Help me understand what’s causing this noise- 2024

Hey gents, I have a 24 tundra. Over the last few months I’ve started to hear this noise that’s click or a grind or a rub noise (I’ll attach a video). It’s coming from the front, maybe the tie rod, or the UCA, I have no idea it’s driving me insane. I have the cornfed 2 inch level done, and I’ve upgraded the upper control arms at the same time

in the video seen in the link, I have someone turning the wheel ever so slightly back and forth . But it’s any time the wheel turns. I’m wondering if the shop that did the install, which is a great shop screwed something up? please see the videos linked below.
https://imgur.com/a/xfqTob3

 

Something certainly sounds loose.
Just spitballing here...
If you didn't have any noise immediately after the shop installed your lift, maybe they left something not torqued to spec and it has loosened further over time?

If my truck, my step 1 would be: get it up on ramps and get a torque wrench on everything front suspension related.

Start with the easy stuff first: wheels on tight?

 

Just noticed your avatar pic.
Blueprint TRD Offroad?
Nice choice!

 

Haha yup!!! Same decals as yours too. Thanks for your input! And yup it didn’t start till a few months after the installation. Super odd. I’m gonna call the shop first thing in the morning and try to get it there asap.

 

I would take it back to the shop and have them make an inspection of their work.

 

From what I can see, hard to tell with the camera moving around, it appears that when there is a change in direction with the steering the noise is heard, correct? Does the noise continue when the wheel is only turned one way or only when there is a change in direction.
If you turn the wheel left, stop then continue left does it still happen or only when direction is changed? Have you tried holding all visible points while someone turns the wheel to see if there is a more pronounced feel at a certain point?
Better yet get a long screwdriver (I have one that is 2' long) or a mechanics stethoscope. Do the same test in your video and put the end of the screwdriver on different points and the end of the handle pressed up to your ear canal. The closer you get to whatever is making the clicking sound will be your problem point. Something like that should be easy to pinpoint with this method. The mechanics stethoscope might work better with the moving parts so you can keep your head still instead of it moving with the screwdriver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U927cYhQXB4&t=39
It doesn't have to be metal all the way through, but it does make it more amplified than a plastic end. I have a plastic end and it works fine, just a little more muted.

Try lifting the front end and see if it still happens with the tires off the ground, I'm thinking if it does it won't be as noticeable.

Id' gather to think it may be something that just needs to be retorqued. Anytime a truck is lifted all nuts and bolts should be retorqued after 100 miles and again after 500 (or when something like this is heard).

 

A 3' chunk of old garden hose also works well as a make-shift stethoscope.

I'm guessing the noise is coming from the steering gear assembly.

 

I’m pretty ignorant to this kind of the stuff. Based on your assumption, would that be caused by the install of the UCA/level? They have to pull a lot off to put a UCA on so it’s possible?

 

Thanks for this! Yea the shop requires you come in at 500 miles to have everything looked at again. I just can’t imagine it being anything but the work they did.

 

Did you figure out what this was? My stock 2024 TRD off-road Limited is making a similar noise when the wheel is turned from left to right.

 

Yea. Was just my UCA. I do have after market ones. Uni ball ones. Just needed to be cleaned.

 

Cleaned? How would that affect what sounded like an excess amount of play in a joint or bushing?

 

Brand new uniball UCAs. Went to the shop that did the install. They cleaned em with some over the counter cleaner and put some lube on both ball joints. Sound or issue never came back.

 

Upper ball joints on my 23 truck with Readylift SST kit control arms required greasing every 5000 miles or they squeaked.
Traded that one in yesterday for a no lift 25 1794….

 

Yea I’ll never lift again. All it does is bring on unnecessary issues. Unless you 1000000% need the ground clearance, then na.