Rubbing sound coming from front end.

My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At first I
thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked underneath
and have not identified any foreign matter. And the sound continues when
the brake is depressed.

- It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
- The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the wheel.
- It is coming from the front end.
- It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
- It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to disappear or
at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).

I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today but I
don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
responses.

"grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:HQPUg.3002$Lv3.250@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
> My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At first I
> thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked underneath
> and have not identified any foreign matter. And the sound continues when
> the brake is depressed.
>
> - It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
> - The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the wheel.
> - It is coming from the front end.
> - It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
> - It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to disappear
> or at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).
>
> I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today but I
> don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
> responses.
>[/color]

What happens if you coast down a hill in neutral, or (carefully) with engine
off?

"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:W4QUg.2263$ya1.792@news02.roc.ny...[color=blue]
> "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
> news:HQPUg.3002$Lv3.250@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=green]
>> My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At first
>> I thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked
>> underneath and have not identified any foreign matter. And the sound
>> continues when the brake is depressed.
>>
>> - It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
>> - The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the wheel.
>> - It is coming from the front end.
>> - It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
>> - It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to disappear
>> or at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).
>>
>> I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today but I
>> don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
>> responses.
>>[/color]
>
> What happens if you coast down a hill in neutral, or (carefully) with
> engine off?
>[/color]

Sound does not go away with clutch in.

Check your brake discs for runout.

"grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:L4RUg.4893$Y24.1992@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
>
> "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:W4QUg.2263$ya1.792@news02.roc.ny...[color=green]
>> "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:HQPUg.3002$Lv3.250@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=darkred]
>>> My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At first
>>> I thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked
>>> underneath and have not identified any foreign matter. And the sound
>>> continues when the brake is depressed.
>>>
>>> - It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
>>> - The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the wheel.
>>> - It is coming from the front end.
>>> - It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
>>> - It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to
>>> disappear or at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).
>>>
>>> I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today but I
>>> don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
>>> responses.
>>>[/color]
>>
>> What happens if you coast down a hill in neutral, or (carefully) with
>> engine off?
>>[/color]
>
> Sound does not go away with clutch in.
>[/color]

Sounds like it could be the Wheel bearing or Spindle bearing. Have you
tried lifting the wheel and holding the wheel at 3and9 o'clock seeing
if there excess play?

Noon-Air wrote:[color=blue]
> Check your brake discs for runout.
>
> "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
> news:L4RUg.4893$Y24.1992@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=green]
> >
> > "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:W4QUg.2263$ya1.792@news02.roc.ny...[color=darkred]
> >> "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
> >> news:HQPUg.3002$Lv3.250@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> >>> My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At first
> >>> I thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked
> >>> underneath and have not identified any foreign matter. And the sound
> >>> continues when the brake is depressed.
> >>>
> >>> - It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
> >>> - The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the wheel.
> >>> - It is coming from the front end.
> >>> - It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
> >>> - It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to
> >>> disappear or at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).
> >>>
> >>> I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today but I
> >>> don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
> >>> responses.
> >>>
> >>
> >> What happens if you coast down a hill in neutral, or (carefully) with
> >> engine off?
> >>[/color]
> >
> > Sound does not go away with clutch in.
> >[/color][/color]

Bearings were packed about 15k ago.


"Hanke1" <chris_f@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1159984819.670229.136730@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Sounds like it could be the Wheel bearing or Spindle bearing. Have you
> tried lifting the wheel and holding the wheel at 3and9 o'clock seeing
> if there excess play?
>
> Noon-Air wrote:[color=green]
>> Check your brake discs for runout.
>>
>> "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:L4RUg.4893$Y24.1992@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=darkred]
>> >
>> > "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> > news:W4QUg.2263$ya1.792@news02.roc.ny...
>> >> "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
>> >> news:HQPUg.3002$Lv3.250@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> >>> My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At
>> >>> first
>> >>> I thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked
>> >>> underneath and have not identified any foreign matter. And the sound
>> >>> continues when the brake is depressed.
>> >>>
>> >>> - It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
>> >>> - The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the wheel.
>> >>> - It is coming from the front end.
>> >>> - It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
>> >>> - It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to
>> >>> disappear or at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).
>> >>>
>> >>> I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today but
>> >>> I
>> >>> don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
>> >>> responses.
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> What happens if you coast down a hill in neutral, or (carefully) with
>> >> engine off?
>> >>
>> >
>> > Sound does not go away with clutch in.
>> >[/color][/color]
>[/color]

I got under there and greased all the U-joints along the entire drive shaft
(thinking the drive shaft would be turning regardless whether the truck was
in gear or in neutral). I also checked the U-joints for play and they all
seem to be tight.

