Bobs4Runner

While I am slowing and applying the brakes like at a stop sign or an intersection, I feel a metal to metal type grinding feeling/noise coming from the front left tire. I pulled both front brakes apart and they pads look good and there are no signs of wear on the rotors.

While I had the front end apart I looked at the CV joints and did find a pin size hole (well a tiny bit bigger) in the top ridge of the inner cv boot. There is a small amount of grease on there, but no other place, like its being flung out.

I did a search and found a few that talk about this. So I have it narrowed down to a brake issue somewhere or the CV needs replaced.

How hard/much is a CV replacement on a 97 limited?

Bob

Bobs4Runner

TTT

Anyone?

clydehatchet

if its only when you apply the brakes, it sounds like a brake problem. pads may LOOK ok, but they could be worn down to the wear indicators. pads are not very much, just throw some more on and take the rotors and have them turned for like 10 bucks. as far as the cv goes, a pin hole would have nothing to do with a grinding noise only when brakes are applied, but it needs to be addressed before all your grease disappears and your cv fails. be prepared to spend around 100 bucks for a new cv and dont waste your time with a boot kit. installation shouldn't be too bad since you have a sealed hub assembly, its just everything else you have to take off to get it out. happy trails!

yotamudking8

check ur wheel bearings mine was doing that when i blew my left inner and outter wheel bearings

Bobs4Runner

Yotamudking8: dumb question...how do you check wheel bearings?

Clyde: I took all the brakes apart and looked over them. There not warn to the indicators yet. I just replaced them 5k ago.

Bob

yotamudking8

Your wheel bearings are inside of your rotor. If you take off your hubs and theres metal shavings all in the grease then your wheel bearings are shot

Ironmike4x4

I suspect one of 2 things. You've got some sort of debris trapped in the pads themselves such as sand or metal. I've had a few of those before or as yota says you may have a problem with the wheel bearing. To check the wheel bearing you can raise the front of vehicle and shake the tire back and forth from top to bottom. If nothing there I'd suggest finding a buddy that works in a shop and raise the vehicle up to get all 4 tires off the ground. Assuming you have 4wd engage 4wheel drive and slowly apply the brakes. Get a mechanic's stethoscope and carefully poke around the affected noise area.

yotamudking8

I agree with ironmike

Bobs4Runner

I've pulled the pads out and cleaned them off, cleaned out the calipers and no debris.

I noticed something last night on my way home. As I was making a long loop left to get onto the interstate I felt a rubbing/grinding coming from the left tire area. Does this indicate wheel bearings? If so, how hard is this to replace?

Bob

yotamudking8

It could indicate that and there not that hard I did both sides inner and outter bearings in a hour. But you have to have the rear bearings pressed in and sealed.

Bobs4Runner

Thanks Yota. Is there a write-up somewhere?

Bobs4Runner

Anyone? I need to get this done soon. Its slowly getting worse.

Ironmike4x4

Dang it I can't believe I forgot the trick my old Master Tech taught me about wheel bearings... you can drive on a straight road then swish the wheels left and right. When there is load on the wheel then you will hear a grinding noise from the failed bearing. I.E. if you turn right and you hear a noise then it will be the left bearing failing and vise versa

Link below will get you close but it's not the actual hub removal. Looks to me like it's supposed to be pressed out but I do not have access to ALLDATA to find out for sure.
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/cv_axle/

Bobs4Runner

Thanks iron. I'm starting to believe that it is the wheel bearing. It's now grinding on slow stops going straight. Also made a wierd clunk sound (from the left side) making a right and hit a bump.

Bob