Tire Rub on my 99 Ex Cab Taco?

[Arivalsend]

Ok I have searched and have not found much on a problem that I am having. I wanted to start a seperate thread to address the problem aside from my build thread and so here it is. I have a 1999 Tacoma Ex Cab. I recently put on Donahoes/Deavers w 5100s. And Wheeler's steelies with Toyo AT's. After doing suspension and wheels/tires I have come to a problem that I just cannot figure out. I picked this vehicle up in very poor shape and so it may have to do primarily with a passenger side push on the cv and uca/lca. I have replaced everything but the cv's. And also had the frame straightened. The truck did drive after a bit of work and I did not notice a rubbing with its stock 30 9.5 tires and rims.

On bare pavement at any speed the truck has a very consistent vibration/rub sound. It increases when my tire speed/revs increase and is present if I have the engine engaged or am just coasting along with the truck in nuetral. It happens like clockwork and goes away once I hit a snowy patch of road. It happens if I am in 4wd or 2wd and seems worse when I am slowing down (ie I dont have power to the wheels). I can only come to conclude the it is drivetrain/tire related as it really only happens with this current setup. I have had the truck aligned and everything checks out that way. I have also done all the fluids and grease zerks in the powertrain (transmission, t-case, diffs). I have also pulled the wheels and had them rebalanced several times. I even went so far as to replace the rims in the advent that one of them was bent. Still no solution. I am running 265/75/R16 Toyo AT's. This is the first set that I have had but the noise seems far too consistant to be tire noise.

My one thought is that maybe I have a bent CV as I believe those turn irregardless of if you are in 4wd or not. I am really out of options/guess work here and am hoping for any info or thoughts. I figured if anyone may know its you guys. I am stumped and you know how that feels Thanks all and let me know if I have left any essential details out of the picture.

 

[njtaco]

My WAG is a damaged wheel bearing. You stated it was hit on that side, yes? Junkyard a low mileage spindle with bearing to be on the safe side, in case your spindle is bend/damaged. Carefully torque ALL fasteners to the FSM specs, and loctite where required, especially the 4 lower ball joint screws/bolts.

Good luck...

 

[Arivalsend]

My WAG is a damaged wheel bearing. You stated it was hit on that side, yes? Junkyard a low mileage spindle with bearing to be on the safe side, in case your spindle is bend/damaged. Carefully torque ALL fasteners to the FSM specs, and loctite where required, especially the 4 lower ball joint screws/bolts.

Good luck...

Thanks for the thoughts. I had not considered checking the spindle. The vehicle lost a wheel and went into the ditch that is what caused the damage....or so I have been told. I have blocked the vehicle and run the tires and found no play or wobble in them. Would a subtle bend cause this type of vibration? Is there anyway of testing it before I pull it and find another. I am way up in the UP and there are about 5 tacos total in this town of Ford and Dodge monsters. So I will have to find one and have it shipped in. It would be nice to have a way of testing it. Hmm but great suggestion I will look into it today.

 

[Arivalsend]

well you were right

NJ that prediction was spot on! I went out into the garage and pulled the wheel, caliper/rotor and found that the bearings on that cv spindle were really bound up and are rough as hell when I turn it. I cannot determine if the cv itself sustained damage but I am hoping that is fine. I am currently looking around for a spindle and am going to follow your advice and just replace the whole works. I did not check the other side, I plan to jack it up as well and take a good look. I am thinking that if this was not the cause of the problem it certainly was not helping anything. The funny thing was that I had checked that very wheel the usual top and bottom rock as well as the spin. I think that with the larger tire on there it just spun irregardless. In any case thanks for the post and I will update this once I can get another spindle assembly. :26_7_2:

 

[njtaco]

I'm glad this is working out. The CV joint and shaft is probably fine. If you are concerned, pick one up at salvage for a core, and install a rebuilt when the bearing/spindle is changed. Then keep your old one for a "trail spare." It will be worth the money just for peace of mind, especially if salvage parts are hard to get in your region.

Check TTORA.com for a spindle and CV shaft...they go cheap every so often.

Was your truck eligible for the ball joint recall? Have the dealer run your VIN to see. You may get ball joints and alignment from Toyota under the recall. I don't remember the years affected.

 

[taugust]

A simple check, and maybe you have already. Since the wheel came off, perhaps the brake rotor splash guard on the inside of the rotor is bent and contacting the rotor.

Tim