Grinding noise from right front wheel area/brake shudder; Field Tech getting involved

You ever been on a train and while it's going kind of slow and bouncing around, you hear the wheels grinding against the tracks? I'm getting a similar sound from my truck. At first I thought it was the manuals in the glove box shifting around --- took them out and forgot about it. Started hearing it again when backing out of my driveway, and thought ok maybe just the front brakes are cold and making noise. Well, now I hear it when I'm coasting into a stop at a stop sign or light, or into my driveway.

It almost sounds like a rattling, and a very subtle grinding noise. I had my rear axle replaced at 6800 miles or so back in May (replaced under a TSB). I'm at 10K now and it's starting to bug me a little...I have a baby on the way in three weeks and I'm hypersensitive to shit with our vehicles now (who am I kidding, I've always been). I'm bringing the truck in for a blower fan replacement on Saturday, wondering if I should even bring this up --- you know how dealers go. My wife is also sick of me finding crap wrong with the truck (truck shudders braking high speeds, thunk under truck shortly after stopping, annoying brake pedal, driveline vibration. Anyone have any idea what it could be? I'll let you know if my rear diff grenades.

Thanks!

 

Ok. The noise is getting a bit worse, and I actually found a video on YouTube that replicates the sound exactly. I think I've pinpointed that the noise is coming from the front right wheel area; it's most noticeable when driving slowly, like pulling out of a spot or coasting into a stop sign or light. Also happens subtly when I get into my truck, believe it or not. It happens both when the wheel is straight as well as turned, and is amplified when the truck is pressed into an incline such as a driveway apron. I'm definitely going to bring it in when I have time over the next 2-3. Has anyone had a similar issue? No resolution from this video, but hoping I'll get more bites now that I've found a sound match.

Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu1ZPYqYyCk

 

Wheel bearing or CV joint?

 

I couldn't hear anything on my phone but maybe look at the cab mounts.

 

Really? That grinding/squeaking noise in the video? I'm going to try and get a video of my own truck today, see if that helps.

 

My first thought was also wheel bearing or cv. Are you feeling anything through the steering wheel like a slight vibration or anything like that? With bad cv's, I've always felt a bit of a shudder especially when turning the wheel. Bad wheel bearings have made various sounds.

 

The only vibration/shudder I feel is when braking from higher speeds (40 and up), not really at any other time. That's been going on since 5000 miles so I've given up on that and have a feeling that's stemming from the drums.

I'm thinking I have to urgently get this checked if it's possibly a wheel bearing - can't the wheel possibly lock up?

 

That sure seems suspect of at least one bad wheel bearing. Your brake shudder is most likely from the front end but could be a brake issue. Factory rotors can warp pretty easy, but you'll feel that every time you break, even at low speeds. Shudder can also come from the crappy rubber bushings these trucks come with on their LCAs, steering rack, and other parts. But from what you've described so far, consider the bearings first. Put your front end up on good jack stands to get the weight off the front and take each wheel in both hands and shake it as hard as you can. There should be zero play at all if the bearings are good.

 

Thanks for the response. I'm bringing it into the dealer on Wednesday and have mentioned the bearings as the potential culprit. Baby seat out of the truck for now . Thanks!

 

For some reason I have bad luck with wheel bearings. Must be something with the way I drive. I've replaced something like 4 on all the cars I've owned. To me, it sounds like wheel bearing. If turning one direction on the highway, usually it will get louder as the outside wheel spins faster. Pretty simple fix as long as they can figure out which one it is. If you put your car on a lift and grab the tires and yank side to side, if you feel any play whatsoever that's probably it.

 

I hope they figure it out, it's reached a point where the noise is pretty consistent at rolling speeds so they should be able to isolate it. This is the third repair I've had on this truck for something and it hasn't even hit 10,500 miles yet. Sucks.

 

Possible your truck could have rubbed a curb or nicked one while driving? That's typically the fastest way to ruin a wheel bearing. Oddly I've never replaced one on a Toyota, but had to do both fronts on my old G35x and had to do two on two late 90's integras I had.

 

If the CV axle that was replaced wasn't torqued all the way to 150 ft lbs (or whatever it is for 3rd gens), it could have some play in it and that will ruin the wheel bearing over time. Happened to me on my 04.

 

Always a possibility, can't recall anything noteworthy however.

 

Update:

Took it in today and let them know about the noise and the brake shudder. They could not hear the noise but did feel the shudder when braking, and they informed me they need to keep my truck an extra day as a Toyota Field Tech has to come look at it -- this is the third time I've brought it in for braking issues so he said they had to. I'm very glad it's been elevated, I didn't expect that. I really hope they hear the grinding noise as well, not sure how they can't. But I do appreciate them taking it seriously.

It's a real, real shame how many times this truck has been brought in with just 10,000 miles. I'm considering getting Toyota Corporate involved depending on the outcome.

 

Update 2:

They replaced the drums as the inside surface was out of spec, and resurfaced the front brakes for excessive run-out . As for the noise, they said they could not reproduce it...inspected wheel bearings, rotors, suspension, driveshaft, etc. and all seemed fine. I'm not sure what else it could be or if I should pursue further; don't want to speak too soon but of course on the way home I did not hear it at all. So maybe it is possible they were related, if a grinding noise is indeed possible when brake isn't applied.

 

Well, the sound is still there. When I got in my truck and it rocked a bit from getting in, it made the noise. Sure enough, it made it while driving as well. No more energy and my wife is fed up with me so not sure how I'll move forward.

 

so it makes the grinding sound when the truck is off/stationary and moving side to side? That sounds like something with the suspension, or some bad bushings. Any chance you could post a video of this sound when it happens as you get into the truck?

 

It's weird, not really. I just went outside and rocked the truck side to side and it didn't make any noise. But often times, right when my ass hits the seat, I can hear one "grind" of the same noise. I'm assuming that could be any number of things, even the seat, but it's pretty distinct.

I'll try to grab a video once it happens. In that video I posted, right when the guy gets into the truck it makes a sound --- that's the sound, and the same sound it makes while driving.

 

Update:

Truck is shuddering slightly while braking now, even with new drums. It started about two weeks after the drums were replaced. Since the axle was replaced as well, I honestly have no idea what else there is to do.