When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Honestly, the grinding is the locking collar hitting the hub once in a while. You won’t do any major damage if corrected promptly. Mine have been grinding on and off for the past few months until I finally fixed it a few weeks ago. The hub was perfectly fine. Here’s what my hub actuators looked like.
I ended up replacing both hub actuators, check valve and solenoid. Thankfully it’s been fine since.
I honestly think nothing was wrong with any part of my truck expect the actuators. I ended up replacing the other stuff since it was cheap.
The system is vacuum operated. In two-wheel-drive mode, a vacuum is applied to withdraw the clutch ring from the wheel hub coupler, completely separating the axle shaft from the wheel end. This avoids “back driving” the axle shafts, resulting in less wear and drag and slightly improved fuel economy. In four-wheel-drive mode the vacuum is shut off, the clutch ring engages the wheel hub coupler, and the axle shaft and hub are locked together to provide the necessary additional traction.
Thanks so much! Commonly failed part? I read alot about them on here.
I just got my 18 and left a Tacoma. Was amazed at how quick the 4wd engaged and how quiet the system is comparatively
Originally Posted by caperj
Integrated wheel end
The system is vacuum operated. In two-wheel-drive mode, a vacuum is applied to withdraw the clutch ring from the wheel hub coupler, completely separating the axle shaft from the wheel end. This avoids “back driving” the axle shafts, resulting in less wear and drag and slightly improved fuel economy. In four-wheel-drive mode the vacuum is shut off, the clutch ring engages the wheel hub coupler, and the axle shaft and hub are locked together to provide the necessary additional traction.
The idea of the system is great. Every part of it was poorly executed with cheap plastic parts so it fails often. The good thing is that the entire system is like $200. For when it fails again out of warranty.....
