Creaking noise coming from drivers side suspension

[Silver.T4R]

Hi all,
I recently noticed a creaking/squealing noise coming from the front driver's side suspension on my truck and am at a loss as to what this is. It only happens within the first 1/2inch of turning the steering wheel in either direction and when going in and out; aswell as occasionally when braking and turning, though I haven't noticed it on bumps at all. I took it into my mechanic who recommended greasing the LBJ and UBJ with grease gun and needle however that didn't fix it. I also tried greasing the the upper and lower control arm bushings aswell as the sway bar end links to no avail and have no idea what this is at this point.

Heres a link to a video of the noise/shows where it happens when turning the wheel: YouTube

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[spartacus]

Hi all,
I recently noticed a creaking/squealing noise coming from the front driver's side suspension on my truck and am at a loss as to what this is. It only happens within the first 1/2inch of turning the steering wheel in either direction and when going in and out; aswell as occasionally when braking and turning, though I haven't noticed it on bumps at all. I took it into my mechanic who recommended greasing the LBJ and UBJ with grease gun and needle however that didn't fix it. I also tried greasing the the upper and lower control arm bushings aswell as the sway bar end links to no avail and have no idea what this is at this point.

Heres a link to a video of the noise/shows where it happens when turning the wheel: YouTube

Any help would be much appreciated!

I had similar creaking hitting bumps mine ended up being the UCA bushings that I greased with silicone spray. check your rack and pinion bushing and sway bar bushings and in some rare situations culprit could be the lbj itself.

 

[Wedgy]

Mine was a sway bar end link, unfortunately I found it AFTER replacing other parts.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I have this exact problem. Haven’t figured it out yet. My mechanic friend said it could be the lower ball joint. He crawled under the Toy wile l slightly wiggled the steering wheel and thinks that’s where the noise is coming from.


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[Silver.T4R]

Thanks for the replys guys, I jacked the truck up today and wiggled the wheels to check for play in the LBJ, though I didn't notice any. I had my dad turn the wheels back and forth though and it sounded like the creaking was coming from the LBJ, could the ball joint be bad without any play in it? I still need to try using the silicon spray and will try to check that tommorow.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

My LBJ failure had a creaking noise like that too a couple months before it happened. The driver’s side let go the same day I noticed it was a nonstop noise, but prior to that it would come and go for some reason. If you can’t pinpoint the noise after getting under it while someone turns the wheel back and forth, I’d replace the LBJ’s to be safe.

 

[pluton]

Get an automotive stethoscope (cheap), or just place your hand or a long screwdriver on the ball joint....you should feel the creaking coming through the screwdriver handle.

 

[TRDORP2019]

Squeaky Front End

I had this issue for the last few months since I went to Pismo and it ended up being the hood latch. It was fixed by adjusting the rubber bumpers a little higher to raise the hood up slightly. Squeak fixed. Thank you forums!!!!!

 

[brookester]

My crossmembers on my frame were creaking. I shot some grease on it and it went away....for now.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

My drivers lower ball joint was also my problem.


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[Devbot]

Also having this problem. Had it for quite some time now and it's recently started to get weird. LBJs were replaced less than a year ago but I guess I'll give them a look anyways given the response.

It started a year ago and it would only happen when letting off the brake, would be an instant "click", and it sounded RIGHT by where I was sitting, so I assumed it was the little "vacuum switch module" or whatever it is right beyond the firewall directly in front of the driver. I even ran this by a coworker who's know as "the brakes guy" in local racing circles (does not own a 4Runner, just very knowledgeable) and he told me this DID sound possible due to things like bellows opening/closing and due to the brake booster - been a while and can't really remember but it sounded right at the time. After a couple months this slowly turned into a weird, almost metal-on-metal sound before the same click - sounded exactly like something rolling then hitting something (best way I could describe it, imagine a steel marble rolling a few inches then witting the wall inside a heavy steel box) - and now it would happen randomly at any point during braking. Stuck an borescope inside the from and didn't see anything loose.
FFW to 5-6 weeks ago and the noise no longer occurs while braking but when turning, does it both ways but more easily when turning left - not always, but taking a turn hard would trigger it more reliably than normal. Not sure when this occurred exactly but it wasn't after any front end work or the like. The "rolling sound" has now turned into a creak, still ending with the click. It no longer sounds beyond the firewall but almost under the door or something. As of last week, sometimes it'll be so sensitive just lightly turning the wheel left on the highway (like if you were slightly drifting over and corrected it) will trigger the creak for just a split second.
Not even sure where to start looking. It all started happening immediately after my lift, and since then I've replaced CVs, OTREs, LBJs, UCA/UBJs, brake lines, removed sway bar. Sometimes it went away but would eventually return, sometimes it didn't. Never got worse from any of that stuff either, just a steady decline on it's own. Any thoughts? Sorry it's a weird explanation but it's so hard to put into words and impossible to get a good video
Gonna regrease the UCA and check LBJs tomorrow and see where that goes

 

[TravThePro]

Also having this problem. Had it for quite some time now and it's recently started to get weird. LBJs were replaced less than a year ago but I guess I'll give them a look anyways given the response.

