Can anyone lend advice about my front end creak?
I bought this truck only a few months ago and about 4K ago
its a 1986 4x4 pick-up
when I bought it all of the front joints were pretty dry, especially the lower ball joints looked neglected for grease. No boots torn, and tie rods don't seem bad or at least no wiggle.

I pried underneath and saw deflection in the lower ball joints
I replaced both lowers and at the same time repacked the wheel bearings and replaced both inner bearings&races/seals
(the upper ball joints didn't show any deflection)
this helped a tiny bit

when I turn the wheel at a stand still there is quite a creak or groan coming from the front end.

So last night I decided to replace both upper ball joints thinking that this might be the source of the groaning sound.

Again it "may?" be a tiny bit better, but the groaning sound is still there.

I've also noticed that the front tires are cutting the inside and outside edge in a feather pattern in the 4,000 miles I've put on it in the last few months.


So... I guess the tire rod ends are left and the Pitman ?
what do I need to replace next before I go to the alignment shop? What causes this groaning sound?

Thanks a million in advance
I'm pretty new to all of this and the site has REALLY really helped. Folks have been very kind and helpful!

brant

 

Both of my trucks do that same sound, and one on another truck I had. I just come to think it part of owning a Toyota. Maybe Im wrong and need to see if there is a fix for it. I will be following this thread.

 

Are your bump stops there? My 86 made a similar noise, both sides had missing bump stops. I replaced those and the sound went away

 

Friend turns wheel while you pinpoint noise. Repair.

:wabbit2:

 

You need a groan stopper! http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/198...olt_cover.html

This is a very common noise with these trucks.

 

x99999 plastic cover on steering stops or the lack thereof. There is 4 of them BTW.

 

wow...
I thought you were joking about the "groan stopper"

a couple of clarification questions:
1)duder, the link shows 2 seperate listings with the same part number. Why?
2) xxxtreme22r, are the plastic steering stops in addition to the groan stopper?
3) how many groan stopper covers do I need to order
4) where are these bolts again? I'll crawl under and look when I get home.

thanks guys!
brant

 

They are saying it fits standard and extended cab pickups. Not sure why they have it listed separately.

 

nope same thing as posted. I forget where, but someone on here I think bought a complete set that might be cheaper then the above posted, search steering stops and you should be able to find it.

 

Thank you
how many do I need to order
brant

 

4 I believe.

 

i just put a bit of grease on the stops. works for most of the year, and any time i lube the drive shaft, i go ahead and lube the stops

 

oops..
I type too slowly

4 of them then
I'll do a search
thank you a ton!

brant

 

I'll see if I can't find that post I am talking about as well.

 

*Edit - haha posted and there were a million replies already.

 

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...squeak-229440/

 

Dang, you guys are fast
I found it too and got back here to see all of the updates

I read a couple of other threads
one thing I picked up on
the steering stops are only in contact at full lock

my groaning problem is not at full lock

while the truck is sitting still (running) on the drive way
it groans in each direction as I turn the wheel...
it groans all of the way from center- to full stop

new belt on the power steering... and not a belt squeek anyways
I can shut the truck off and still hear the groan.
I've had it on jack stands and turned the steering by hand and also hear the groaning or creaking...


its hard (for me) to tell where it is coming from
honesly it sounded like the right lower ball joint
but after replacing the lowers the sound didn't go away

would the pitman joint squeek?

I thought the tire wear might be a clue... but am not sure what type of wear ball joints would cause.

brant

 

ok that's a whole different ball game. Most common sounds there would be CV axles (not the case here as that would do it while moving) and Idler arm. If you get an idler arm, get the autozone FA-5040, it's listed for a different truck but it's 100% bolt on and an overall better unit. If it's on the passenger side this could very well be the case.

 

the sound is on the passenger side

time to go shopping it seems
thanks for the autozone tip!

brant