2017 4runner, 39k miles. Toytec springs with Bilstein shocks and JDA upper control arms and diff drop kit. 285 70 17 Kumho AT. 3" lift at 9k miles but has settled after sometime so its like 2-2.5" lift right now.

I had the steering wheel vibration, feeling like driver side front while on the highway so i got my tires balanced. After balancing i still had an issue so i took it to another shop that was known for good balancing. While lifted from the frame with both front tires hanging and suspensions at full drop, a technician called be into the back and said it was my CV axle. He would spin the passenger side freely very easy and everything rolled smooth. The driver side took some muscle to spin and he pointed out the upper control arm had movement up and down and would feel like the CV axle would bind while turning wheel. He said bad CV axle. Video of driver side with front end hanging on both sides showing movement up and down and noise as well, in 2WD:

August 29, 2023 - YouTube

I replaced the CV axle and brought it back into the shop and same issue. Same technician said something wrong with CV axle still. I told him i replaced it, so he said i must have done something wrong or defective new CV axle, or my lift was installed wrong. I told him the suspension is at full drop so that could be the reason? He said the passenger side doesn't do that at full drop, I agreed and told him i would look into it more. He didn't want to try to balance with the play in the video because he was sure it was something in the suspension.

I tried to go from 2WD into 4WD HIGH and the vibration is the same from 40-55 MPH thinking it might be the needle bearing. When i got home i lifted the driver side from the lower control arm and the spin was smooth with no movement up and down on the upper control arm like when suspension was at full drop. Video of area jacked from lower control arm, in 2WD:

August 29, 2023 - YouTube

Is it normal to have the driver side bind/more difficult to turn when at full drop? When on the ground the CV axle does have play up and down thinking it might be needling bearings but wanted to get on here to see if anyone might know. I didn't know about the needling bearing till after i installed the new CV but thinking i should order the ECGS Bushing. Any insight would be very apricated.

Thanks all.

FWIW - doesn't sound like a needle bearing. Needle bearing isn't spinning in 4wd. Normally the noise goes away when you engage 4wd.