It started a year ago and it would only happen when letting off the brake, would be an instant "click", and it sounded RIGHT by where I was sitting, so I assumed it was the little "vacuum switch module" or whatever it is right beyond the firewall directly in front of the driver. I even ran this by a coworker who's know as "the brakes guy" in local racing circles (does not own a 4Runner, just very knowledgeable) and he told me this DID sound possible due to things like bellows opening/closing and due to the brake booster - been a while and can't really remember but it sounded right at the time. After a couple months this slowly turned into a weird, almost metal-on-metal sound before the same click - sounded exactly like something rolling then hitting something (best way I could describe it, imagine a steel marble rolling a few inches then witting the wall inside a heavy steel box) - and now it would happen randomly at any point during braking. Stuck an borescope inside the from and didn't see anything loose.
FFW to 5-6 weeks ago and the noise no longer occurs while braking but when turning, does it both ways but more easily when turning left - not always, but taking a turn hard would trigger it more reliably than normal. Not sure when this occurred exactly but it wasn't after any front end work or the like. The "rolling sound" has now turned into a creak, still ending with the click. It no longer sounds beyond the firewall but almost under the door or something. As of last week, sometimes it'll be so sensitive just lightly turning the wheel left on the highway (like if you were slightly drifting over and corrected it) will trigger the creak for just a split second.
Not even sure where to start looking. It all started happening immediately after my lift, and since then I've replaced CVs, OTREs, LBJs, UCA/UBJs, brake lines, removed sway bar. Sometimes it went away but would eventually return, sometimes it didn't. Never got worse from any of that stuff either, just a steady decline on it's own. Any thoughts? Sorry it's a weird explanation but it's so hard to put into words and impossible to get a good video
Gonna regrease the UCA and check LBJs tomorrow and see where that goes

This could definitely be the LCA bushings or steering rack bushings. Park the rig with the front tire against a curb, while the vehicle is running, and have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you look underneath for the source of the noise.

Even if the LCA bushings aren't the source, it should point you towards the issue if it's suspension/steering related.

 

[Devbot]

This could definitely be the LCA bushings or steering rack bushings. Park the rig with the front tire against a curb, while the vehicle is running, and have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you look underneath for the source of the noise.

Even if the LCA bushings aren't the source, it should point you towards the issue if it's suspension/steering related.

I forgot to mention it ONLY happens while moving, so getting under there while it happens isn't much of an option. LCA bushings are one of the very few things (like one of three things) I haven't replaced on the front end and they looked trashed, so I would not be surprised whatsoever. Been putting it off for a while cause I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about it but not long ago I saw Opt Offroad/EimKeith's reinforced LCAs and would LOVE an excuse to snag a pair

 

[TravThePro]

I forgot to mention it ONLY happens while moving, so getting under there while it happens isn't much of an option. LCA bushings are one of the very few things (like one of three things) I haven't replaced on the front end and they looked trashed, so I would not be surprised whatsoever. Been putting it off for a while cause I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about it but not long ago I saw Opt Offroad/EimKeith's reinforced LCAs and would LOVE an excuse to snag a pair

It's really clear when the LCA bushings go out, especially when doing the test I mentioned. I'd just give it a quick shot. If the LCA moves more than a very slight amount, the bushings are toast.

The LCA bushings were so shot on my 4Runner when I bought it that my steering wheel would turn 1/4 turn between braking and accelerating to go straight.

If you end up replacing them, don't go with any bushing other than Whiteline. I learned this by putting the trash Moog ones in and having a great time replacing them 6 months later.

 

[Devbot]

It's really clear when the LCA bushings go out, especially when doing the test I mentioned. I'd just give it a quick shot. If the LCA moves more than a very slight amount, the bushings are toast.

The LCA bushings were so shot on my 4Runner when I bought it that my steering wheel would turn 1/4 turn between braking and accelerating to go straight.

If you end up replacing them, don't go with any bushing other than Whiteline. I learned this by putting the trash Moog ones in and having a great time replacing them 6 months later.

I already planned on it, a big reason I wanted those arms is you can have them swap out the bushings for whitelines at cost. Does whiteline make steering rack bushings though? I think this might be the one thing I haven't seen them make, which would explain why it seems like everyone goes with energy suspension instead
Edit: found it! W12978

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Mine was easy to prove because I had lower ball joints that the PO put in and never greased.

I spun in zerc’s and cranked them full of grease and my noise went away and my steering got much easier.


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[HiLife]

Following:snacker:
I have 80k on my ubj's and lbj's. Creaking coming from around the passenger area.

 

[TravThePro]

Following:snacker:
I have 80k on my ubj's and lbj's. Creaking coming from around the passenger area.

I'll see if I can get a video showing the difference in flex between some 50% worn out OEM LCA bushings and the brand new Whiteline bushings.

I really wish I hadn't lost the video showing just how bad the flex was on those abused 317k bushings. It flexed a bit shy of 2 inches at the tire with an ear-bleeding symphony of squeal and crunch.

I don't have a video of LBJ/UBJ noises, so maybe someone else can link one in here for all of the people who are going to be experiencing this same issue soon.

 

[Devbot]

I'll see if I can get a video showing the difference in flex between some 50% worn out OEM LCA bushings and the brand new Whiteline bushings.

I really wish I hadn't lost the video showing just how bad the flex was on those abused 317k bushings. It flexed a bit shy of 2 inches at the tire with an ear-bleeding symphony of squeal and crunch.

I don't have a video of LBJ/UBJ noises, so maybe someone else can link one in here for all of the people who are going to be experiencing this same issue soon.

How have your whitelines been doing? I've always heard/had nothing but good things with them but it seems the LCA bushings are kinda hit and miss. JRoss even said he had to change them out after a mere few weeks cause they got trashed

 

[Devbot]

Everything looks A1 and grease didn't help at all. Starting to think it might be my intermediate shaft or something. It's location on the PS rack is very close to where I hear the noise and the fact that it only occurs with turning the wheel is a big hint - and when researching common problems with a bad intermediate shaft, "dragging and/or clunking noises" comes up frequently.