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Strange sound from front wheels

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by iDrew, Feb 17, 2012.

  1. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:02 AM
    #1
    iDrew

    iDrew [OP] I spend too much on vehicles...

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    Title says it all.

    I have this strange chirping, squeaking, screeching, sound coming from my both of my front wheels. I have a 2002 Prerunner, Non -TRD.

    I jacked it up the other day, and yesterday, to see if I could figure out what the problem was and I found a couple of things:

    1) BOTH of the front wheels are rather hard to turn when off of the ground, moreso the passenger side than the driver side. After spraying some WD-40 on the rotors it made it a little easier to spin.

    2) I found it rather easy to move the wheel side to side, but here's the kicker, when I would move it, it would move the other wheel also and it would lock the steering wheel in place, but when I tried to move it again, it would move much less but it also would move the steering wheel ever so slightly. So I can't fully rule out a bad ball joint but it doesn't seem to be the problem.

    3) When I'm driving, there is a faint squeak of the wheels, and when I gently, and I mean GENTLY apply the brakes, it squeaks much louder. When I apply the brakes harder, the sound stops and returns when at the end of a completed stop. Obviously it goes away when I stop.

    5) I found that when I took my Driver-Side front wheel off the bolts that fix the wheel into place were rather easy to move, left and right that is. Not quite sure if they moved in and out though..

    6) I found that the McGard locking lug nut keys are very shady and they tend to break... So I can't really do anything to get the locks off now, and I also have to register the locking lug nuts with McGard and spend $15 on a new key. Needless to say, I'm rather UNimpressed with their OVERLY PRICED products.

    Those are the things that I found. Now my question is, what do you think it could be? Keep in mind that I did replace the front brakes less than 5k miles ago. Yes, I did do the job myself and I felt everything went rather well, and my stepfather would likely agree.

    As for the locking lug nuts, anyone know a cheap way to get them off?

    I do still have the factory set that came with the truck, but there's only 3 of them since Hibdon Tire lost 1. They did however buy me a new set free of charge.

    Anyways, any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks, Drew.
     
  2. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:06 AM
    #2
    Hiatt1991

    Hiatt1991 Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like your wheel bearings are going bad. Mine make the same noise. Ill tell you what happens when I put them in next weekend.
     
  3. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:06 AM
    #3
    87xjmike

    87xjmike Well-Known Member

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    i have no experience with locking lug nuts so i can't comment to them but is your truck aligned properly? The screaching could be from heal/toe thats way off. I had a screach, thought it was wheel bearings but it didn't go away after i replaced them, got it aligned and it went away.
     
  4. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:09 AM
    #4
    JDMcQ

    JDMcQ Well-Known Member

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    You sprayed WD40 on the rotors?
     
  5. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:09 AM
    #5
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Can't really address the other issues but I'd make sure I used some brake cleaner on your rotors & clean that WD40 shit off....
     
  6. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:10 AM
    #6
    JDMcQ

    JDMcQ Well-Known Member

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    And hope that the pads didn't soak it up.
     
  7. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:11 AM
    #7
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    x10
     
  8. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:12 AM
    #8
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    ^^ has my vote^^
     
  9. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:13 AM
    #9
    JDMcQ

    JDMcQ Well-Known Member

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    I would have to guess, and it is just that, a guess, that your brakes are hanging up. How do the pads look? Remove the calipers and spin the rotor. Does is spin freely without the pad rubbing on it.

    Then, no matter what you do, clean the WD40 off the rotors and install new pads.
     
  10. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:18 AM
    #10
    iDrew

    iDrew [OP] I spend too much on vehicles...

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    I just drove it and braked really hard to get it off. It seemed to have temporarily fixed it but it comes and goes. It's rather, inconsistent.

    And, again, I can't get the wheels off anymore. Thanks to those POS McGard keys...

    How much are new wheel bearings? And what's the likelihood of BOTH front wheel bearings going out at the same time?

    I feel like the brakes are semi-engaged... And, this may be irrelevant but, when I let off the gas, the truck seems to not like coasting while in drive. Yet when I slide it into neutral, it seems happy again.

    Thanks for the quick replies!
     
  11. Feb 17, 2012 at 10:21 AM
    #11
    JDMcQ

    JDMcQ Well-Known Member

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    Find a good mechanic.
     
  12. Feb 21, 2012 at 11:01 AM
    #12
    iDrew

    iDrew [OP] I spend too much on vehicles...

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    Any word on how it went?
     
  13. Feb 21, 2012 at 12:46 PM
    #13
    Box Rocket

    Box Rocket Well-Known Member

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    Have you checked your brake pads? Totally possible they are rubbing the wear indicators, or worse down to the metal backing plates which will screw up your rotors.

    Could be wheel bearings but I'm putting money on brake pads.
     
  14. Feb 21, 2012 at 6:11 PM
    #14
    JSFoster75

    JSFoster75 Well-Known Member

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    To remove locking lug nuts: Buy a cheap, and I do mean cheap, socket that is 1 size to small to fit over the round locking lug nut... Then hammer it on and remove it... You'll need 1 per locking lug nut, and one that will form to the lug nut when you hammer it on, hence the need for a cheap socket made from cruddy metal... A socket with the variable position teeth works better than a hexagonal socket...
     
  15. Feb 22, 2012 at 8:42 PM
    #15
    iDrew

    iDrew [OP] I spend too much on vehicles...

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    OOH! Gracias! That's what I heard but I'd need 4 new lugs.
     
  16. Feb 22, 2012 at 8:45 PM
    #16
    JSFoster75

    JSFoster75 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, but you can buy some new lugs fairly reasonably... I think they sell them in packs of 5 or 6 at the dealership...
     
  17. Feb 23, 2012 at 11:03 AM
    #17
    iDrew

    iDrew [OP] I spend too much on vehicles...

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    Reasonable as in less than $20?
     
  18. Feb 23, 2012 at 11:08 AM
    #18
    fireturk41

    fireturk41 I like to break shit!

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    go to napa or advance auto
     
  19. Mar 7, 2012 at 11:21 AM
    #19
    iDrew

    iDrew [OP] I spend too much on vehicles...

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    So yesterday I got the new lugnut key in the mail and jacked the car up and proceeded to take off the rotor and caliper. Old pads are out and they are worm down to nothing. What's strange is that my stepfather and I put new pads on about 5 months ago. Honestly I'm not 100% sure how long ago but they definitely shouldn't have worn out by now. So I get the new rotors on and put the caliper back on and it turns out that Autozone gave me the brake pads for a 2002, now keep in mind that mine is a 2002, abut they didnt have the holes in them for the pins that hold the caliper in. So I drove up to Autozone in my Ford Focus which only has 2 gears mind you, and had the look up the actual pads. What's weird is that the pads for the 2001 had the pin holes. So that either means that mine has had the previous years brakes put on the front or Toyota changed something up with the 2002. I don't know what the deal was but I got everything put on, and the annoying chirping, squeaking, screeching sound went away.
     
  20. Sep 29, 2017 at 6:56 PM
    #20
    iDrew

    iDrew [OP] I spend too much on vehicles...

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    God damn, I was a dumb child...
     

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