Front passenger wheel rattle on washboard

[BorotHex]

Anyone figured out a fairly loud rattle from the front passenger wheel area on bad bumps like washboard? I’m starting to wonder if my steering vibration has anything to do with it, but seriously doubting it.

I only know about it because I rode shotgun with the windows all down and was a bit perturbed hitting rough stuff off-road. I figure some crack head here figured it out and wanted to ask.

Truck has 8,000 miles. SR5. Not relevant to 4WD. Heard it in 2WD. Sounds like something simple, but I don’t have a lift to pound around with a rubber mallet.

 

[mo_mo]

I don’t think this is a common problem. If it is a reproducible problem then take it into the dealer as 8,000 miles your should still be warrantied.

 

[jp.vegas]

This isn’t an endemic problem. You have something loose.

 

[Turfboy]

Could a rock have gotten in the hub cap?

 

[BorotHex]

Got under the truck and banged around with a rubber mallet. All I hear that isn’t solid is the front skid plate. Rattly sounding. It’s going in to the dealer tomorrow for the never ending steering wheel vibration debacle, so I’ll have them look for it. I still get the squeak on compression from the front that sounds like a slight tire skid.

This is my first Toyota and I have to say it is definitely going to my wife and will likely be my last. I’ve never had a vehicle with so many interior and exterior noises. I’m not even trying on the horrible sunroof rattles. I just don’t have the energy after week after week of trying to find the dash popping. I did figure out the sunglasses holder rattles badly, but I don’t have a fix. Tried several things and got nowhere. I just turn the music up until I can get another car and give this to my wife.

 

[CSM4runner]

BorotHex, I had a rattle on my front driver side that was driving me nuts and I finally figured it out. My front brake cable bracket/holder was loose. I believe it was a 10mm bolt.

 

[dipNrip]

It’s most likely the wheel liner, splash guard for the engine bay. The grommets work themselves loose and the rubber flaps causing almost a metal sound like skid guard or something loose. There’s a couple threads but not sure what the subject was.
So check that and add two sided tape as quick fix on the backside of the rubber the middle between the grommets. Push into the wheel well. My hasn’t worked loose after a year that I’ve heard. Haven’t check though.
Also check that the bolts on the skid plat are all there and tight. Another good bet if you had oil changes at the dealership.

 

[GT0neX]

I had something similar happen while coming down a winding mountain road. I had been hitting a bunch of dirt roads in the days prior. Anyway, I pulled over and searched and searched until I randomly decided to tap on the wheel center cap and heard the rattle. I popped it off and out came the front hub grease cap. I smacked it back in with a rock. I guess just give it a check. Takes about 5 seconds to pop off the center cap with the tool in the trunk. Worth a shot.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[GT0neX]

Any luck? Now I'm just curious.

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[badattitude]

I think its the splash guard too.

 

[gringo8251]

[MENTION=659543]BorotHex[/MENTION] what'd you or the dealer find?

 

[BorotHex]

Well the dealer ignored my recommendation to use a mallet and find the rattle. Instead, “drove on a bumpy road”, paved of course, and “heard nothing”.

So I have a suspension rattle, a strange barking chirping sound on bumps the dealer heard and said they can’t find what it is, and a vibrating steering wheel they claim they didn’t feel.

So my dealer is completely useless and there’s not another for hundreds of miles. I’m screwed until I move and can get rid of it.

 

[BorotHex]

It’s most likely the wheel liner, splash guard for the engine bay. The grommets work themselves loose and the rubber flaps causing almost a metal sound like skid guard or something loose. There’s a couple threads but not sure what the subject was.
So check that and add two sided tape as quick fix on the backside of the rubber the middle between the grommets. Push into the wheel well. My hasn’t worked loose after a year that I’ve heard. Haven’t check though.
Also check that the bolts on the skid plat are all there and tight. Another good bet if you had oil changes at the dealership.

I have addressed that, so that’s not it. I wish it was.

I’ll check the skid plate bolts!

 

[BorotHex]

BorotHex, I had a rattle on my front driver side that was driving me nuts and I finally figured it out. My front brake cable bracket/holder was loose. I believe it was a 10mm bolt.

I will check! Thanks!

 

[02SE]

Didn't you announce you were trading in your 4Runner on a Frontier?

 

[mrblah]

Here is my knowledge and description of weird noises that I have been able to accumulate over the years of constantly abusing, breaking, and upgrading the 4runner:

I get alot of creaks and moans from my suspension due to upgraded poly bushings.. Its very subtle. I only hear this when I'm driving slowly over speed bumps. This never goes away, but it comes and goes. When it does, I spray lube everything thats rubber or poly. You don't feel it, you only hear it. This is normal.

