Help with diagnosing grinding feeling on steering wheel and pedals

Good day all,

Recently my truck feels like it is grinding while it runs at slow speeds. Anything above 45 it is not felt. I feel it on the steering wheel and the pedals. This feeling is present if I turn the wheel as well. This started after the truck was leveled. I have had to replace a few things over the last two months before this issue started and a couple since then.

Before the above issue started the following was performed.

1. Right bearing replaced by a local auto shop and they only replaced the bearing. This was replaced due to grinding noise and wobbling in the steering wheel.
2. Due to squishy and poppy suspension, new shocks were installed and leveled the truck while I was at it.

After the above mentioned issue started this is what I have done but problem still persists.

1. Replaced left bearing and hub assembly
2. Left and right rotors and pads with full break fluid flush. I needed to swap these out anyways due to grinding and vibration when breaking.

I have read through many posts and seen multiple videos on what this could be but none have matched exactly what I described above. Since the bearing and hub assembly was swapped out along with the rotors and pads, I am at a loss as to what else this could be. Was thinking CV Axle or Axles but none of the symptoms outlined in posts and videos match up to what I am experiencing. Bearing issues is my next thought but I had already had those replaced. Could the shop not performing alignment correctly cause this? CV's?

Any help appreciated.

 

Are you getting any idiot lights on the dash at this time? Your experience sounds to me like the yaw sensor wasn’t recalibrated and your TCS is kicking in.

 

I do not currently have any indicators illuminated. I did have the maintenance required light come on a couple weeks back but that was likely just the "change oil interval". I cleared it since I change my own oil and it has not returned. Is the yaw sensor something that should be getting re-calibrated when leveling? Is there a way to turn TCS off temporarily on 2nd Gens? My brief search online just now didn't bring up anything and I don't remember seeing any buttons to turn this off or on?

 

It would only come on when your experiencing the correction, not all the time and it’s very brief.

It’s a common issue when lifting and there’s a lot of guys that have almost crashed into o coming traffic because of it. I think @Crom has a DIY thread on how to reset it yourself. I’d start there, personally. Then see if the issue persists.

Dealer can also do it, as can a competent alignment shop.

 

Thank you. I will start there and check back in with results.

 

Ok so just did that and the grinding feeling went away in 4hi. Did it multiple time to really get a feel and it even feels that the truck glides smoothly when the gas is let off.

 

I did find a needle bearing thread I will look through. It does seem people are recommending a shop to this work. How does it compare to doing the Wheel Bearing and Hub assembly?

 

Good call!

 

There’s a video, standby and I’ll find it.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_9l2WwasiY

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cVMuu5qJqVM

 

Thank you for those Videos. I found them this morning on my own as well. I think while I have the truck jacked up again, I will take this time to replace ball joints. Gonna order all my parts this week and likely do the work after Thanks Giving.

 

In preparation to buy all the parts needed for this project I did some more inspecting of my joints and found that most had torn boots, ugh. So looks like I will be spending even more. One thing I could not figure out and can't seem to find as of yet is this red outlined part? What is it?

 

I think that is your sway bar link. They make them with grease fittings too

 

Red part is the sway bar link! Other two are the outer tie rod and lower ball joint.

 

Perfect. Thank you all.

 

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving? Question for you all. I have removed my CV Axle in preparation to put in the ECGS Clamshell Bushing that I will get on Monday. So in moving both ends of the axle around, I feel no binding however, on the inboard side which is arrowed in the picture below, I can pull it and it moves out and in. Is that normal?

 

Yep needle bearing Toyota replaced the one in mine with a entire front diff. Drain a bit of diff oil if it's black that's it.

 

Yep, already drained and ready to be refilled once I get everything put back together. However, my question is about the CV Axle itself. If I pull on the center shaft while it is removed and hold the inner axle portion, it does slide out and back in. Is that normal? Again, no grinding or locking up when swiveling it.

 

Found this on youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auQ65qno2Eo
It isn't for a Tacoma but it does say the in and out is normal operation on the inner portion of the CV Axle.