Mechanical Grind/Crunch sound at full turn?

[blk-betty]

03 with 121K miles, V-8 2-wd.

In the last week it's developed a pronounced grind/crunch/scraping sound when the steering is turned all the way to the right and moving.

Sound is only present when moving and doesn't occur when fully turned to the left. If it wasn't so mechanical sounding I'd think the tire was rubbing on something under the fender but it is more metallic sounding and at rest in full turn I can't see anything touching or even close to the tire.

If it were 4-wd I'd suspect something in the front end driveline, maybe CV joint, but being 2-wd there is nothing that I know of except the steering components......alignment is fine, no play or slack in steering, no pull, tracks straight, brakes fine.

So, figure you guys might have suggestions of what it may be.

 

[blk-betty]

52 reads as of this am and no suggestions.

Anyone out there have any ideas?

 

[KidVermicious]

I don't know the 4th gen trucks, but noise while turning says CV right away to me. My truck has manual hubs, so the CVs don't turn unless I tell them to. You don't have that luxury - I'm fairly certain your front CVs are rotating any time the tires are rolling.

Couple things I'd check right off the bat. Jack up your right side by the frame and look for play in the CV. Rotate the shaft at every combination of full droop to full stuff and steering lock both ways. If you can, check it in exactly the situation it's in when it makes noise... use the jack to load the suspension, then turn to that angle and see what you can make happen. If there's any binding/grinding whatsoever, you've got CV trouble. The other thing you can do is pop your CV boots and make sure the joints are well lubricated and there are no metal chips or shavings.

If that's not it, I don't know what else would be making noise on one side at a specific turning angle. Maybe something in the steering rack or suspension. Good luck.

 

[blk-betty]

I don't know the 4th gen trucks, but noise while turning says CV right away to me. My truck has manual hubs, so the CVs don't turn unless I tell them to. You don't have that luxury - I'm fairly certain your front CVs are rotating any time the tires are rolling.

Couple things I'd check right off the bat. Jack up your right side by the frame and look for play in the CV. Rotate the shaft at every combination of full droop to full stuff and steering lock both ways. If you can, check it in exactly the situation it's in when it makes noise... use the jack to load the suspension, then turn to that angle and see what you can make happen. If there's any binding/grinding whatsoever, you've got CV trouble. The other thing you can do is pop your CV boots and make sure the joints are well lubricated and there are no metal chips or shavings.

If that's not it, I don't know what else would be making noise on one side at a specific turning angle. Maybe something in the steering rack or suspension. Good luck.

Thanks KidVermicious.

So even though it's a 2 wheel drive with no drive shaft to the front wheels, it still has CV joints?

 

[KidVermicious]

Oh, you're 2WD. I missed that. No, you don't have CVs. It almost has to be steering or suspension related, then. Are you sure it's turning that causes the noise, or could it be suspension loading or unloading that causes it?

I think the same tests apply. Jack it up and put a jackstand under the frame. Use your jack under the control arm to simulate load on the suspension, and start spinning the tire while a buddy turns the wheel. If you can duplicate the trouble, you can find the trouble.

 

[blk-betty]

Thanks KiDV

I'll try the jacking procedure this weekend. Did the 120K service last weekend but didn't have enough sunlight to rotate the tires so was planning on that this weekend.

Don't tknow exactly what is causing it but only occurs when moving and at full turn, back the wheel off the smallest amout and no noise. It's not the power steering pump or belt related, it is a grinding crunching sound almost as it the tire was scraping metal.

I initially though it was related to suspension loading as I first heard it while pulling a unload 6x12 enclosed utility trailer. But it does it both with and without the trailer and I live at sea level so ground surface is flat...ie all 4 wheels in the same level plane.

 

[chaz]

maybe this? http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/45125-front-end-clunk-07-sr5-2wd.html could also be a wheel bearing. http://www.ehow.com/how_4862340_locate-wheel-bearing-noise.html

 

[blk-betty]

maybe this? http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/45125-front-end-clunk-07-sr5-2wd.html could also be a wheel bearing. How to Locate Wheel Bearing Noise | eHow.com

Chaz

Thanks for the links...the description in the first link sounds close to my problem.

 

[chaz]

heres a link for wheel bearing, theres more, if greasing the stops doesnt work. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...ere-own-front-wheel-bearings-4th-gen-yet.html

 

[blk-betty]

Thanks for all the help.

Sure enough all it needed was a smudge of grease on the steering stop.

Never would have guessed that would have caused so much noise.

Found I do have a small leak in one of the power steering return lines. Should be an easy fix.

 

[TRDCal]

Thanks for all the help.

Sure enough all it needed was a smudge of grease on the steering stop.

Never would have guessed that would have caused so much noise.

x2...love an easy fix tho, this forum is amazing!

 

[TRDCal]

The noise came back but only on the left side, when I crank full left no noise but full right I get the grinding/crutching noise. I tried grease but it doesn't completely fix it. Anybody know the part number for little plastic cover that goes over the steering stop OR the name of that toyota parts website that allows you to look up the diagrams, I've on it before I just can't seem to find it again.

Oh and I went to the dealer, they said they've installed hundreds of them but they just can't find the part number....WTF?

 

[TRDCal]

BUMP

I went to the dealer and now they say that 4th gens don't have a plastic cover, I guess he was thinking of other years.

Then I though maybe its out of alignment so I got one (I have needed one since the DS kit install anyways) but it still makes the noise.

It only makes the noise when the steering wheel is locked right meaning the left side steering stop is at fault. Anyone have similar issues?? I'm thinking of fabin up a cover or maybe some PlastiDip lol

 

[El Rorro]

Possibly a wheel bearing?

I had a similar issue with my 2007, althugh the steering wheel did not have to be turned "all the way". In my case, the noise happened when turning left, and it turned out to be the front, passanger-side wheel bearing. You might want to have your wheel bearings checked out.

 

[TRDCal]

It's not impossible but I can see on the steering stop where its rubbing. Ill put grease on it, do a tight turn and then I can see where the grease has been rubbed off.

 

[M1911]

I had the same thing. A dab of grease on the steering stops fixed it.

 

[TRDCal]

I tried grease but it doesn't completely fix it.

I've greased it multiple times and its only one side I have problems with.