Worrying Creak (PLEASE HELP)

[HCWatson997]

Last night it snowed probably two inches so today some friends and I decided to go play with our vehicles in it. We did a TON of donuts in an open pretty smooth field and just some basic driving too. After I got back from this, I noticed a loud and unnerving creaking noise seemingly coming from in front of where you would put your feet in the floorboard for the front of the rig. You can not only hear it, but you can also FEEL it which has me worried to death that I damaged something. It happens when I even barely turn while moving mainly at parking lot speeds up to 30mph. There is some ice caked inside the fenders on the lining and surrounding areas. I did go up on three wheels (front wheel was off the ground) at one point today while doing donuts if that helps. Also have 270k XREAS but did not notice the sound before going out today. The creak is pretty loud and again sounds like it could be coming from metal to metal or etc in th rear of the front fenders. I have a 3”-3.5” spacer in the front also.

Very worried about my vehicle and want to eliminate or narrow down what it should be.

 

[NinjaOne]

Get somebody to bounce/rock the rig and listen. Listen especially to your bushings (upper/lower control arms, swaybar, shock bushings)

Besides the spacer, any aftermarket suspension mods? (aftermarket UCAs, bushing changes on swaybar etc)

 

[HCWatson997]

Get somebody to bounce/rock the rig and listen. Listen especially to your bushings (upper/lower control arms, swaybar, shock bushings)

Besides the spacer, any aftermarket suspension mods? (aftermarket UCAs, bushing changes on swaybar etc)

Nothing aftermarket besides the spacers. I’ll try to get someone to do that tomorrow with me to see. Everything has remained the same since I bought it at 229k and I don’t imagine the previous couple who owned it would have replaced/refreshed anything other than what had to be replaced...after all the shocks have 270k on them

 

[HCWatson997]

Get somebody to bounce/rock the rig and listen. Listen especially to your bushings (upper/lower control arms, swaybar, shock bushings)

Besides the spacer, any aftermarket suspension mods? (aftermarket UCAs, bushing changes on swaybar etc)

Would damage to the power steering pump possibly cause this? I haven’t noticed any difficulty in turning compared to usual

 

[Raid_Runner]

Would damage to the power steering pump possibly cause this? I haven’t noticed any difficulty in turning compared to usual

Eh power steering is usually a squeal not a creak. My guess is you toasted your shocks. Try bouncing the front shocks up and down a bit by pushing down on the fender and hood and see if it groans. Double check your tie rods, inner and outer.


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[DEF4Runner]

Definitely rock the suspension and try to isolate. If you had aftermarket USA's, I'd say check the bushings but since you're still OEM, I'm not sure...but don't rule them out since they're original (with that high mileage).

 

[HCWatson997]

Eh power steering is usually a squeal not a creak. My guess is you toasted your shocks. Try bouncing the front shocks up and down a bit by pushing down on the fender and hood and see if it groans. Double check your tie rods, inner and outer.


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My Dad’s a big mechanic/car junkie and he said it may be tie rod like you said. The problem magically disappeared after this morning so I pray it’s gone for good