Its not a grind like worn out brake pads, more like my old datsun when the CV boot ripped and needed grease.

I took off the tire, didn't notice anything wrong. Rotated the tires, still there. Brake pads still have meat on them. Rotors looked fine, no gouges.

The sound is like wwwwrrrr wwrrrrrr wwwrrrrr. With the wheel spin, it makes the noise. Its just like when my old CV boots ripped and the grease all came out.

What should I check?

 

start reading about spindle bushings.
I had a similar issue and that what I was told to do.
It made sense with my issue.
Just a suggestion.

 

I believe that Toyota no longer put spindle bushings in by 97, I may be wrong but I think they eliminated them in the early 90's.

OP, sounds like you could have a bad wheel bearing, does the sound change when cornering? It may sound like a lot of work, but if you remove the wheel, brake and rotor and turn the hub by hand you should be able to feel if it is rough or not.

 

My 94 has spindle bushings, and I've had to grease them..
James may be right about yours tho

 

Thanks guys,
Can someone confirm that 97s do or do not have spindle bearings? Most of the threads about them here are for 80s and early 90s trucks. Are there other type of bearings that might need lube?

 

Looks like they changed the design on the 3rd gen 4runners, some info here...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-ge...l-bearing.html

I've never dealt with those..

 

Thanks Theoi