98 4Runner Rear End Noise
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
98 4Runner Rear End Noise
Hey guys, hoping to get some insight on this one. I have a 98 4runner, auto, 4wd, e-locker 224k pretty new to me. It's been making a kind of WHIRRING noise coming from the rear axle. Kind of hard to describe. I will attach a video to help more. The noise correlates to the vehicle speed, not rpms.
I replaced both wheel bearings, and axle seals (they were leaking) and it helped a little, but the noise was still there.
Checked driveshaft for play, none.
Decided to do the u-joints just to rule them out, no big deal right? A few u-joints in an afternoon, not too crazy? Well, got a crash course in Toyota double cardan joints, the hard way haha!
Anyways, DS is good, everything moves smooth, so ruled that out. Drove it with rear DS removed in 4wd, no noise. That rules out tranny/transfer case, no?
Is it possible for pinion bearings to be bad with no play in DS?
Any help is appreciated. I'm not afraid to tear into it, just don't have any experience with diffs aside from oil change. Thanks for reading.
I replaced both wheel bearings, and axle seals (they were leaking) and it helped a little, but the noise was still there.
Checked driveshaft for play, none.
Decided to do the u-joints just to rule them out, no big deal right? A few u-joints in an afternoon, not too crazy? Well, got a crash course in Toyota double cardan joints, the hard way haha!
Anyways, DS is good, everything moves smooth, so ruled that out. Drove it with rear DS removed in 4wd, no noise. That rules out tranny/transfer case, no?
Is it possible for pinion bearings to be bad with no play in DS?
Any help is appreciated. I'm not afraid to tear into it, just don't have any experience with diffs aside from oil change. Thanks for reading.
#2
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
This is after ruling out road and tire noise .
Most times a whine is caused by how the Ring gear and Pinion mesh .
It can be from wear or a bearing starting to wear just enough to change how they mesh.
One of those things it might not get any worse for years or it can fail completely at any time .
If the gears are worn hard it is going to be time to replace no way till things come apart
Most times a whine is caused by how the Ring gear and Pinion mesh .
It can be from wear or a bearing starting to wear just enough to change how they mesh.
One of those things it might not get any worse for years or it can fail completely at any time .
If the gears are worn hard it is going to be time to replace no way till things come apart
#3
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Hey guys, hoping to get some insight on this one. I have a 98 4runner, auto, 4wd, e-locker 224k pretty new to me. It's been making a kind of WHIRRING noise coming from the rear axle. Kind of hard to describe. I will attach a video to help more. The noise correlates to the vehicle speed, not rpms.
I replaced both wheel bearings, and axle seals (they were leaking) and it helped a little, but the noise was still there.
Checked driveshaft for play, none.
Decided to do the u-joints just to rule them out, no big deal right? A few u-joints in an afternoon, not too crazy? Well, got a crash course in Toyota double cardan joints, the hard way haha!
Anyways, DS is good, everything moves smooth, so ruled that out. Drove it with rear DS removed in 4wd, no noise. That rules out tranny/transfer case, no?
Is it possible for pinion bearings to be bad with no play in DS?
Any help is appreciated. I'm not afraid to tear into it, just don't have any experience with diffs aside from oil change. Thanks for reading.
I replaced both wheel bearings, and axle seals (they were leaking) and it helped a little, but the noise was still there.
Checked driveshaft for play, none.
Decided to do the u-joints just to rule them out, no big deal right? A few u-joints in an afternoon, not too crazy? Well, got a crash course in Toyota double cardan joints, the hard way haha!
Anyways, DS is good, everything moves smooth, so ruled that out. Drove it with rear DS removed in 4wd, no noise. That rules out tranny/transfer case, no?
Is it possible for pinion bearings to be bad with no play in DS?
Any help is appreciated. I'm not afraid to tear into it, just don't have any experience with diffs aside from oil change. Thanks for reading.
With 224k, I am not surprised that it might very well be pinion bearings. You sure did everything else to eliminate the other variables.
ZUK
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Appreciate the replies guys, thanks.
Is it possible for the pinion bearings to be bad with no play at the DS?
There may have been a bit of denial that it was something in the diff that made me do all that, also I like to learn it all.
With 224k, I am not surprised that it might very well be pinion bearings. You sure did everything else to eliminate the other variables.
ZUK
ZUK
There may have been a bit of denial that it was something in the diff that made me do all that, also I like to learn it all.
