4runner grinding on front drivers side tire

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2damslow

2damslow

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Joined
Dec 18, 2005
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Location
hyrum Utah.
Wife just called and told me about a grinding sound coming from our 1994 4 runner. Says it sounds like a low rumble/grinding. I'm gonna go swap her cars in about an hour so she has a safe ride home, but does anyone know of a common problem there? I need some food for thought while I drive out there...
Picking out tools now and loading up my '40. Friggin coldest night of the year too...
Thanks in advance...
 
Need more info.

How many miles?

Any major changes up front, like cranked t-bars, etc?

Have you installed manual locking hubs?

Does it only do it in 4WD?

When's the last time you looked at the brakes? Or re-packed the wheel bearings?
 
Sorry for the lack of info Gentlemen. I went and traded her cars last night. It indeed grinds. It did it alot when it was cold, tapered off when it warmed up. By the time I got home it stopped doing it completely. I made it home without incedent.

Recent work: Got the warranty work done on the drag link a month ago.

Miles: 185000. 3.0 V6 with the 5 speed stick. Synthetic fluids in the trans/tcase/diffs. No maintenance done to front end, ever. Just brakes.

No manual hubs.

It seemed to do it regardless of if I was turning or not.

Appreciate all the ideas, I will climb under the thing today when the temp climbs above zero...
 
Wheel bearings probably.
Jack up the front of the runner, check for play on vertical axis of tires.
If someone had the hubs off for brake work, there is a chance something was missed.
Check the front diff fluid after that, bad carrier bearings can make similiar noises.
Good luck with it!
 
Since this is a '94, it'll have ADD, not auto hubs. Simple splined plates on the end of the wheel hubs, keeps the CV shafts spinning all the time. Stupid setup, IMO.

You should at least convert over to manual hubs, especially now that it looks like you'll be tearing into it.

I have a nice set of IFS-style AISIN hubs at home I don't need anymore, decent condition, going rate is $50 for a set. I'll toss in all the mounting hardware (nuts, cone washers, etc) and a new pair of gaskets.
 
improper pad installation, hardware loose, bent. pad too, could be worn.

i say pads are meteal to metal on the rotor.


how low is the brake fluid resivoir?

take off the wheels and inspect the pads
 
I had an 94 2wd... I lost the front drivers side wheel bearing at about 80 on the freeway. Don't recomend it. Had to change the bearing out on the side of the road... At least it was only like $20 and a case of:beer: for my bro for driving me around.
 
intense1 said:
I had an 94 2wd... I lost the front drivers side wheel bearing at about 80 on the freeway. Don't recomend it. Had to change the bearing out on the side of the road... At least it was only like $20 and a case of:beer: for my bro for driving me around.
Click to expand...

Dont ever put 20$ bearings in your rig. last time my friend did that the bearing hard welded itself to the spindle and we had to replace the entire spindle unit on the side of the road. big process and we are lucky we didnt get killed. From now on for me and my buds its toyota bearings only! you can get the same ones from the parts store but make sure its either Koyo Natchi or Timkin bearings your throwin in, and make damn sure its the right one when that bearing freezed up it tryed to put my friend into the wall on I-90. Even still when it comes to bearings I always go to the local dealer to get em.
 
yahh that was a suck day nate :mad: (I was the one with the gernaded bearing)
 
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