toyota tacoma front end noise

[kensav]

Has anyone experienced noise from the front end it seems to build up and is most noticable 25 to 30 miles an hour, it seems to be slowly getting worse it is not tyres or brakes and seems to be coming from under the foot well on the drivers side, any help would be most welcome as i luv my toyota tacoma SR5 4x4 extended 3.4 6cyl.

['03DC3.4TRD4X4]

What year is your Tacoma? Have you checked to see if all of your fluids are up to specs? (front and rear diffs, t-case, transmission, p-steering etc.) Wheel bearings? AC compressor?
Sorry, it is hard to even begin with little info.

[Fstvette]

Is it really a noise that happens when the engine is under load (acceleration) about 1900 - 2150 RPM.... rather than at the speed you indicated?

[yeano]

I have an 03 Tacoma with the exact same symptoms - a low frequency growl (sounds like when you run over a rumble strip) at 25-30 mph. I only hear (or feel) it every 3rd or 4th wheel revolution, so I suspect the front differential rather than anything that turns at the same speed as the wheels (wheel bearings, ec).

I've contacted multiple Toyota dealers, but none claim to have heard of this problem. However, I've seen multiple usenet posts that would seem to indicate that it's more than an isolated problem. One dealer told me that its normal and that the fluid in the front differential needs a little time to distribute itself among all the moving parts.

I'm going to try replacing the front differential fluid with a synthetic variety to see if it helps...

[Boondocks]

I am experiencing the same symptoms and have further noted that the noise is most noticeable during cold weather and that if I engage four wheel drive, it goes away. I plan to check the fluid level this weekend, but may replace the diff fluid with synthetic.

[OBATDDSD]

hey guys......
I never had this problem with my tacoma but I had it with my datsun 4x4. for me it was a slight howling sound. It goes away when 4x4 is engaged.. try lubricating your hubs once in awhile. I had manual hubs on my datsun and had to take it apart and grease it once in a while especially when I did alot of water crossings. try it and see.

[yeano]

Some updated info on the problem.

Replacing the front differential gear oil with a synthetic version had no effect at all - the noise persists at 25-30 mph when cold.

Saw a post somewhere where a guy with a Tundra with a similar problem cured it by removing the front driveshaft. So, rather than remove my driveshaft, I simply stopped it from moving by tying what amounts to a big rubber band around it. Keep in mind that the front driveshaft should not spin as long as 4WD is not engaged. With the front driveshaft so held, the noise is gone.

Still don't know what the cause is, but clearly it has nothing to do with the front end. I believe this is referred to as "windmilling", whereby the cold, viscous fluid in the front differential is causing the front driveshaft to rotate. Since I only held the driveshaft with a relatively weak rubber strip, and the rubber strip didn't break, there is apparently not a lot of torque involved - just enough to spin the driveshaft. However, I still don't know what the noise is all about. Transfer case, maybe??

[Boondocks]

I would guess that the front output mechanicals in the transfer case may be sloppy when not engaged. I'll review the shop manual breakdown of the transfer case to see if anything jumps out at me.
It would be interesting to know the speed of the driveshaft when this is happening.

[dude2005]

Originally Posted by Boondocks

I would guess that the front output mechanicals in the transfer case may be sloppy when not engaged. I'll review the shop manual breakdown of the transfer case to see if anything jumps out at me.
It would be interesting to know the speed of the driveshaft when this is happening.

Weird, my Tacoma started doing this this winter and it is quite annoying. I had assumed it was a bad front hub. I'll try the driveshaft trick and see if that helps...

[rcbstuff]

I have a 2004 Tacoma, not 4wd and I have the same problem. Dealer told me today it could be a driveshaft issue. I will let you know....

[EA6BMECH]

Sounds like what I have in my '07 right off the parking lot when I bought it. Had the same feel/vibration in my '05 Z71. Dealer said I abused my truck and wouldn't fix it, let alone they couldn't feel it. So I traded it in on a Taco. The Taco was ALLOT worse than the Chevy. Personally, I think it's the trans axles that are always spinning. Unlike my '91 Nissan SEV6, I can manually take it out of 4x4 and have Warn locking hubs. It's like all these newer trucks let the axles spin and then when you hit the 4X4 button, they engage at the wheel. I think it's just a little slop in there that causes the vibration, and there ain't a dang thing you can do about it.

Anybody think I'm wrong or I didn't state things clearly, let me know. I'm surely not a 4X4 mech.

[mahuska]

You need cold weather bearings. There is a set of a roller bearing and a new bushing that replace the one piece bushing on the inboard side of the steering knuckle. This bearing supports the half shaft and in cold weather this bearing would squeal at an amazing level. It started out only occasionally then more and more frequent and engaging the 4x4 system stopped being effective in reducing or stopping the noise. i was rebuilding the front end and i decided to replace that bushing thinking that it must be work to the point of allowing a harmonic vibration to start. Only Toyota had the bushings and when i went in to special order them the parts guy had an index card the looked very old. It was a note from 1994 with the part numbers of the "cold weather bearings"

[alflaw]

My 2002 Toy is at my mechanic's with the front diff apart. 67,000 miles, about 1,000 - 1,500 in actual 4x4. 3 left differential seals failed in last 3 years- out of warranty by time.
Diff housing shows a light wear pattern from the ring gear, but all parts are in good condition, no bearing issues. Mechanic says the left cv axle turns all the time, also turning the diff and driveshaft constantly. If so, it would not seem possible to simply stop the front driveshaft from turning. Toyota dealer has no idea how to address problem and advised to find a salvage diff rather than buy one from Toyota.
Seems like a stupid design to me, but what do I know- I only have a BS in engineering.

[fourwd1]

You may have an underlying problem causing your seals to fail. The add system has been around for 20 years, and plenty of other makes use similar systems. I've not heard of seal failure being a big problem.