What's the rubbing sound/resistance at slow speeds?

[jmferg]

I am struggling to find out what the issue is with my front end.

I've replaced the lbjs with oem, everything else is tight.
265s on oem 5 star wheels with the Power Stop TBU and 99 tall coils.
When I turn tight at slow speeds I get a rubbing/almost grinding noise front the front end. I can feel a slight resistance in the steering wheel.
I took it to a 4x4 shop and the Toyota dealer. Explained my symptoms and asked them to diagnosis to see their opinion as I had my suspicion (wheel bearings).
The 4x4 shop said there was the slightest deflection from the rotors so they were pushing against the pads causing the grinding noise. Also stated there was zero play and did not suspect the wheel bearings.
Toyota dealer said there nothing wrong.
That was a waste of almost $200 in diagnostic fees.

Anyone had a similar issue or would like to chime in?

I really want to continue with my build but I'm holding off until I can get the front end straightened out but no one has the answer


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[Nate_GB]

Did you grind the calipers or the wheels when you installed the TBU. I'd bet the wheels are rubbing the calipers.

 

[jmferg]

Did you grind the calipers or the wheels when you installed the TBU. I'd bet the wheels are rubbing the calipers.

Nope, plenty of clearance with the 5 star wheels, no contact on the calipers.


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[Nate_GB]

Nope, plenty of clearance with the 5 star wheels, no contact on the calipers.


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I thought that was one of the wheels that required modification, but I've been wrong before. When did the noise start? Long after the TBU or right after it? Does it matter if you're turning left or right? How severe is the noise? Light rubbing noise? Heavy rubbing noise?

If it started right after the TBU id start by going back to your old stuff if possible and seeing if that changes anything. After that, I'd possibly start draining the front diff and pulling the cv axles to see if I could isolate the noise to the axles.

If you don't want to go that far, my general mentality with noises is that it will continue to get worse and the worse it gets, it will generally become easier to diagnose.

Also, you said you had the dealer diagnose it but I would confirm with them what they did. I've never had good luck with dealers diagnosing things properly. Have you jacked the truck up yourself to check for wheel bearing play? I had a wheel bearing go bad and it cause a grinding noise. (Noise turned out to be the brake caliper grinding a groove in my disk during turns)

 

[jmferg]

I thought that was one of the wheels that required modification, but I've been wrong before. When did the noise start? Long after the TBU or right after it? Does it matter if you're turning left or right? How severe is the noise? Light rubbing noise? Heavy rubbing noise?

If it started right after the TBU id start by going back to your old stuff if possible and seeing if that changes anything. After that, I'd possibly start draining the front diff and pulling the cv axles to see if I could isolate the noise to the axles.

If you don't want to go that far, my general mentality with noises is that it will continue to get worse and the worse it gets, it will generally become easier to diagnose.

Also, you said you had the dealer diagnose it but I would confirm with them what they did. I've never had good luck with dealers diagnosing things properly. Have you jacked the truck up yourself to check for wheel bearing play? I had a wheel bearing go bad and it cause a grinding noise. (Noise turned out to be the brake caliper grinding a groove in my disk during turns)

Honestly I've got a couple issues with the front end.
Combination of
multiple failed alignment jobs
Bad balance on tires
The rubbing.

The truck has 150k on basically a stock suspension

The rubbing is only when going forward and when turning tight at slow speeds.

The noise slowly came up and is only getting worse. I honestly can't remember when it started. It did start sometime last fall when I did the TBU.
The 231 calipers will fit the 5 star wheels without rubbing. I can fit my finger all the way around the clearance.

With the noise being at turning, I eliminated to front diff.
LBJs were replaced at 140,000
Cv's
Wheel bearings
Or brakes.

After writing this out, I am thinking I should probably check the tq on the caliper bolts. Caliper bolts backing out can be pretty common...


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[Unner]

What is your aspect ratio on your tires?

If you're running larger than stock it could be as simple as your tire rubbing the frame when you're turning. Look for witness marks on the frame to see if it is.

