Odd Front End Noise ???

[Swede]

So I recently started hearing an odd noise coming from the front end somewhere. It sounds like tire noise only with a metallic tone to it if that makes any sense. I also feel a small high speed vibration in the floorboards when it's making the noise. It's also only noticeable when there is NOT any load on the drive-train. When I accelerate it's gone, and when I decelerate (using the engine with no brakes) it's gone. I'm thinking it's a wheel hub but it doesn't seem to change when I swerve back and forth though. The only work that's been done to the rig recently was new gears (1000 miles ago) and I had a Roadforce balance done right before I started hearing the noise. Any ideas anyone???

[mastacox]

It sounds like gear noise or maybe wheel bearings. Does it sounds like its coming from a particular side?

[Swede]

I can't really tell which side it's coming from. I doubt it's the R&P as it's doing it in 2wd with the front diff not turning. (ADD)

[Obi..]

Just for giggles try these three things first..

Grab the center shaft of each of the front drive shafts and see if they have any movement, 1-2mm what happens is when the suspension cycles they "click-clack" on and off of the backing plate of the spindle.

Cycle the front end as hard as you can while it's parked. I just found out what I thought was a drivetrain noise was actually my lower shock mount's bushing giving up the ghost and the round shell clanking on and off of the a-arm and surrounding mount plates. It could be your lower shock-coil-over mount worn or the top plate w/ a loose bolt or damaged spring or spring surface.

Check your body mount bolts for tightness and/or debris causing friction-click-squeal-noise.

Edit: 4 things..mount a Go-Pro and film while duplicating the driving conditions to identify the origin point better. :thumbup:

[Swede]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing about the POV cam (I have a Drift HD170). It's not a clunking noise though, it's more of a growling sound. I'm going to try a few things tomorrow and see what I come up with.

[Swede]

So, I noticed today that the sound seems to be coming from the drivers side. It also seems to NOT be speed dependant! The (whoop... whoop... best way to describe it) sound seems to carry the same pitch no matter if I'm going fast or slow. Go figure.

[Seanz0rz]

check to see if anything is rubbing: tire to UCA, tire to frame, tire to fender or liner, check the cv boots and see if they are dragging on anything and check the play in the shaft (especially at the inner joint). check brake caliper to wheel clearance and make sure your lugs are tightened appropriately (83 ft-lb). you can also check the torque on the drive shaft nut, since that is required for the front wheel bearings to work properly.

I had a similar sound (more of a squeak but i'm not sure if our definitions would match up perfectly) and i had the wheel bearings replaced. you will need a shop to do it. they charged me maybe 70 dollars to do it (i handed them the new parts, the steering knuckles, and the page from the fsm)

you could also look at the front diff, but i would start at the wheel bearings first. if your 4runner is like mine, it did 150k on the original bearings.

[04 Rocko Taco]

I am a little curious since the noise doesn't seem to change rhythm or frequency with speed. Definitely watching this...

[Jeff the marmot]

Check the A/C idler pulley! When my stock idler pulley's bearings died, the squeak was only audible when letting off the gas. When mine died, it was still the stock Toyota pulley, which has a replaceable bearing that is open to the elements and susceptible to weather. Funny thing is the replacement bearing from Toyota would have cost more than a sealed non-Toyota pulley complete with the bearings built into the pulley. IMHO, it's a better design anyway to have it sealed. I've used the sealed one for something like 5 years now with no issues.

Be sure to bring the entire stock pulley and bolt with you when you go to buy a new one. Don't buy it from Checker Auto Parts since they had an incorrect part (wrong center hole diameter) specified for 3rd gen 4Runners. I ultimately bought the correct part from Advance Auto, but most other parts stores would probably be similar.

[Swede]

Turns out it was the RIGHT REAR wheel bearing! Go figure! :headscratch: I blew the right rear seal on my way home from picking up our travel trailer the other day and after replacing the 2 seals and the bearing the noise is gone!!! I could of sworn the noise was coming from the front left NOT the right rear!! :shake: Anyway, thanks for the input guys! :thumbup:

[YotaFun]

You would be surprised how that works out.
We have had tons of vehicles in before where the noise was thought to be in the front but ended up being in the rear.

On really bad case, customer was complaining of a front trans/diff noise in a Highlander.
The tech put it up in the air and checked and the noise definitely sounded like it was coming from the diff.
He replaced the diff and it was still there!
So next he went to replace the trans, gets that all bolted in drives it, the noise is still there!
Bring the regional rep in to look it over, tells the tech to check the bearings, and wouldn't you know it the right rear bearing had failed, the reason for all the noise in the front is that it traveled through the drive line and cause it all, go freakin figure!
(mind you this was all under warrenty, the customer didn't pay a dime lol)