My 90 4runner will make a loud pop at full lock. It's not the cv (sounds different and I have the hubs unlocked). Has anyone else had this problem?

Steering stops?

If it is only happening at full lock then yes, steering stops indeed. You can look at the stops and bolt heads and see that they have made contact, if so either grab some "groan stoppers" from partsgeek or smear some heavy grease on there to quiet it down.

3rd vote for steering stops. You can throw some grease on them to shut them up for now.

If the above replays are correct and I is the steering stops I second the OPs question with a new question. I have heard the popping or crackling noise that comes from the steering noise is not a sign of damage or distress to the truck. If I put grease on them or get some part to shut them up am I fixing a problem of am I just quieting down a normal noise? My dad seems to think this noise comes from all I our trucks new from the factory.

Assuming that the noise you are hearing is steering stops, it's not a sign of damage to the truck. Take a look at the backside of the steering knuckle and you'll see the little metal studs on there that are used to limit the steering motion - those came from the factory with little hard plastic caps on them. Those caps get old and fall off, and the metal stud rubs on the metal stopper and makes that godawful-oh-my-god-my-truck-just-fell-apart sound. A little grease will shut them up temporarily, or you can sometimes find a fellow on EBay making aftermarket steering stop caps that are supposed to work pretty good. If you grease them up and the sound doesn't change then steering stops aren't your problem.

1985-1995 Toyota 4Runner Groan Stopper Bolt Cover - Steering - Genuine 85-95 4Runner Groan Stopper Bolt Cover - 7908-01066171 - PartsGeek

I'm glad I read this thread. I've had the same thing, but only on the driver's side that I've noticed. I bought mine used so I assumed something was dry or worn out - even had a couple mechanics tell me the same thing, with no specifics.

I'm about to check it out. Thanks guys.

These are supposed to be better - 86 95 Toyota Pickup 4 Runner All T100 Steering Stops New Design | eBay - although I don't remember him charging quite that much for them! At that price, I'd be inclined to use the OEM caps too.

I actually found (2) OEM caps in stock at my local dealership for $5 a piece, so I picked those up. All four were still on my 4Runner, but the back ones were much more worn, and all four were only worn on the side. I put the new ones on the worst side, and for now I'm going to take my best used ones, turn them 1/2 a turn, put them on and run them until the new ones come in.

Wow, those do look nice. At that price I would rather make my own from Teflon blocks.

Sorry I forgot to reply to this thread turns out the little plastic caps are just gone on my truck