Grinding/Creaking/Popping Noise when Turning Wheel

Hi all,

For starters, I drive a 2002 SR5 Extracab with 4x4/TRD Package. I've owned my truck for about 6 months and have encountered a new problem (hooray).

About a month ago, I started noticing a subtle creaky/pop sound when I was maneuvering in parking lots. A couple weeks went by and I took my truck through some deep-ish puddles and mud... when I came back home, the sound became **extremely** apparent. It's as if two metal rods are popping/grinding against each other in the passenger wheel well. I can literally feel it through my steering wheel.

I took to the forums and found some similar threads where they recommended lubricating LCA bushings, tightening bolts, etc... I am still in need of semi-definitive advice.

Here's what I know about this sound so far:
- It mainly happens when I am at a complete stop (no sound when moving at speeds > 5 mph).
- It isn't 100% reproducible- in other words, sometimes it is louder and sometimes it is quieter. It was definitely at its loudest right after I went through puddles and mud.
- Noise doesn't happen when front end is jacked up.
- I had someone turn the wheel while I was feeling around the IFS; I noticed it seemed strongest at the LCA bushings.

Here are some findings of my own:
- I checked for play by wobbling my tire, there is none. Everything seems to be tight.
- My ball joints were replaced roughly 13,000 miles ago, no play there.
- Again, the grinding feeling is most prominent near the LCA bushings.
- My passenger tie rod looks like the inside of a smokers lung... probably a split boot issue. Still, I don't think that is the issue because the vibration felt stronger at the LCA bushings.

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Here is a video (apologies for the out of focus, vertical video.. lol):
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VeoxOGxgoRQ
**Note** It is normally much louder than it appears to be in this video.

Here are my passenger front/back LCA bushings:



Here is my passenger (yuck) vs. driver outer tie rod:




I would greatly appreciate some advice. Thanks!

 

I would try to have more background noise while filming.

Any joint when dry can product that sound. You should start with tightening everything you can first and see if that improves. I’ve had this issue with the Swaybar links. Bring loose, and the bushings being worn through.

 

That’s literally just my truck running… lol.

But yeah, I went through and attempted to tighten everything today but the noise remains unfortunately.

 

Creaks and pops in turn sounds like a CV to me, check boots for tears/flung grease

Worsening symptoms with puddle/mud exposure is also telling and points to CV/worn birfield IMO

If you find torn boots you’ll need to either rebuild the Birfields or replace the half axles (2nd option probably cheaper honestly)

 

Your CV axles are popping and need to be replaced. What caused this is usually the person driving it cranking the wheel too hard, especially in 4wd, and it puts an immense amount of strain on the CV joints. With 4wds, you never crank the wheel fully ESPECIALLY if you are engaged in 4wd. The only fix to this problem is replacing the CV axles and do not crank the wheel until you can't no more as a precautionary measure. If you are on max steering and you still need to make a tight corner, then let off it about 1/8 of a turn.
This is not a 2wd truck nor do you have manual hubs, so never crank the wheel all of the way.

 

Thanks guys. Hm... I got two pretty strong opinions on CV axles here. Honestly, I really don't turn that hard in 4wd because I know it's a big no no. Before I buy replacement axles, is there thing else I can "rule out" before I pull the trigger on this? Or, on the other hand, is there something I can do to further confirm that the noise is 100% CV axle?

 

Sounds like LBJ. Get that change

 

Sounds like a ball joint or dry bushings

 

You can rule out LBJ with a crowbar and block of wood. Get the vehicle up on a jack and set the control arm down on a stand so the vehicle weight is on the stand, not the tire. Then pry with the crowbar and wood block under the tire and check for movement in the joint. Also can pry between knuckle and various other places, turn steering back and forth, etc. There shouldn’t be any play. Check for rack movement as those are the bushings that could cause what you’re describing.

Sway bar end links are easy to rule out, just take them off and if the noise disappears that’s your problem.

 

Since you just had ball joints changed, my only other thought would be the steering rack or tie rod ends. As for the CV axles, they still can be affected in 2wd because you have automatic hubs and/or ADD and the owner before you could have reefed on it as well.

 

+1 for diag related to auto hubs/ADD, completely agree

 

Thank you all for your input. I may attempt to remove the sway bar links and see if it still happens.

Today, while trying to reproduce the sound, I noticed that there also seems to be quieter clicking/popping noises in the rear. This wasn’t happening before so it could be a fluke… or somehow something in the back axle/drive shaft/diff is damaged??

Again, this only happens when I turn the wheels at a stop. I may just bring it to a mechanic to get some professional insight on what’s wrong. I don’t want to further damage anything.

 

Seems doubtful given your description, I’d address the front end first and watch and wait on the rear. Noises travel weird in vehicles and you’ll tear your hair out trying to solve two problems at once while you’re hyper-sensitive to every weird sound your truck is making. Just my two cents from experience and also having a finely-tuned ear to the sounds my truck makes.

If it gives you peace of mind, check to make sure your rear diff breather isn’t blocked

 

Heh… yeah.. you can read the stress through my words

I ruled out ball joints and greased my LCA bushings. The noise remains.

I’m going to try to detach the sway bar links next. For the steering rack and tie rod ends, I’ll have to do some research on how to rule those out.

 

Rest the front frame on stands and chock the rear wheels. Then have a friend turn the wheel back and forth while you’re monitoring underneath with truck off. If your rack bushings are bad you’ll see the rack moving side to side with steering wheel input.

For TRE’s, grabbing the tire and shaking in/out with front end off the ground will produce slop/movement if the TRE is bad. I agree one of yours looks a bit sus

 

Got it, that I can do. I’ll check that when I detach the sway bar links.

Right, okay, I did actually check my tie rods in that way. I grabbed my front tires at 12-6 and 3-9.. no play whatsoever. I suppose my tie rods are fine.
Thanks for all the help

 

Now that I reread your post again the passenger side noise and crap all over the passenger TRE definitely seems to point to CV. The boot is cut somewhere and flung its grease all over the TRE and probably your other suspension components. Then you went thru water and dirt; they made their way inside the boot and the Birfield left the chat.

I think you’ll figure it out pretty quick from here, GL and let us know what you find!

 

No way man, you ever have a cut boot, it flings grease absolutely everywhere, not specifically a single part that has a boot and grease in it.

Visually, it would point to the TRE failing due to the leaking grease. But is that the noise? Maybe maybe not.

I second having a friend turn the wheel back and forth while you safely listen and feel for the popping.

 

There are no auto hubs. Just ADD.

 

So, I was under my truck and saw that my rack and pinion bushings were moving like crazy... Seriously like 3/4 of an inch of play.

As much as I want to do it myself, I don't have the time or the garage space to replace them, so I brought it to a highly-praised suspension/steering shop in my area to do it. Plus, since I have bought the truck, I haven't had the suspension properly looked at by a mechanic, so this will help with peace of mind. I have no idea if this is what the popping noise is from, but regardless, it needs to be fixed for my own safety at this point.

Will keep this thread updated with new findings.