Axle Popping Out

Hey all,

I have a 2012 Tundra, I bought it used and it came with a professionally installed 6" lift kit. The other day i was plying in the dirt and my axel came free. I really was not pushing any limits or anything, just rough (very rough) abandoned back road. Anyhow, when i got home i realized my 4wd was not engaging as there was some snow and i couldnt even back out of my driveway in 4wd. I took it to my mechanic and he said that the axel had popped out and that i should consider removing the lift kit or finding a longer axel. As i do not have the original parts I am afraid that removing the lift will be a big and expensive job.

The truck is currently on stock rear with a big spacer. In the front i have the Eibach Pro Sport coilovers set at 2" sitting on top of a 4" spacer. There is also some rough country parts near the sway bar that i assume are also part of the lift kit.

So.... here are my questions....

1. Is there such a thing as a longer axel for a 2012 tundra? I searched and found nothing.
2. Is this a common issue? Do others with 6" lifts experience this problem?
3. Are there any other alternatives (can i for example do a 3" spacer up front to reduce the strain on the axel) ?

Any help here is greatly appreciated and if needed i can post some pics of the setup.

thanks all.

 

I’m not sure but Inthought you could install a driveline spacer.

 

So you’re saying a cv axle popped out of the front diff?

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/tundra-2007-coachbuilder-driveline-spacers.2095/

 

I’m not sure but I think he’s saying his driveline slipped out

 

yeah i thought that too, but then I figured why would he be explaining his shock setup. Not clear either way

 

Could it be that the axle retainer wasn't replaced?? Or damaged when reinstalled by the previous owner... I mean the clip or retainer is there to ensure no popping out... or maybe it was incorrectly reinstalled and it slips out..

 

Sorry guys, im not super well versed in truck talk. Forgive me if i use the wrong words... Yes, its in the front, where the cv boot attaches to the differential (engine side, not wheel side). just picked it up from the mechanic and didnt make it 2 blocks before it popped back out again. ohad to order a new front axel =/.

 

Do you have a diff drop kit?

 

well... i have no idea. if i take a picture would that help? Where should i look? Like i said, i bought the truck with the lift kit already installed.

 

You have to crawl under the truck to check. There is a pic here in post #3 of what to look for.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/differential-drop-kit.3760/

 

ok, so im going to go with "i think so" now....

I assume that is what this bar here is...


In this image you can see the boot separating as it popped out again...



And some other images that may be helpful.

 

That bar is the drop bracket for the lift. I can’t see the area the diff drop kit would be. Take a pic of your cv axles straight on with the truck on the ground and tires pointed straight. Get the angle.

 

left and right side. taken as suggested.

 

You dont need a diff drop with a bracket lift guys.

my guess is that this is a 4 inch lift, maybe the diff isn’t PERFECTLY centered with the lift kit, and these extra lift springs the axle is too angled on that side.

 

I looked for those spacers, but like the entire diff is hidden by the protective plate. Even around the back of the diff its encased, so i could not get an image or see if they were there.

 

@Hbjeff thanks for the input, but im pretty sure this is a 6" lift. When i swapped out the coilovers the stock ones had a 2" spacer and then the big 4" spacer you currently see in the image (above the coilover). The eibachs were taller so we removed the additional 2" spacer. the truck was level again with the 2" longer coilovers + the 4" spacer.

In fact. here i can show the before and after....

Stock Coilovers with 2" spacer and 4" spacer.

and here is the taller eibachs with only the 4" spacer.

 

I never had a drop bracket lift so I wasn’t sure, but the angles on his cv axles look pretty big.

 

here is the tuck from a side view...

 

You might be right. Just to be sure, measure the distance of the lca mounting bolt at the frame to the old mount. Those bolts are either 4 or 6 inches apart.

strange if you’re still at 6 inches of lift tho

 

yea, id lose the lift all together before spending 1900$ per side... im kinda looking for the cheapest solution to my problem.... I like to do overlanding and we have some great trails around here but in retrospect i probably should not have bought a lifted truck. Hindsight is 20/20 i guess.

 

@Hbjeff f i apologize, i understand LCA is Lower Control Arm, but im not sure what you mean by "old mount". Im happy to measure, but im not a mechanic so i need clear instructions.

 

Did you receive the Eibachs preassembled?
Looking closely at the pics, kinda looks like they’re set to the 3” instead of the 2”

Just glanced quickly over some info on those coilovers, seems like the notch you’re on is 2” of lift if you use the stock coils than come on the truck. The ones you have seem to be eibachs and those give close to 3” of lift instead of 2” on the notch you’re on. Might just have to drop the spring perch to the very bottom notch.
That’s what I understood from the documentation I looked over. Hope it helps.

 

Circled the two bolts that will tell you the drop bracket height

 

I agree, this looks like a 4 inch that was turned into a 6 inch at a later date. The angle of the cv's is way steep..

 

yep, 4" distance from bolt to bolt on center.

 

Sooo..... do i need maybe a 2" spacer then instead of a 4" spacer since the Eibachs are an additional 2" of lift over the 4" spacer?

 

I believe i can set the eibachs to be less lift as well... i think they have a range of adjustment.