1989 Toyota Pickup Possible bent axle?

Tiny
POPMONCA
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 TOYOTA PICKUP
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 178,000 MILES
I have a reacurring vibration that I have tried to solve with balancing, new tires and rotation of wheels. It seems to be coming from rear. As I go down the road it may run really smooth but when I go thru a bend or turn and then straight again it will vibrate, Not huge, just sutble. Almost as if when I went thru the turn it got the 2 rear wheels into a different sync. I can go thru another turn and it might put them back into sync?

The strange thing that seems to have started about same time is the brakes get real fine chater marks on the after a while that causes them to set up a terrible sound when I am braking to a stop. Like the sound you hear on some big rigs when they stop. I have sanded the rims and brake shoe and that will stop it for a while.

I have inspected all the parts and cannot see visually any thing really out of the ordinary. I have thought of replacing hubs and shoe, or wheels or axles but that all could lead to great expense with out solving the problem.
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 9:54 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
May be aproblem with the rear diff itself. When you turn it makes the spider gears work, if there is something going out it may cause them to hang up and cause a fine vibration
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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
POPMONCA
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That's a though but the turn does not seem to increase, cause or diminish it necessarily. It only seems to change the conditions. When I straighten out the vibration continues and when I turn again and straighten out it may stop. It seems to be that the turn just change things. Knowing that the wheels turn at a different rate during the turn and thus change the position in relationship to each other makes me suspect the bent axles or something else that is affected by this. It seems that if it were spider gears, or bearing etc, that the condition would persist under the same conditions each time, such as putting side or lateral pressure on them in a curve and taking it off going straight or thrust on them during acceleration or deceleration. On and on.

Do you know any way to check the axles for being true to specs? Or a way to isolate the problem as the spider gears? And would any of this cause the brake shoes to become chatter marked?
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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
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Best way would be to use a dial indicator mounted on the axle housing to see what kind of run-out you have on the axle face and top edge. Where the drums surfaced? I only ask because a rough cut can cause strange wear and characteristics
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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
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I have never had the drums turned since I have own the truck, about ten years. I think they are original. I will probably do what you say to check the run out first and then if that checks out replace the drums and shoes?
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 9:39 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
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Depending on their condition. Be sure the shoes arent adjusted too tight, that will make them grabby
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 9:43 AM

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