just pull the tc lever.

I'm not implying this is what you did I merely stated an opinon above and I'm answering you'r rebutle.

01-31-07 09:06 PM
dizzidave " At low speeds with 4 wheel drive engaged lots of vibration. Mellows out at higher speeds".
Thanks
83 Toyota

This is vague every one speaks often with the wrong context. Many other people have stated this, this way. Only you know what where trying to get from you.

Like this "With my TC in H2 and my hubs locked...."

Lots of people think like this "With the 4wd enguaged....."

What part? SEE! Please don't think I'm a hard #ss, I'm just showing you, I'm not narrowing this to you.


01-31-07 09:41 PM
dizzidave I live in Alaska. Very icy. Need it in 4x4 all the time right now, pavement or not. Just had a driveshaft rebuilt. Now there's no more chirping, but still vibration. Never vibration in 2x4


Define "need it in 4wd all the time right now" and "never a vibration in 2x4"
Hubs locked? Not locked? TransferCase yin? yout?


I have a feeling you are driving with you'r hubs "locked" this causes the shafts and the DS to the front diff to turn, all that stuff is not meant to do this in this particular manor(part time 4wD) 2MN all the front shafts are not balanced and all this stuff is spinning under you'r rig when you drive.

AGAIN this is what I'm hearing this is not an attac on you just IMOW what I'm hearing and thinking.

I LOVE YOU MAN,:crybaby: LOL!!!

Wait,Wait,Wait I just now noticed you'r sighn "83 Toyota"... Disreguard ALL above statements.(slipped by me)
 
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Huh?

Let me rephrase. 83 toyota SFA. I leave hubs locked all the time right now, due to snow and icy conditions. I don't drive 55 mph in with 4 high engaged. I do have it engaged half the time when I need to get out of an icy intersection or what ever. I don't throw it in to 4 high if I see an ice patch, I do however shift out of 4 high when I don't need it or if my speed is increasing. Is that bad? I have a rebuilt drive shaft. There is quite a bit of steering wheel shaking and general vibration especially with 4 high engaged but also in 2 high with locked hubs. No problems with unlocked hubs in 2 wheel drive, so obviously rear is fine. I also have "as 2ndgen said" grease coming out the ends of the axle. Not leaking directly from differential. Cause of vibration? Diagnosis? Thanks! :D
 
I swear I think he's got an un-balanced frt. drive shaft.


Said while scratching head.


" There is quite a bit of steering wheel shaking and general vibration especially with 4 high engaged but also in 2 high with locked hubs. No problems with unlocked hubs in 2 wheel drive, so obviously rear is fine."
 
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So is the shaking there whenever the hubs are locked? Weather the T-case is in 2H or 4H?

The ooze coming out of your axle ends means the inner oil seals are shot and it's time to rebuild the axle. It's a messy job but parts are only in the $100-$130 range I think. That's not for anything in the diff though.

Along with the ooze comes increased wear on your birfields and tha could be a cause of the vibration. Another cause could be worn out brass bushings in the hubs, there was a thread here about that a little while ago, I think it was about the IFS front hubs, but the solid axle may have a similar bushing.

Here's a good write up on the rebuild:

http://www.birfield.com/~morgan/tech/axle/
 
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