Asha'man

Just in the last few days, my rig has started to make a creaking or rubbing noise when I turn the wheel at a standstill, like turning after backing out of a parking space. Anything in particular I should be looking at? I really don't know the steering system on these rigs very well yet so point me in a direction I should go.

abecedarian

when turning the steering wheel, the front wheels are being dragged through an arc as the steering components move. you may be hearing noise from the tires on the ground. also, you may be hearing creaking from the ball joints or tie-rod ends. and worse case, you're hearing the steering box and / or steering pump complain about the pressure.
a flush and fill with ATF may help you isolate the pump and steering box as causes of the noise- if it gets quiet after that, you know it was old fluid causing it.

*edit- if it's more of a groaning than a sqeaking/creaking, it could be the pump or steering box. if it's a high pitched squeek or creak, it may be dry suspension components like I mentioned.

iamsuperbleeder

aw man, and I thought this was gunna be a nuB thread and I was gunna bust right out with the ol steering stops... but seeing that you have over 800 posts, I'm pretty sure you know the story on those...

lol

but yeah, sounds like dried up and shot tie-rod ends, balljoints, idler arm, maybe a combination of more than one of those things...

ToyoJayABQ

I feel your pain. My truck does the same thing... snap crackle.. pop... as I make turns in either direction. I lubed up the steering components and changed fluid... still snap crackle pop... Thinking its a good enough excuse to perform some surgery for crossover steering.

a4runnerfreak

Steering linkage might be loose, steering system joints may be worn, or the steering gear might be out of adjustment or broken. Along with what both Abe and 'Superbleeder suggested