Removing Front Dif, is it difficult?
 

Ive been having a vibration in the front end of the truck since november 2, 2006. Its not a constant vibration though, thats the puzzling thing to me. It only happens when I have the hubs unlocked and I hit a bump. it will continue to vibrate until I come to a stop. I have had both wheel bearings off, and to the dealer who told me they were in fine condition. im thinking of just removing the entire front diff for now, and see if it is even in the frontend. I wanted to get on here first though and see how difficult it is and the process for removing the front diff. I also have some work to do to the front dif as well. so the question, how difficult is it?how long do you think it will take?and Is there a write up somewhere on how to do it?

Thanks.

If you want to pull the whole front axle... it's not too bad. Just remove the steering knuckles (you can leave the hubs on the knuckles) then pull the bolts on the differential hanger. Disconnect the driveshaft, and pull the whole front axle out from the truck. It's heavy, but not so heavy that you couldn't get it by yourself. Put your steering knuckles back in and reattach the tie-rods and you've got yourself a 2wd truck. Might want to get your alignment checked though if you do that.

alright, i might just tackle that today, ive got to do some work to it anyway. where the u-joints are clamped to the flange,those bolts broke on the trail and had to make a trail fix of welding it all up, so, I need to fix that, plus I need to see if it is anything in the front end vibrating.

Yeah do get that fixed up. I think I've got a front driveshaft also too if you need one.

driveshafts fine. ive got to replace the yoke on the front dif. and get a new u-joint.

well, got my cv's out. now getting ready to go get the dif out.

alright, have everything I wanted dropped, put the steering knuckles back on. took me 5hrs for it all, thats fighting through all the dried mud as well. i beleive the vibration is from a cv shaft. While i was carrying to my shop, one of the ends fell apart. But i'll find out for sure tonight if the vibration is gone or not. after tearing it all down, and taking the nice shower afterwards, i am not considering a SAS. Ive got a whole year before i will possibly need 4wd again, the snow and ice are done here in NC until next year. I am actually thinking about just running dana 60s front and rear considering how I can buy both for about $300.

yes! get the dana 60's.. shorten them a little.. it'd be sweeeeeet

if i get the 60's ill probly just leave them full width, if i were to shorten them, when and if I were to break an axle, I would have to get custom ones everytime.

where the hell do you get 60s for $300? I want some.

my old boss pulled them out of his truck to replace with some rockwells. hes wanted 1200 for them for some time, then came to me the other day saying he would take $300. however, I can get rear 60s for about 80 at a local junkyard, depending on availibility. fronts for $150. again depending on availibility, mexicans like getting out before anyone else and taking all the good stuff before the white folks can. Let me know though man, If they have some, I'll go pull and ship them to ya.

haha man that would be sweet, but likely much more expensive than necessary. If I pick up a rig today like I'd like to, then I may see what you can come up with. There are a few different things around here though also.

Are there any solid-axle toyotas out there?

yea, theyve got 7 86's or older.

Damn Nate no 4wd? What are you going to wheel this spring? And when did you bust that flang? Wheeling with the Expos?

ya no 4wd right now. wheeling nothing this spring, probly riding along. I busted the flang the day before that last time I went testing out the 33s. It wasnt the flang that busted it was the u-joint clamps,I guess one of the bolts had came a little loose, then just broke off. no biggie though. I still havent decided if I am going to fix the ifs or just got straight axle yet. Ive got to find all the parts for the axle swap and price them,and see if its going to be in the budget. Im fixing to go to pull-apart and see if I can find everything I will need.

wait!! you pulled the CVs and are not running with CVs in the truck?????

you will loose a wheel its just a matter of time till it will happen. you have to have something in those wheel bearings... if you dont you will trash the bearings and run a risk of wrecking the truck!!!

So that applies to PVH (hub) and live axle trucks?

i dont think so, I think it only applies to live axle trucks. my cvs arent held in by nuts like the live axles. its a plastic clip. the cv doesnt even come in contact with the wheel bearing until the hubs are locked.