vermontoyota

Hey,

I've had some muffled noise coming from my front left wheel well when the steering wheel is turned one full rotation to the left (only to the left). It at first just sounded like rubbing from my 32"s under stock susp.

It has gotten progressively worse. It is not the pop-pop-pop-pop-pop of a CV joint (at least it doesn't sound like failing CVs I have heard). It is also not the constant grinding of a hub or bearing (again, at least not like hubs I've heard).

The sound is more like a gra-gra-gra-gra-gra. Grinding to some extent but not constant, oscillating. As of last night it did it a few times when turned to the right (very seldom) but this sounded like hail on a tin roof. Much higher pitched and pingy.

My pitman arms have had some play since I got the truck in april. I can easily move the tie-rod (at ball joint with kuckler arm) when parked, but it seams like this should move easily.

Forgive my ignorance. I did a search, mystery noise searches never seam to turn up much. I truly appreciate the great info i've gotten from this forum and hope to get some insight on this. You guys have kept my truck out of the shop many times and saved me hundreds.

Thanks in advance
Ben

Jay351

Get a friend to turn the wheel lock to lock slowley. Watch for anywhere that the tire becomes close to the body or anything.

Check the front end while you're at it.

Idler arm - Get friend to get in truck, turn wheel side to side. Watch for any up/down movement of the idler arm.

Tie rods - Watch for excess play

Pitman arm - same as idler....

Wheelbearings - Jack up wheel, grab at 2 and 7 oclock posistion and try to wiggle the wheel/hub assembly.

iamsuperbleeder

well Jay hit the nail on the head as far as dianosing the problem


I'd put my money on bearings

vermontoyota

Should I have the friend drive the truck or can he turn it lock to lock while stationary?

hope its not bearings... seems like something tough to do...

iamsuperbleeder

just turn it side to side stationary; how are you going to look at the steering linkage closely while the truck's moving down the road?


the bearings are "involved", but not really that difficult

vermontoyota

well i tried to last week, didn't work well. I had him drive in a circle, nearly full lock while I back peddled trying to eye something out of wack... again- did not work well.

thanks guys

Marc

Are you sure it's not the steering stops that need greasing?

Jay351

If he is only turning the steering wheel one rotation, he shouldnt be at full lock, I would think....

Keith B.

This is the first thing I thought of, although I've found that grease never fixes it on mine...the grease just attracts sand and gravel which only increases the wear on the plastic covers...I have to replace the the little knuckle-stop covers with fresh ones...order a bunch from one of the discount on-line dealers.

vermontoyota

it is definitely not at full lock, just a rotation

vermontoyota

hey,

I didn't lift it up yet and have a friend turn the wheel. The reason I didn't do it is because I went over to my buddy's house before he got home so I took a few laps through his field and ripped through a mud pit a few times. This obviously required 4wd (with my tires anyway) so I locked in and then locked out when I parked it. Now its not making nearly as much noise so I got lazy and didn't check it out. So if it IS hubs (kinda looks like it) do you think by spinning them they got a little lubricated?

I had some noises this winter when locked (not related to turning, just a muffled 'wahhhhmmm waaahhhhmmm waaahhhhm" at low speed immediately after locking in but going away)- and people on the forum said it was probably dry hubs. I checked out a hub luber someone on here made that looked great but never built it. Maybe its time to lube em??? Or is damage already done?