I have a 1995 4runner with manual hubs. The front driver side wheel has made some noises/rubbing for a while and they've been progressively getting worse. I got stuck in a mud hole and my whole front end up to the differential was covered in mud, after that it drove fine for about a week but now when i brake hard theres a terrible grinding noise that shakes the whole truck and pulls it to the side and shakes the steering wheel. I took the wheel off and the brake rotor was scratched up pretty bad while the other side was smooth. I cleaned out the mud pretty good(i think) out of the brakes but it still makes the noise and vibration. If I lightly brake it doesnt do it, and i have manual hubs so i dont think its the CV. Any ideas?

 

How does the brake pads look ? It sounds like a pad sheared off or the pads a wore out.

 

Didnt really look too close at them, but from what i did see the one pad did look worse/different than the other. Ill take a closer look tomorrow

 

I say replace the pads and post some pics of the rotor if you can. Sounds like you may have to break down and have it machined or buy a new one.

 

Also, it does make a rubbing noise when moving even without braking.

 

Mine just started doing the exact same thing. I think mine is from losing a weight on that tire. If I was you I would make sure that you still have weights attached to that rim. Im pretty sure a unbalanced tire could cause this issue.

Also try jacking up the front end and spinning the tire and listening for where the sounds coming from

 

Well one brake pad didnt have any pad left so it was rubbing metal on the rotor, scratched it up pretty good. I think the wheel bearing is also bad, theres a noise when i spin the wheel.

 

don't see wheel bearings go bad often at such low mileage...unless you got a ton of mud in there somehow. if it's mostly when you brake suspect warped rotors. easy fix. change the pads first and see if it gets better. if not, take off the rotor and have it machined, then repack the wheel bearing while you're at it.

 

Well it makes a noise anytime the wheel spins whiich is why i think its the bearing. And there is a very good chance there is a ton of mud in there because all of my brakes and everything in the area were caked in mud, they went completely in mud when i got stuck a week ago. But im changing the pads soon so ill go from there. Thanks

 

good luck. the aisin hubs are usually pretty leak-proof. a messed up rotor/caliper/pad would also make noise, the rotor is still passing in between the pads when you spin the wheel.

 

it made the noise without the pads on, thats why i dont think its the rotor.

 

Sounds like your caliper was sticking causing the uneven pad wear, and probably warped the rotor causing the shaking, and pull. try lubing all the moving caliper parts, changing the hardware or replace the caliper.

 

Just looked at it again, it makes the noise only when I rotate the wheel forward, not really any noise moving it backwards

 

It might be mud or debris between the rotor and dust shield.