Front end roar in 4WD

Hey yall,

Now that I've finally been able to save enough to insure my Tundra, I've ran into some noise issues.

When driving the car in normal 2WD, she drives straight with no problems, however when putting it in 4HI I start hearing what sounds like a roaring or howling coming from the front end. I still haven't been able to get under the car yet to see what I can find. Hoping it's not something major.

The car drives fine in the 4WD mode, only problem is the sound which comes on at around 15mph and fluctuates as I drive.

I'll update this thread as I find out more.

 

Went under the car and noticed that the t case to front differential driveshaft has play in it. The play is not at the U joints but, where the differential's yoke meets the end of the driveshaft.

Doesn't feel normal to me. Is there some kind of seal or bearing that can go bad around that area before I take it apart to find out myself?

 

Mine has a sound like a 3 phase air compressor running backwards, but only on deceleration from 80 to 55 in 2wd. Haven't ran it in 4wd in a while. I'm not sure on how the front works yet, but it sounds like your front driveshaft has issues.

 

Since I'm going to have the engine out for replacement I'm looking to solve this issue of play within the front differential. I just want to know if anyone has any suggestions as to what it can be that's causing this play. I have attached a picture showing where the play is.

 

bad pinion bearing? never had one with play there.. usually they end up with bad needle bearings..

 

I'm with empty_lord on this. I suspect a bad bearing.

 

You could also have a bearing going out as well.

 

that might very well be needle bearings ECGS makes bushings to replace those... can do them in the car.. but they usually cause vibrations well before noise

 

So the pinion bearing would not be replaceable without opening up the whole differential correct? Along the way of removing the engine and replacing parts I have already changed the needle bearing with the ECGS bearing. I was hoping the pinion bearing would be that easy but I dont think it will be :/

 

Update:
It does appear to be a bad bearing. I removed the front driveshaft, and test drove the car. I think I may have confused myself in the first post but there was a roar in 2WD as well. With the driveshaft off, the sound is completely gone. No more roar. Which is fine, I don't really need the 4WD for now.

I was also thinking this was the cause of my vibrations at 5 and 20mph, but they're still there. Today I noticed that they get progressively worse as the car warms up. I don't know what that means, but when you first start driving it, they are pretty much not there. At operating temp is when you feel them the most.

 

good to know. I too, have front end roar at 70MPH+ in 2wd. not sure if it's there in 4x4. Don't really want to test that. :/