So I lifted my 4runner a few weeks back and since then I get some pretty gnar humming when I turn right at 45 mph + I have not got an alignment yet since im waiting on my wheels to show up, figured no sense in alignment till new wheels/ tires go on. So my question here is there a definitive way to figure out if its a wheels bearing before I get an alignment? Jack up front driverside and check for play etc?
wheel bearing or tires?
- Thread starter jzme
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JayRolla
New member
Lift it up and check for play. Only issue is you can have play in tie rod ends, ball joints, wheel bearing and all feel the same. Usually you can slowly turn the wheel and listen to the bearing to hear it making any sounds. Not to often the wheel bearings need changed on these things. Mine are pretty solid with over 240k miles and lifted with no issues. I dont see how the lift would cause them to fail.
e46inperrycounty
New member
Any place that will do the alignment will check the front end parts before doing the alignment... you can get a car aligned straight with loose front end parts. Sounds like the camber or toe has changed on one side and as you turn the camber increases and creates more tire noise, I don't see a bearing going bad due to a lift under any circumstance unless you beat the piss out of it trying to install the lift. You can do the alignment and as long as you have rotated your tires properly, the suspension geometry from getting different tires will not change. If you have a tire that is more than 1.5-2% off from the rest in circumference then you'll have to wait for new tires, if not then get it aligned. More likely you have a CV binding from the new ride height and it is making an unhappy sound when it is tuned under compression or extention depending on what portion is failing. Only way to know is get the entire front free hanging in the air and check side to side play on both wheels, top to bottom play in both wheels, put a pry bar under the tire and use the pry bar to lift the tire and put some load on the suspension while watching the upper and lower ball joints to see if the shift up and down or in and out. Then load the suspension and see if you have any movement in your cv axles on either side. If you still can't find the issue and have already checked the no brainer stuff like sway bar, end links, ect... take the wheels off the front, remove the front brake calipers and slowly spin the hub, if you feel it catching then you have a bearing binding up that isn't loose and causing play. If the pistons on the calipers do not push back then you have a caliper dragging. If you still can't find anything wrong, and you get the alignment done and still have the same issue, there is a chance that you have a brake hose getting pinched or swelling and causing caliper drag occasionally or frequently, especially if the hose isn't routed properly and is getting stretched while turning after the lift was installed (lifts effectively shorten stock broke hoses)
Predatorhouse
New member
you pretty much described it all in that statement... I would go to firestone and pay for the life time alignment. Like the guy above stated they will check all the possible problems and quote you a price to fix it. Most of those problems you can fix in your drive way.
IBallEngineer
New member
E46 is on track here, I will add two things about alignment.
1. Not ANY, but any GOOD alignment shop will look at suspension components. Not sure how many of those will look close at bearings unless you tell them about your concern.
2. A good aligner doesn't care about your tires because it is aligning the spindles, not the tires.
Get the alignment!
1. Not ANY, but any GOOD alignment shop will look at suspension components. Not sure how many of those will look close at bearings unless you tell them about your concern.
2. A good aligner doesn't care about your tires because it is aligning the spindles, not the tires.
Get the alignment!
Thnxx for the info guys! The lift install was less then plesent there was alot of beating on things. With any luck it just needs an alignment, I'm currently out of town for work and my 4runner is at home, tires go on monday, alignment Tuesday. Also the passenger side cv is now leaking from the outter since the lift.
