Help me source a noise...

[Angelo]

Help me source this noise if you can, people.

- It's a fairly low volume, as in it can't be heard if the stereo is on. I don't think I would've heard it at all if I didn't drive around occasionally in silence (I have young kids, I dig silence occasionally haha).

- Can only heard when in motion, so I don't think it's engine or belt noise.

- It seems to be coming from around the area of the driver's side front suspension / wheel well. I would characterize it as a mix between a pebble in a tumbler, but it also has a squeaky component to it, like a metal turning around metal kind of thing. It isn't screechy or alarming necessarily.

- I don't hear it constantly but I started noticing it about three months ago off and on.

- It doesn't seem to change over bumps nor with temperature / weather changes.

I've mentioned it to the dealer at my last oil change (whose service department I don't really trust TBH, they've missed things / acted dishonestly with me in the past but unfortunately they're the only game in town) who says they don't see anything wrong. Whether they've looked adequately or at all is a matter for debate. My suspension is stock and other than tire rotations and oil changes no one has been behind the wheels.

I'm thinking it could be a wheel bearing at this point maybe? Anyone have any thoughts?

(Mod / 1E: sorry if this is the wrong place, move me if you need to.)

 

[S54MCoupe]

Check the rubber splash guard things in the wheel well. I broke a clip on one and when driving the air flow was enough to cause it to vibrate/flap around and make one of the other plastic clips squeak. It was subtle but it was definitely noticeable.

 

[jbstrd]

Just a shot in the dark but I had one of the plastic clips come loose that hold the engine splash guard. Grab the splash guard in your driver front wheel well and wiggle it to see if it makes that noise.

 

[jbstrd]

Lol, guy above beat me to it

 

[Throwback]

Yep. Hit those with some silicone spray and see if it goes away.

 

[PCMSF]

If it doesn't end up being what others have mentioned, take a look at this thread. Had a similar noise on my 2015 TEP and ended up having both UCAs replaced under warranty.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/205725-chasing-elusive-noise-4.html#post2504845

 

[Angelo]

Check the rubber splash guard things in the wheel well. I broke a clip on one and when driving the air flow was enough to cause it to vibrate/flap around and make one of the other plastic clips squeak. It was subtle but it was definitely noticeable.

Just a shot in the dark but I had one of the plastic clips come loose that hold the engine splash guard. Grab the splash guard in your driver front wheel well and wiggle it to see if it makes that noise.

Yep. Hit those with some silicone spray and see if it goes away.

So with the onset of winter the noise essentially went away... then as the weather has broken it's come back and I realized I'd become one of those guys that asked for help and never followed up. It WAS the splashguard- I hit it with some lube and all is well. Thanks again.

 

[rsimi72]

So with the onset of winter the noise essentially went away... then as the weather has broken it's come back and I realized I'd become one of those guys that asked for help and never followed up. It WAS the splashguard- I hit it with some lube and all is well. Thanks again.

Great news! Did you have to remove the fasteners to lube? Or just spray with the clips and rubber guard in place? Those fasteners seem difficult to remove. Did you use silicone spray as was suggested above?

 

[Angelo]

Great news! Did you have to remove the fasteners to lube? Or just spray with the clips and rubber guard in place? Those fasteners seem difficult to remove. Did you use silicone spray as was suggested above?

I sprayed them in place with graphite lube for now cuz it's what I had on hand, and I'm planning to follow it up with silicone once the weather washes that away.