Needle Bearing?????

22 SR5 80k miles. Lifted with Toyo AT3s

I feel a vibration in the floor board between speeds 35-50 have brought it to toyoyoa twice. First time, they replaced the differential and passenger wheel bearing. Still felt the vibration. I take it back and this time they said I need new front tires because there was some cupping. OK, replaced the two front wheels, OEM LOCAs and alignment. Had to replace the LCAs because the camber bolt was seized. So now I am about $2,700 and still feel it in the floorboard. I feel it is the needle bearing but not sure what the symptoms would be. Toyota is looking at it again next Tuesday is my appointment

Any thoughts would be appreciated

 

If it goes away in 4WD most likely.

 

As others will point out, if it is your needle bearing the only permanent fix is to replace it with an ECGS bushing. And as Dillusion said, next time you feel it put it in 4H and see if it goes away.

 

If you already got the diff replaced for the bearing sound, that will give you an idea of how long the next one will last, assuming toyota changes it out again for you. But in reality, they could put a new bearing in and it could still make the sound immediately.

If you ask me, it’s not worth the hassle. Change it out for a ECGS bushing. Or do like me and keep your 4runner dirty, let your tires get loud, and enjoy the womp womp womp lol.

 

my wife and i swear we heard this sound BEFORE we did the lift/tires - even at like 20k miles.

 

I also would like to know if you've tried shifting to 4H when the vibration is happening, and if so, does the vibration go away? It's an almost foolproof way of knowing it's the needle bearing.

 

Its not only after the lift when it happens.

My Tacoma started making noise at 30k no lift.

Did the ECGS and been quiet since.

 

My 2013 has started exhibiting the symptoms of this. I thought I lucked out and got away with it, but a few thousand miles ago, around 190k, it started making the vibration from the 35 to 55 range.

I haven't confirmed it by putting it in 4wd at speed yet, quite frankly, with almost 200k miles, I'm afraid to do that and potentially damage something else. Probably being overcautious.

I was planning on getting the ECGS done anyway as preventative, there's an off-road shop about an hour away from me that does this, they charge $399 including parts and front diff flush. I feel like that's a decent price.

 

You found a shop that will do (and has done before) the ECGS bushing swap? That's pretty good to have on hand. I'd take that over DIY, personally.

 

Yeah, they're an off-road shop, they actually list it as one of the services that they perform. I have a bunch of suspension parts I haven't had time to install, I might check with them how much labor on that is too.

 

Confirmed the noise goes away when we put it in 4H

 

No. The diff replacement was another problem. It also included adding a damper. The needle bearing wasn’t replaced. They replaced a wheel bearing at the same time as the diff

 

Needle bearing is in the diff.

If they changed the whole diff you got another needle bearing but same issue happens.

 

I got a differential carrier assembly is what my receipt shows. Part 41110-35A92. Does that include the needle bearing?

 

Mine was bad pretty much brand new. I noticed it a week or two into having the 4Runner. Warmer weather seemed to quiet it down. The second winter, I noticed it again and ended up getting a new front differential.

 

Not always. My front diff was replaced over 100K miles ago and the issue hasn't returned.

Edit: that said, I haven't heard any complaints from anyone who went to the ECGS bushing.

 

I would guess that the carrier includes the needle bearing. Too much work and room for error if they had to do it while installing it.

If the sound / vibration went away in 4wd, do the ECGS bushing swap. Makes a world of difference.

 

I have done it both on the taco and the 4R. I can tell a big difference on the taco and there are no vibration issues, but at 60mph on the 4R I still have a little play, the only way this play goes is by constantly rotating the tires and doing the road force balancing thing. I say the moment we start lifting our vehicles, we just create too many different angles and gaps so things will shift eventually. ECGS bushing is a good product I think.

 

OP, you should replace rotors, pads & ECGS needle bearing & buy the ECGS seal. Maybe new tires if thats coming. Thats what I did & it worked for me. I did caliper rebuilds too. Mount, balance, alignment & the vibes were gone. It was amazing afterwards - night & day

 

The Car Care Nut (TCCN) is 5 minutes from my house. Im going to call and see if he installs the ECGS. By the way, he really is a nice guy

 

yeah, i asked a friend who is a toyota mechanic and he said the needle bearing IS included in the differential carrier assembly

 

Thanks but yeah, all that has been replaced - pads/rotors/tires/OEM LCAs/alignment. i didn't need new LCAs but the camber bolt was seized and I couldn't get an alignment that I really needed. I just put on Toyo AT3s and at $330 a tire i wasnt going to have them eaten up by it being out of alignment

 

So, just a general question regarding this issue...if your partial VIN is listed as a vehicle that could be affected, should we just replace with the ECGS bushing proactively? Is it eventually going to be an issue regardless of model year, mileage, lift/no lift...? The TSB covers the issue for 60 months or 60,000 miles. Thanks.

 

The problem is that Toyota wont do it. The new differential carrier assembly comes with a new needle bearing. I have the 7/100000 coverage from it being certified used. They replaced the diff assembly and a wheel bearing under warranty. It would have cost me 6k. I am so glad we took it in

 

I just got off the phone with the local Toyota service department. They won't replace with a new front differential, but they will install the bushing under the TSB. Mine's a 2021 with 58,000+ miles, so taking it in soon.

 

you need to describe the problem to the dealership as its written in the TSB. Thats what i did and they replaced the differential and installed the damper as well. They didnt even do a test drive. They just said, yeap its the differential. That is like 6k to get fixed, its worth pushing the discussion

 

Thanks @morfdq I will do just that and report back once serviced.

 

No problem. I mean literally describe the problem as its written and even say i saw there is a TSB on this groaning noise. Also, bring notes like write out exactly what it says in the TSB and tell the advisor you want the mechanic to see your notes. At my toyota dealership (i am sure its the same) the advisor snapped a picture of my notes and the technician could then read my notes.

 

Are you sure they said they would install the bushing, and not a new needle bearing?