Anyone care to take a crack as too what is causing this noise.


YouTube - 100_2468.MOV



The noise only occurs when turning the wheel left too right and when going over bumps. All the fluid levels are normal nor are there any leaks.

This is my only guess as too what is causing the noise.

 

Most likely your ball joints (the bottom arrow in your picture). It could possibly be outer tie rod ends, but they typically only make this noise when steering.

 

Stop doing that and the noise will go away...

 

Wish it was that easy.



Just to clarify it makes that noise while the vehicle is in motion turning the wheel left to right and while going over bumps.

 

Well, I took the 4runner in this morning before work to have it checked out.

According to the tech the outer tie rod end needs to be replaced and that the steering gear/rack n pinion has excessive play.

The tie rod I believe since it looks like crap compared to the other side but the whole steering gear/rack n pinion I have a hard time with believing . How do you even tell if that is bad?? I'm not going to do anything about that until I get some one elses opinion.

Nothing was said about the ball joint.



Went ahead and bought a new outer tie rod. Looking at the repair manual it says that you need a separtor to feel the joint loose. Do you really need or can you just tap it lightly with a hammer unit it comes loose? Do you need an alignment after replacing it?

 

grease the fittings and see if it goes away..

 

I wouldn't just do one. I would do everything while you're down there.

 

Well, the lower ball joint was a part of the problem ($250 for parts, labor and alignment). The one noise is now gone.

However, the second shop that I took it too confirmed the first shops diagnoses that they steering rack has excessive play in it.

My 4runner now has a nice metal on metal contact sound to it. So the search is on for a new steering rack.

 

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum...d.php?t=157903

 

Do you know if the excessive play has damaged the oil seals? Maybe it did and there really IS metal to metal contact, but I'm guessing that you checked the P/S fluid right off the bat to know if any fluid had been lost

 

Yep, that was the first thing I checked.

 

Nice!

I know too many people that have neglected P/S noises and by the time they realize the fluid is low or empty, its to late! Good luck on fixing that rack!

 

Don't have UCAs do you? Pay $172 for OEM LBJ's and do them yourself, it's not hard. Outer tie rods are also around $40, and grab a harbor freight pitman arm remover for $10 and you're golden. May as well replace the steering rack bushings from wheelersoffroad. That should help with your play issues.

Awesome link Yukon, i'll have to pull mine out and check, thanks!