Hi all,
I've noticed a few times lately that when I enter a driveway (generally a left turn into the driveway) that I get a weird grumbling/grinding noise and sensation from the rear left as the wheel hits the driveway. It feels a bit like 'crabbing' in an older permanent 4WD vehicle if you've ever experienced it, or a bit like the rear brake is being activated (with ABS triggering). It isn't all the time, though it's generally repeatable if I want it to happen.
Turning VDC off seems to minimise/eliminate it, so I've been wondering if it's not related to the VDC/ABS system. There's no error codes in the ECU (and haven't been for ages).
As I understand it, the R180 diff is in the post-FL GT Spec.Bs, but has an open centre (or so I thought, so I shouldn't be getting lock-up behaviours). I never experienced anything like this in earlier 4Gen GTs or my 3Gen RX Liberty.
The other thing I've been wondering about is whether it's related to the auto gearbox and centre diff, or perhaps the rear diff. The box has 92,000km on it, I was considering having it serviced at the next full service (fluid drained, filter replaced, etc), and I do have a set of needle bearings that need to go into the centre dif anyway.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal in a post-FL auto GT Spec.B, or do I need to be worried?