I got a big thump on speed bumps and dips due to a blown shock. Not subtle. You will feel it and hear it. You gotta check around the shocks for oil or oil leak. Not normal.

If u get a thump that you can feel during braking or accelerating.. your suspension bushings are worn, and it could be any number of them. If you go offroading, these get worn out quick. Not normal, you should get it checked out.

I get popping sounds when I do full steering locks due to uniballed upper and lower control arms. Not subtle. It's a loud "POP". You also get whistling if your uniballs need lubing. a light clunk if they are toast (clunk not thump) Spray lube them as much as you can, but it never goes away. This is normal.

I got a LOOOOUD RATTLING sound, when I had a loose bolt on one of the skidplates. Use a rubber mallet with one hand, and lightly feeling the skid plate with the other hand and bang away. You will either hear or feel the vibrations... I also get rattling due to rocks finding their way between the skid plate and whatever its trying to protect. It gets louder and louder the faster you go or the bigger the bumps are. Slower you go, less you hear it. Not normal. Better fix this, because if its a loose bolt, it will egg out the bolt hole on your skid plate over time and then fall out.

If you go offroading...noises are part of the game, because everything will rattle loose. Spindle bolts, lower link bolts, skidplate bolts, compressor mount bolts....Anything not suspension related or engine related, gets locktite or double nutted. Suspension related components and skidplates just have to get checked periodically for loose bolts and nuts.

Best advice is to either get use to doing a post trip inspection yourself or find a good offroad shop and pay them to do it.


If the noises are not offroad related, please ignore my ignorance...lol.

 

[gringo8251]

[MENTION=151737]mrblah[/MENTION] keeping it real about offroading or building to offroad. i think a lot of folks in the forum underestimate that upgrading/modding comes with tradeoffs...specifically more maintenance

 

[BorotHex]

Didn't you announce you were trading in your 4Runner on a Frontier?

Yep and the single dealer here is charging $8500 on top of sticker so I’m probably flying back 1500 miles where I used to live where the dealer has 15 of them and no BS fees. I just haven’t looked into how to dump the 4Runner if I’m not trading. Never sold a car like that. I always trade.

 

[BorotHex]

Here is my knowledge and description of weird noises that I have been able to accumulate over the years of constantly abusing, breaking, and upgrading the 4runner:

I get alot of creaks and moans from my suspension due to upgraded poly bushings.. Its very subtle. I only hear this when I'm driving slowly over speed bumps. This never goes away, but it comes and goes. When it does, I spray lube everything thats rubber or poly. You don't feel it, you only hear it. This is normal.

I got a big thump on speed bumps and dips due to a blown shock. Not subtle. You will feel it and hear it. You gotta check around the shocks for oil or oil leak. Not normal.

If u get a thump that you can feel during braking or accelerating.. your suspension bushings are worn, and it could be any number of them. If you go offroading, these get worn out quick. Not normal, you should get it checked out.

I get popping sounds when I do full steering locks due to uniballed upper and lower control arms. Not subtle. It's a loud "POP". You also get whistling if your uniballs need lubing. a light clunk if they are toast (clunk not thump) Spray lube them as much as you can, but it never goes away. This is normal.

I got a LOOOOUD RATTLING sound, when I had a loose bolt on one of the skidplates. Use a rubber mallet with one hand, and lightly feeling the skid plate with the other hand and bang away. You will either hear or feel the vibrations... I also get rattling due to rocks finding their way between the skid plate and whatever its trying to protect. It gets louder and louder the faster you go or the bigger the bumps are. Slower you go, less you hear it. Not normal. Better fix this, because if its a loose bolt, it will egg out the bolt hole on your skid plate over time and then fall out.

If you go offroading...noises are part of the game, because everything will rattle loose. Spindle bolts, lower link bolts, skidplate bolts, compressor mount bolts....Anything not suspension related or engine related, gets locktite or double nutted. Suspension related components and skidplates just have to get checked periodically for loose bolts and nuts.

Best advice is to either get use to doing a post trip inspection yourself or find a good offroad shop and pay them to do it.


If the noises are not offroad related, please ignore my ignorance...lol.

I used a mallet before I read your post and found a loose bolt and rocks in the skid plate.

I need to lift the truck enough to get the wheel off the ground and use the mallet.

I wish this forum had a thread on fixing interior rattles. The multiple sunroof rattles and pops aren’t my big complaint. It’s the plastics popping in the dash and various places when windows are up and I just want some peace and quiet. Sometimes I like no sound.