 

[jmferg]

What is your aspect ratio on your tires?

If you're running larger than stock it could be as simple as your tire rubbing the frame when you're turning. Look for witness marks on the frame to see if it is.

265/75/16s

No noticeable marking on the tires.

Only does it forward, not in reverse


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[Unner]

With 265/75/16's it is definitely possible to rub the frame depending on the tire, suspension, etc. Look on the frame, if it's rubbing you'll see clean spots where it's been rubbing on the frame.

 

[dozerfrelich]

Check your lug nuts. I've had customers come in after doing there own brakes and failing to properly torque the wheels down


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[jmferg]

Wheels are torqued down and no rubbing indications from TBU or tires


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[jmferg]

New detail. When the truck is cold it doesn't do it. I drove it circles around the parking lot before leaving work-no sounds. Drive about 10 miles and first turn and it's making noise


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[Nate_GB]

New detail. When the truck is cold it doesn't do it. I drove it circles around the parking lot before leaving work-no sounds. Drive about 10 miles and first turn and it's making noise


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What kind of sound is it. Metal scraping metal? Rubber on metal? The type of sound will help us suggest a dignostic approach. You're going to have to start taking stuff apart if you want to figure out what it is. Plain as that. None of us will be able to fully diagnose this for you through the Internet.

If you're sure it's a noise from the front end and it only occurs while rolling, there are only a few possibilities. Disk rubbing caliper, wheel bearing, cv axle or diff. Those are the only things spinning in the front end. i would look for tire rubbing witness marks very carefully because if that isn't the issue, the remaining problems are not going to be ideal to have to repair.

 

[jmferg]

What kind of sound is it. Metal scraping metal? Rubber on metal? The type of sound will help us suggest a dignostic approach. You're going to have to start taking stuff apart if you want to figure out what it is. Plain as that. None of us will be able to fully diagnose this for you through the Internet.

If you're sure it's a noise from the front end and it only occurs while rolling, there are only a few possibilities. Disk rubbing caliper, wheel bearing, cv axle or diff. Those are the only things spinning in the front end. i would look for tire rubbing witness marks very carefully because if that isn't the issue, the remaining problems are not going to be ideal to have to repair.

It is definitely not metal on metal sounding. No tire clearance issue.
I will pull it apart and re-check torque specs on everything I've worked on.

I am thinking wheel bearing personally.
There is zero detection when the vehicle is cold. Once I drive long enough to get to operating temps, I can replicate the noise every time.
That is why the shops couldn't diagnosis it. I'll take it back to the 4x4 shop I prefer and have them re diagnosis it.

The good thing about model-specific forums is if you can adequately describe the problem, usually someone has had the same issue and can enlighten you.


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[Nate_GB]

It is definitely not metal on metal sounding. No tire clearance issue.
I will pull it apart and re-check torque specs on everything I've worked on.

I am thinking wheel bearing personally.
There is zero detection when the vehicle is cold. Once I drive long enough to get to operating temps, I can replicate the noise every time.
That is why the shops couldn't diagnosis it. I'll take it back to the 4x4 shop I prefer and have them re diagnosis it.

The good thing about model-specific forums is if you can adequately describe the problem, usually someone has had the same issue and can enlighten you.


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Wheel bearing should be pretty simple to diagnose. Jack up left front. Grab the tire at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions and firmly push and pull. Repeat for right front. There should be zero play. If there is play, you've found your problem. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

I'm gonna guess your rotors are ever-so-slightly contacting your backing plates/dust shields. Likely only one rotor, I suppose.

 

[Sawyer1226]

Curious what your problem ended up being???

 

[Mark_BC]

I changed my wheels to the winter set the other day and when jacked up and spinning the wheel I noticed a rubbing noise from both front wheels. One even had some resistance at a certain o'clock position. I eventually decided it was the brake pad rubbing the rotor, not fully retracting. Does this sound reasonable? Didn't sound like metal on metal. I haven't touched the front end in 30,000 km so this has been going on for a while without issue. Brake pads and rotors look fine.