IFS front Diff bad sounds

[uriedog]

I know Toyota used the same diff for many years, so maybe somebody on here has a fair bit of experiance.

I had a issue with mine last week. I was driving out to the mountains and started getting some vibration, noise. SO I pulled over and unlocked the hubs all good noise gone I can worry about it later. And no the noise is not the stub axle bushing, I have delt with that many times, and keep them well lubed.

When I got home I did some more investigating. I decide I have a bumb CV and pull it out, while doing so I happend to kotice some lateral play in the RH side shaft on my diff. To me this does not seem rite, although I read somewhere that it is normal. I am still trying to find more info on it. I put a new CV axle in as the inner cv had some pretty nasty play in it as well. Took it out for a drive and no sound or vibration in 4x4, 4x2 hubs locked, highway or street. Although I am still not satisfied that it is OK. Oh ya I also dropped the diff oil to see if there were any chunks and nothing came out magnet and oil were clean.

With anyluck sombody on here will know if the sideshaft play is normal?

oh ya also found this while I was searching for info. pretty handy

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/index.html

[freeze]

Slight in and out play is normal but up/down/side is not.

How has it been driving so far?

[uriedog]

well I only took it for a short test drive. But it seemed fine. I can't find any good exoploded view of the diff or any description of how the shaft is supported.

[aristo-crat]

Whats the diff code on your vin?

[uriedog]

G255

[Stuwy123]

Have you looked at the service manual?
http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-buchanan/93fsm/suspensionandaxle/23disassem.pdf

I'm jealous that you have LSD (limited slip differentials, of course).

[uriedog]

thanks that helps a little.still does not tell me the caracteristics of the diff. Like from looking at the drawings the only way that the side shaft could move is if the end was snapped. It all works fine. That side bearing could be messed, although there should be bits of crap on the magnet or grinding when in use. I guess I can just drive it for now and get it rebuilt if anymore vibration starts, or oil start pouring out of it. With the new CV axle in there it seems fine. I did read somewhere that some lateral play in the shaft is normal, just can't seem to find it again so I can explore it more. Kinda hope that one of the toyota tech's on here would bee a differential guru. I don't know any shops here. And the guys that I have talked to won't tell me anything. they all just want me to bring it in.

[uriedog]

well took it out to the Ghost yesterday and pounded the crap out of it. Still seems fine. and no bad sounds. Guess I'll assume its OK. Or I can just keep pounding it until I bust it and then I am forced to rebuild. LOL

[freeze]

haha... science...