Can someone tell me what this is and how hard it is to fix

Can someone tell me what this is and how hard it is to fix? It’s making a screeching noise and almost sounds like it’s in the brakes but I noticed this and am guessing that’s where the screeching sound is coming from.

 

The picture is really dark. I can`t see enough detail

I looks like the several bolts have fallen out of the lower ball joint.

I have no idea for sure something is not correct.

 

Looks like the lower ball joint is F'd. Not that expensive. Can be difficult to change.
I would not drive it like that.

 

THIS!!

 

That’s it I’m done im getting a Chevy

 

Hard to tell from the photo exactly what’s gone wrong but that’s definitely a lower ball joint and I think it is no longer bolted to the spindle. Probably just need to replace it. Make sure to use OEM ball joints and the correct bolts. It’s an easy job, half hour or so per side. It’ll be more if the threads into the spindle are damaged.

@Area51Runner has the exact details of what bolts and parts to use, and @Kwikvette has the part numbers in his signature

 

this is a common failure on these trucks. not hard to fix. use quality OEM parts as replacement and you will be good for another good long while

 

After looking again that was just a piece of rubber but everything looks fine. I think my noise is the brakes after getting a chance to really look at it.

 

What a funny place for a piece of rubber.

could the dust shield be bent and rubbing the brake rotor?

 

Ha Ha ha 30 minutes it really depends just where the truck lives.

Easy job after the first few times.

 

Would not? Driving with that is a death sentence if it fails at high speeds lmao

 

This is likely. The piece of rubber is the lower ball joint dust shield. Some trucks have them, others did not. Squealing is almost always the wear indicators on the brakes letting you know it's time to replace the pads.

However, If you haven't replaced the lower ball joints within 70k, it's probably time.

 

I took off the wheel and checked the pads and they are almost new. Would the lower ball joints make that noise. When I hit the brakes it stops and if I drive around 10 or so minutes it stops. I noticed a bright shiny place on the dust shield so something has been rubbing.

 

Are the pins for the pads ok? the wire clips? Brake fluid level? Caliper?
Thinking if if one of the pads isn't retracting right away it will rub it's way back.

 

I took the wheel off and checked everything. My brakes were good. I didn’t see any other issues so I’m not sure what the issue was but it hasn’t made it since I took the wheel off.

 

That appears to be the rubber dust shield over the lower ball joints and it's falling out. On mine the holes where it sandwiches in between the knuckle and the ball joint were deteriorating, probably what's happening.

It won't make a screeching sound, but what's important is it most likely means you haven't changed out your ball joints, ever. These trucks have a habit of breaking off ball joints at the worst possible moment, don't go aftermarket, get new OEM ball joints and swap them out right away. If the other suggestions in this thread are correct and you've lost ball joint bolts or it's in any way loose, realize the entire weight of the truck rests on the ball joints and it's a time bomb.

As for the screeching sound, if it happens when it's just idling, engine belts are very likely. Get new ones and make sure the tension is correct, loose belts will give you a screech too.

 

The noise was in the wheels and it ended up being the brake dust shield. It has bent and was barely rubbing the hub just enough to make the noise. I bent it back and the noise went away. The brake pads were almost new so I glanced behind and saw that shield was bent a little bit and for whatever reason it wouldnt make a noise after driving for a few mins.

 

Good to know you found the issue, but don't ignore what you've been told about replacing the lower ball joints. They really do need replacing after so many miles, unless you have documentation it's been done recently.

 

For future (like ASAP) reference...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-ball-joint-bolts.772506/page-4#post-27990706