QuestionQUESTION: I recently bought a 1989 toyota pickup 4x4. The transmission makes a whining noise in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th gear but no noise in 4th gear. Could you please tell me what the problem might be?
ANSWER: The reason there is no noise in 4th gear is that the transmission is in it's 1:1 gear ratio with no other gears involved, the input and output shafts are turning at the same speed and no gear reduction is used at that time. In all other gears the power is transferred through the countershaft gears, that's where the problem is, in most cases the countershaft bearings are worn which will need disassembly of the transmission to replace the worn bearings and gears and synchronizer rings, in other words a transmission overhaul. This can be very expensive approaching $2,000. I would recommend trying to find a used transmission from a salvage yard.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: How long do you think I can drive it this way? Will it give me a little bit of a pre warning before I get stranded with it? Thanks again
ANSWER: If you don't mind the noise it can be driven for quite a while as long as it has oil in it. The noise would have to get real loud before total transmission failure would happen.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi again, on this same truck I tried taking the front wheels off to replace the front brake pads. I took the lug nuts off and the wheel still wouldnt come off. This is the first time I ever tried to take front wheels off a 4x4. Do I have to take the hub assembly for the 4x4 apart?
AnswerThe wheels are probably just stuck to the hub because of rust, get some rust penetrant in a spray can and spray it on the hub area, wait a while and keep repeating spraying it on, try tapping on the wheel from the inside, there is nothing else that holds the wheels on.