I have driven it for about 15 miles and all is quiet.



"grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:HQPUg.3002$Lv3.250@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
> My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At first I
> thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked underneath
> and have not identified any foreign matter. And the sound continues when
> the brake is depressed.
>
> - It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
> - The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the wheel.
> - It is coming from the front end.
> - It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
> - It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to disappear
> or at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).
>
> I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today but I
> don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
> responses.
>[/color]

"Noon-Air" <Noon-Air@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:6sydnWfbZ7eYe77YnZ2dnUVZ_o-dnZ2d@comcast.com...[color=blue]
> Check your brake discs for runout.
>[/color]


I thought about that but if that were true the sound would be consistent -
which it isn't. Sometimes it is present and sometimes it is not although it
seems to be getting more and more consistent.

The sound came back and I took the truck out on a hill, shut it off and
coasted. The sound continued but I believe I was better able to locate the
sound to the lower center left of the dash.

This could be it. Upon close inspection I also noticed the needle on the
speedometer moving ever so slightly with each sound.

Of course that could be because the speed is fluctuating slightly because
something (like a brake pad) is wearing on the discs.

Urgh!

"Noon-Air" <Noon-Air@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:jM6dndOkc5YKw7nYnZ2dnUVZ_rGdnZ2d@comcast.com...[color=blue]
>
> uh huh... and as the discs rotate and as they rub against the brake pads,
> they heat up from friction, and the warp goes away.[/color]

Wouldn't the warp just increase?
[color=blue]
> Question... you said the bearings were packed 15k ago... how long has the
> noise been there??[/color]

In the last 4k.
[color=blue]
> Ya think that the mechanic might have just tightened the axle nuts to 2
> grunts and a groan, instead of using a torque wrench??
>[/color]

I don't think so because of the time frame involved.

I have owned two 1990 pickups and both of them made a rubbing sound when
turning sharp to the left, such as in barely moving forward. I also was at
a ball park one time and witnessed another pickup sound the same way when it
pulled out from the parking space. I have never been able to determine what
it was. There was a recall issued last year for a steering rod - mine was
replaced and I am not sure if the noise is still there or not.
Clyde in VA

"Hanke1" <chris_f@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1159984819.670229.136730@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Sounds like it could be the Wheel bearing or Spindle bearing. Have you
> tried lifting the wheel and holding the wheel at 3and9 o'clock seeing
> if there excess play?
>
> Noon-Air wrote:[color=green]
> > Check your brake discs for runout.
> >
> > "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
> > news:L4RUg.4893$Y24.1992@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=darkred]
> > >
> > > "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > > news:W4QUg.2263$ya1.792@news02.roc.ny...
> > >> "grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
> > >> news:HQPUg.3002$Lv3.250@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> > >>> My '90 4Runner has developed a rubbing noise in the front end. At[/color][/color][/color]
first[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > >>> I thought it was a loose brake pad or foreign matter. I checked
> > >>> underneath and have not identified any foreign matter. And the[/color][/color][/color]
sound[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > >>> continues when the brake is depressed.
> > >>>
> > >>> - It is worse at first and seems to go away as the truck is driven.
> > >>> - The rubbing sound happens twice with every revolution of the[/color][/color][/color]
wheel.[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > >>> - It is coming from the front end.
> > >>> - It occurs if with the clutch in or out.
> > >>> - It occurs in first and second gear (by third gear it seems to
> > >>> disappear or at least is difficult to detect do to increased speed).
> > >>>
> > >>> I think I know what it is and am going to try to correct it today[/color][/color][/color]
but I[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > >>> don't want give my guess here because I don't want to influence any
> > >>> responses.
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >> What happens if you coast down a hill in neutral, or (carefully) with
> > >> engine off?
> > >>
> > >
> > > Sound does not go away with clutch in.
> > >[/color][/color]
>[/color]