Front end noise diagnosis - Video Link

[Overland Tailor]

Looks like its from inside. Caliper clearance is good even swapped shock and springs and it's still there.

The housing is quiet with a stethoscope and I keep pulling toward the dust shield, but there are just so many places that can refer noise there.

Axle rebuild was scheduled for Jan/feb anyway so I'll get a look inside.

Assume a straight edge on the axle will show any distortion??

Truck was a previous one owner, older gent from FL/NJ so it was not wheeled and I have not struck anything. I guess he could have smacked a curb had enough to bend one???

Only time I can hear it is when I'm slow speed on rough terrain. When I bought the truck I thought it was shock mount.... Never the easy fix...

Appreciate everyone's comments...

John

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Do you still get the noise with the brakes applied?

 

[Overland Tailor]

Phil... Thanks

The speed at which I can induce the noise is around 4-5mph..

Applying any brake will take me quickly below that, but I have heard the noise when applying at some times...

Thanks,

John

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Phil... Thanks

The speed at which I can induce the noise is around 4-5mph..

Applying any brake will take me quickly below that, but I have heard the noise when applying at some times...

Thanks,

John

John, give it a try stopped, brakes applied using your hammer technique.

 

[Overland Tailor]

Phil,

Ahhhhh good idea.

When I get back home tomorrow night I'll give that a shot...

Thanks...

John

 

[Overland Tailor]

John, give it a try stopped, brakes applied using your hammer technique.

Phil - Tried it moving on some rougher road using the brakes and accelerator to maintain the speed.

Hard to say, but I couldn't hear it. I'm thinking a pad slapping around perhaps or a caliper problem?

Thoughts?

J

 

[Overland Tailor]

Found where its at - Now what is it?

Went looking again tonight as I have to be missing something... Finally found the noise by doing a back and forth rotation of the tire. Both off the ground -

Its inside the knuckle.. Gurus please have a listen and let me know your thoughts. Interesting point is that the noise is only able to be reproduced when the tire is in the same position. If I rotate the tire another 90* it stops. When I come around again I can reproduce the noise.

Full knuckle rebuild next month, but wondering if anyone has an idea of whats causing this???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvjDgNhcYjY

Thanks,

John

 

[cruiserdan]

Pull the drive flange and see if it is still there. If not it is related to the inner/birf/drive flange group. If it is still there it is related to the spindle/wheel bearing/hub/rotor group.

 

[Overland Tailor]

Dan,

Thanks for the info... Very much appreciated


John

 

[landtank]

doesn't sound like there is a whole hell of a lot of grease in there. Just tear down the knuckle all ready.

 

[bsmart82]

Curious as to what you find. Mine makes the same noise from the drivers side. I filled both knuckles with grease and the noise was lessened but still there. I also get a single pop noise from the drivers axle area when turning with a grade change in the road.

 

[Overland Tailor]

Bsmart -

I think Landtank makes a great point and I think what you are describing is my situation as well.

I've conversed with both Dan and Onur and the drive flanges are in good shape, but as Lantank stated a quick peek in the service port showed I was very low on grease.

When I bought the truck in the spring I was second owner (First was a very nice older gent who had all service done at Toyota) and the truck had 82K on it. The noise was there on the first day and I sorted out to be a bad front shock as the originals were still on it.

I PM'd the truck and actually added grease in the service port as it was low. Note that the knuckles were dry - not leaking so I was lulled into a false sense of security that the front end was for all purposes still good to go and in reality it is, but I agree 100% that it needs serviced...

I replaced shocks and springs and the noise was still there, so I started looking and here I am with this thread.

A 16 y/o truck that drives great and never makes a peep, squeak or clunk while on the roads. 1st owner never had the front serviced and I'm sure never had it off pavement. Hence the fronts are dry, wearing and making noise.

Filled mine and the noise has all but gone. Had it on a small trail by the house and cant reproduce it. That just confirms that all the gents here were correct and I appreciate everyone's input and help.

I however will be doing a complete axle service as I'm not one to just leave it alone. It could have been dry for 10,000 miles before I purchased it and I'm sure thing are worn / wearing. Hopefully the Birfs, spindle and axle won't need replaced but I've already confirmed availability of those parts as well.

If yours is still making noise a front axle service is needed IMHO... I'm going to start gathering parts after the holiday.


Best regards,

John -

 

[KTMaverick]

I had a loud noise in my front before Thanksgiving... Sounded like driving over a cattle grate! Very loud. Towed it to Michaels Toyota in Bellevue... They wanted $6500 to repair!!!

Heard of a guy by the name of Tor/Torfab in Everett Washington... He fixed everything for $1200... Worn wheel bearings. He did other stuff as well...

 

[Overland Tailor]

I believe I have found the issue and will have positive confirmation tomorrow.

@beno and I have been looking/brainstorming at this and last night by sheer luck I noticed by pads moving up and down, ever so slightly. Movement enough to make that metallic sound when the metal plate of the brake pad move up or down and "rings" the caliper body.

When I did my brake system, I installed new calipers so my cross pins are in good shape. I did a run-out check on the rotors and they were .001" +/- so the rotor might be brushing the pads ever so slightly.

What I did do that eliminated that noise was I removed the secondary (Vented) anti-squeal shim from the drivers side. The noise this morning was gone on the drivers side, but I can just hear it from a bit from the passenger side.

I'll remove that shim from the passenger side tonight and report back. I think this migt have eliminated that metallic sound.

Cheers,

John

 

[Overland Tailor]

Removed the inner shim (the one that looks like a grill) and the noise is gone.

Hope this might help someone.

John-

 

[TheRareElement]

Wow, 4 years to get that sorted out.
Now, I'll do it in less than that, thanks for the write up Jon.