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
Sounds very much like pinion bearings.
We were in Kaua'i earlier this year. What a fantastic place!
We were in Kaua'i earlier this year. What a fantastic place!
Trending Topics
#11
Registered User
Thread Starter
Pinion gear has some deformations on the coast side bevel. Ring gear surfaces look damaged, is that galling, if you can file a finger nail it's to rough.
#12
Registered User
Just a thought. With the drive shaft removed and in 4WD, aren't all of the gears and bearings still doing their thing in the rear end while going down the road? Shouldn't you hear most of the same sounds coming from the rear end? I guess the pinion bearing might not howl as loud without the torque from the drive shaft but you should hear something if the bearing is starting to give up.
Again, just something to think about. I don't have a whole lot of experience with rear end issues other than with big trucks.
Again, just something to think about. I don't have a whole lot of experience with rear end issues other than with big trucks.
#13
Registered User
iTrader: (-1)
Just a thought. With the drive shaft removed and in 4WD, aren't all of the gears and bearings still doing their thing in the rear end while going down the road? Shouldn't you hear most of the same sounds coming from the rear end? I guess the pinion bearing might not howl as loud without the torque from the drive shaft but you should hear something if the bearing is starting to give up.
Again, just something to think about. I don't have a whole lot of experience with rear end issues other than with big trucks.
Again, just something to think about. I don't have a whole lot of experience with rear end issues other than with big trucks.
#14
Registered User
iTrader: (-1)
Excuse me while I ADD all over your thread.. Which makes me wonder if you can do an cheapo cheapy check with say Moly grease, cause I'm gonna be wondering about mine later if I manage to motivate and go pull it out.
PS: you checked for ply at the flanges after the shaft was removed, it will make it feel stiffer than it maybe.
Last edited by Co_94_PU; 12-20-2016 at 02:24 AM.
#15
Registered User
Thread Starter
Just a thought. With the drive shaft removed and in 4WD, aren't all of the gears and bearings still doing their thing in the rear end while going down the road? Shouldn't you hear most of the same sounds coming from the rear end? I guess the pinion bearing might not howl as loud without the torque from the drive shaft but you should hear something if the bearing is starting to give up.
Again, just something to think about. I don't have a whole lot of experience with rear end issues other than with big trucks.
Again, just something to think about. I don't have a whole lot of experience with rear end issues other than with big trucks.
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
Definitely wait for Zuk to have his say, but expect it's going to be something like "I need to see the pattern" if he doesn't spot something right off.
Excuse me while I ADD all over your thread.. Which makes me wonder if you can do an cheapo cheapy check with say Moly grease, cause I'm gonna be wondering about mine later if I manage to motivate and go pull it out.
PS: you checked for ply at the flanges after the shaft was removed, it will make it feel stiffer than it maybe.
Excuse me while I ADD all over your thread.. Which makes me wonder if you can do an cheapo cheapy check with say Moly grease, cause I'm gonna be wondering about mine later if I manage to motivate and go pull it out.
PS: you checked for ply at the flanges after the shaft was removed, it will make it feel stiffer than it maybe.
#17
Registered User
I kind of doubt its in your DS if the joints are new but if you find that yours is bad, I will have a spare in hand at the end of the week. I'm installing a locking diff rear axle from my parts truck and I'm going to use my spare shaft just because it doesn't have any rust on it. Mine is in great shape but has a little surface rust on it and I just don't like rust of any kind. Let me know if you need it.
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
Wow! Thanks man, that's really nice of you. Here in the islands we embrace rust, haha. Just checking backlash and runout right now, numbers not so good. Will post findings in a sec.
#19
Registered User
Thread Starter
Backlash: .010
Ring gear runout: .004
Pinion flange: V-.003
H-.005-.006
Only thing in spec is the pinion vertical.
Also want to make note that there was resistance intermittently while spinning the diff. Felt like when there is crap a bearing.
Ring gear runout: .004
Pinion flange: V-.003
H-.005-.006
Only thing in spec is the pinion vertical.
Also want to make note that there was resistance intermittently while spinning the diff. Felt like when there is crap a bearing.
#20
Registered User
The noise you described sounds like a bearing noise to me and with that catch in it, you can just about bet on it. If it does have a little piece of debris in it, it's already done some damage to it so probably be best to go ahead and start replacing them while you have it apart.