When I turn the wheel on my 89 4runner, it makes this grinding noise from just behind the steering wheel. It doesnt really feel ratchety but it is kinda loud and annoying. Is there a bearing in there? Anyone ever had this problem? Just got the truck and love it! Thanks.

 

I don't know about the '89, but my '87 truck did the same thing and so I took the steering column apart and found that a small, spring loaded, brass plunger maintained contact with a track around the column and allowed the horn to make continuous contact. I noticed that the plunger was worn down and that it did not make contact at every point as the wheel was turned so I went ahead and cleaned up all of the dust (tiny metal shavings) and installed a new brass plunger and put it all back together. Will take you less than an hour IF your '89 has the same setup.
So the noise may be that brass looking contact moving on the track.

 

Cool I was planning on taking it apart tomorrow, thanks for the reply.

 

i had a similar thing on my '89. it turned out to be the part that resets the turn signal when you straighten the wheel. there's plastic ring that ratchets against the turn signal stalk. i guess the plastic started to wear after some time and started the grinding sound while turning. i just sprayed some silicone spray right where the stalk hits the other plastic. it lasts about a year or so and then i spray it again.

 

Mine had the sme problem. When I had it apart I slapped some dielectric grease on there to quiet it.

 

I have the same noise and learned to live with it,but I'll try that silicon spray fix. What do you have to remove to do that?

 

you don't need to take anything off. if you look in the side where the turn signal stalk goes in, you can see where the stalk and the ratchet meet. just spray some silicone spray (or your favorite lubricant that doesn't react with plastic) on the white ratchet part. i turn the steering wheel while doing it so that i can spread out the lubricant everywhere.

 

Same with my old Camry - I put some bearing grease on it & never had the problem again

 

Thanks I'll try that