I hate to admit it, but I have been neglecting my 4Runner lately... So far what I have been fixing has been basic like brakes, tune-up, etc. But while messing with everything I noticed that while jacked up and off the ground if I grab hold of the tire/wheel I can shake it left and right and not up and down. Is this normal or do I have something else needing replaced?

 

maybe ball joints or wheelbearings

 

I could see ball joints being a possibility. I just had the driver side wheel bearing replaced in January, and the shop said the passenger side was fine at the time.

Oh ya... Probably important to mention that from one side or the other (possibly both) I have this high pitched squeak. The odd part is that the sound doesn't change as the speed of the vehicle increases, and seems to be worse if I'm turning.

 

side to side would prob be tie-rod ends, steering rack, or steering rack bushings

assuming front wheel

 

yup, right on the money. Ball joints are typically a loose up and down motion. Now the best thing to do is to safely identify the part that is the issue. You want to have someone shake the tire from side to side while you are underneath feeling and listenting for a clunk. If the clunk is in the boot which connects the inner tie rod and rack, slide the boot out of the way and look for play within the rack and at the inner tie rod and rack connection. And check your outer tie rods for wear and play.

 

Take your truck to a good honest alignment shop, talk to the tech and tell him you truck's life story while he inspects it. If you have any problems he will not be able to alignment the truck until they are fixed and he should tell you what that is. Then you can take you truck off the lift and fix it, and if you are lucky they will not charge you in anticipation for you to return and pay for an alignment.

If the squeak is only when the suspension flexes on a nearly flat road then you may have the same problem i have...bent frame. My sway bar is hitting something in the front suspension and was squeaking so bad that i took off.
see my thread...https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...oblems-139802/