2019 TRD sport 4x4 oscillating, rotational, rubbing cyclical sound

I’ve posted a couple of times about my issue, but rather than add to those threads, I thought I would start a new thread. I have new updates and a new video below. I would like your input and suggestions please.


My 2019 sport 4x4 has a few thousand miles left on the drivetrain warranty and also a used certified warranty.

Due to a cyclical, rotational, oscillating sound from what I think is the drivetrain somewhere, the dealer has thrown a new driveshaft assembly on my truck. That didn’t fix it so they threw an entire transmission assembly on my truck. That also didn’t fix the issue.

This sound only occurs at 10mph and changes pitch upwards as I increase speed. By 20-25mph it’s spinning so fast that the higher pitch disappears. When I slow down it comes back, dropping deeper in pitch. At 10mph and under, the sound goes away. When I shift into neutral and coast at these speeds (where it usually makes the sound) it goes away totally. This tells me it’s a drivetrain issue somewhere right?

I put new tires on this thing so it’s not that. I’m fairly certain it’s not wheel bearings or the dealership would have caught that right?

Here is a GoPro video I just made from under the chassis aimed at the front drive area. The sound starts at 3-4 seconds into the video when my truck hits 10mph. I tried to keep the speed at 10-11mph so you can hear it, then towards the end of the video I speed up and you can hear the noise spin higher into nothingness.

What do you guys think it is? Transfer case? Front drive axles? CV axles?

By the way, the sound is still present when I throw it into 4x4, high and low

https://youtu.be/zSRIsx5qMME?si=7qPjsKbKJx1Qrt0W

 

Have you tried to lift the front and rotate each wheel?

 

Just tried it. Both spin smooth like butter but both wheels clunk when I twist left to right. Normal? Wheel bearing? Cv axles?
https://youtu.be/L-R8s3_g2H8?si=kX0tfGpoR3rlkBRd

 

Does not sound normal for given amplitude. I just tried the same on mine. No clank.
Check obvious tie rods, ball joints, etc

 

Thank you Vlady. I just took the steering lock off by pressing the start button and tried again. It’s nice and tight now. That clunk was just the steering wheel lock.

 

So wheel bearing are ok then.
I've done once on my old corolla to figure out the vibration . Lift and support the front and the rear. Foot on the brake, start the engine, put in D and slowly release the brake. Let it spin in idle (make sure do it on hot engine).
Put in 4HI
Before shutdown, press the brake pedal and make sure wheels are not spinning, then shutdown.

 

Just while you have it up in the air I'd check the transfer case fluid level. Sounds like it could be a dry case.

 

I recently changed the fluid in the transfer case and both diffs. Sound still there

 

Sharing 2 videos I found on youtube that are the EXACT same sounds and symptoms as mine.
The youtuber titles these videos titles them as transfer case noise, but it's been 8 years and he/she is not responding to my inquiries if fixing or replacing the transfer case solved the problem.
Hoping this will help you help me more accurately pinpoint my problem, since the dealer can't find the issue.

Same youtuber. same truck.
first video from under the transfer case. second video from inside the cab.
As you can see in their video, the noise is present and increasing in frequency based on speed between 10-20mph.

what do you think? Transfer case?

https://youtu.be/voT07e5OMgc?si=1rfAkeSZbhEHdBvI

https://youtu.be/LjI301g0fOg?si=OdWPEWBbPD_fCoDH

 

UPDATE: Resolved!

I made a few posts over the last 4 or 5 months regarding my noise issue. I’m not sure which post to update, but I’ll do that here. As the title states, I had a cyclical rubbing sound that the dealer struggled to diagnose. I bought the truck used in January with a 24k powertrain warranty.

The dealer’s service department at Keyes Toyota in Van Nuys was very sincere and helpful throughout the whole process. I never once thought they were trying to steal from me, or neglect me and my problem one bit, like I know a lot of you have gone through.

They diagnosed my issue and tried to resolve it to the tune of a new rear drive shaft assembly AND THEN a new transmission. Neither fixed the issue. So, I decided to take my truck to get independently diagnosed by pro drive train specialists. One said, “rear diff is the problem”. Another said “rear diff is NOT the problem”. Third shop said, “we strongly feel it’s the transfer case”. This third shop said they can hear it right where the case is and they felt the vibration coming from the unit itself when they placed their hands on it.

So, I took that information back to the dealer expecting to be told “call Toyota Corporate directly, we’ve done all we can here.” But they didn’t do that. They took the truck again, with my suggestion, and came back to me and said, “yup, it’s your transfer case”. Toyota approved the part under warranty and they installed it the next day.

I picked it up today and the noise is gone! I am ecstatic!

Anyway, I’m mainly posting this update incase anyone runs into a similar situation or has a similar noise issue. I followed so many other posts out there where the “noise” issue was never resolved. Mine was a happy ending. Hoping yours will be too!