Left Front Grinding - Getting Worse!

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Brentbba

Brentbba

Former Golfer
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Location
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Ok - back from an awesome trip to Moab. Issue over the 2300 mile trip that got worse on the trek home Sunday that has me concerned

History - started hearing a very minor sound from left front on right hand turns. Nothing from the right side on left hand turns. Kind of discounts what I thought was just the lugs from the KM2's not being worn from cornering as this started shortly after having the tires rotated and balanced. :rolleyes:

Sound has gotten progressively worse to the point that the last few right hand turns near home I was just hoping I didn't have a birf explode on me! Yes - it's gotten that bad and my anal OCD has kicked in horribly bad!

It's more of a grinding sound on turns, not the typical click, click that get's described when a birf is wearing out. I've never had any seepage from the wiper on the back side of the knuckles (either side). The birfs were redone by me with Boyd's coaching in his back yard at about 185K and I've got 229K on the odometer now. Both showed typical wear and we swapped sides before reassembly.

Things I'll do next Saturday:
Jack truck up and check for play in the wheel. Perhaps 54mm nut has come loose. If that's all it is, I'll consider myself lucky.

Pull wheel and check for loose caliper bolts, etc.

Pop square nut and stick a zip tie down to see if there's still moly in the knuckle.

Anything else that might be apparent to check w/o opening it up? Have the know how thanks to Boyd as well as the tools, but not the time or inclination to do it again myself! I don't think my aging knees could take it right now.

Would take it to either Yotamaster or SDTrux this time around.

Right side is just fine and the truck ran and performed like a champ the entire time at Moab. Will mention a not so great wobble between about 67-72mph - and yes you can drive that and faster once you get out of the PRK! Top speed I hit per the trip computer was 81.6 mph somewhere in Utah where they have sections where it's 85 mph legally! Trailer with the wider 285/75 KM2's was nicer than the taller, skinny 255/85's too!

Wobble might be due to a slight allignment issue. When I had the bushings replaced I'm not sure the guy got the lengths quite right as he couldn't get the truck quite to spec. I'll have that checked too when I take her in for this issue.
 
Sorry to hear about the grinding noise but glad you had a safe trip back from Moab.

I think your on the right track with the things you have listed to check on Saturday. My initial thought when you outlined the problem and wobble at speed is a wheel bearing. Have you repacked the wheel bearings since the birf rebuild?
 
No repack sincee the birf rebuild. One person in the 80's section concurs with your thoughts - wheel bearings and perhaps the 54mm nut has backed off leading to the grinding sound.

If that's the case, hopefully no damage to the spindle at this point. Repacking itself would only confirm everything is nice and tight to torque specs going in that far thou I'd think.
 
Off topic but what the hell's with the Former Golfer status on your avatar? :eek: Thought you went into withdrawls if you didn't play daily.
 
Dan2722 said:
Off topic but what the hell's with the Former Golfer status on your avatar? :eek: Thought you went into withdrawls if you didn't play daily.
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LOL! It's said that for years. Handicap has headed north for several years now, thus, former golfer. :rolleyes:
 
Anyone interested in helping tear down the left side this weekend? I have apencilled in appt with SD Trux Monday, but really concerned that she won't make it down there. I really don't want to do this again, but the more I think about it, the more concerned I get driving her any further than necessary - 60 miles to SD Trux or 40 to Yotamaster.

Depending on what's found, the truck will be undrivable for a few days waiting for parts and that's my big concern with Yotamasters (sorry Eric!). My neighbors probably won't be very happy either!

Really going back and forth about the drive vs doing it myself again. I know I'll save lots and lots of $$$, but the spirit to do it is just not there right now.
 
AAA member? Just tow it and not worry about it.
 
SoCal_80 said:
AAA member? Just tow it and not worry about it.
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Yep - Plus member and just checked towing on my card - thought it was 50 miles. It's 100 miles! Suppose that's an option, even from my driveway if I tell them the front birf is broken and the shop doing the work is 60 miles away. Upgraded to Plus after an '06 trip to DV when NorCalDoug had problems and got towed all the way to Vegas via AAA.

Do they say no - closest Toyota shop or is it my choice - I don't know. Suppose I can pick up the phone and ask!

Good suggestion. Now to relook at the budget. Part of me does want to take the next few weekends and do it myself (be damned the neighbors that might complain about a truck on jack stands for awhile, and my knees say spend the $$ and take it to SD Trux! It's a lot of up and down off a stool in front of the knuckle w/o a lift!
 
I wouldn't think they'd question it. I know a guy that had his truck towed from Ocotillo Wells to Santee (≈85 miles) when his turbo seized. They didn't make him take it to Ford, he got to take it to the turbo shop in Santee per his request...
 
619TOY said:
I wouldn't think they'd question it. I know a guy that had his truck towed from Ocotillo Wells to Santee (≈85 miles) when his turbo seized. They didn't make him take it to Ford, he got to take it to the turbo shop in Santee per his request...
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I work for AAA. As long as your are towing it to a place of repair you will be good. Where you tow it to is entirely up to you.
 
Hey Brent. Sounds like either wheel bearings or a dry spindle bushing. The spindle bushing will not give you a vibration but loose / bad wheel bearings certainly will. If the wheel bearings are loose enough, you should see metal shavings around that area from the edge of the rotor kissing the caliper.

FYI. A friend of mine lost a rear end in victorville on our way back from panamint a couple of weeks ago. I used my AAA to tow his truck to his house in diamond bar. No static at all from AAA. They are the greatest things since Toyota started building 4wds!
 
Thanks for chiming in Eric. True class act. No metal shavings I saw when I took the wheel off and opened up the outer flange. Seemed to be plenty of grease looking that far in. Calling AAA this afternoon (Saturday) to hopefully arrange a tow some time tomorrow.
 
Brentbba said:
Sad to see her off on the back of a AAA flatbed this morning. Wierd feeling.
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Better to be proactive then have an issue while found 70 on the freeway!
 
SoCal_80 said:
Better to be proactive then have an issue while found 70 on the freeway!
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You got that right. Your advice was greatly appreciated and both I (and my wife) appreciate it. All she could think about was that front end exploding on my driving to SD!
 
Well - looks like the left birf is toast. Waiting on parts. Very, very glad I didn't drive her down to SD. She's in good hands for the repair.
 
OMG! It wasn't the birfs, bearings or anything else like that! I guess when I whacked my left slider at some point in Moab, it got out of alignment and whenever I turned right and the truck leaned left, the slider would rub against the the truck! I only bring SD Trux the biggest mysteries possible and they came through yet again!
 
Wow!!!! That's frickin' awesome!!!!! Nothing broken or needing to be replaced is good stuff. I'm happy for ya.
 
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