Slight hum/vibration in steering wheel when hard left turn.

Hey fellas,

2017 SR5 TRD Crewmax w/ 12000 miles.

I recently installed 6112s @ 1.9in lift in the front. Install was uneventful, alignment done afterwards. No diff drop.

I'm getting a very slight, short "HUMMM" sound in the cabin (originates around the wheels), that can be felt as a slight vibration in the steering wheel, as I approach full left turn at very slow speeds. Easiest way to recreate it is pull out of my driveway onto the street. As the wheels pass 70-90% left turn and I accelerate from 0-10 mph, I get the sound for less than a second, then its gone. At higher speeds, I either don't notice it due to other noises, or its not happening. It doesn't happen as I pass back by to straighten the wheel out. Also haven't been able to recreate it in reverse.

Any guesses?

Thanks!
Jim

 

Anyone? It's almost like second long groan while turning hard left at low speed accelerating

 

Any luck on finding what the problem was? I am having same issue. Slight humming sound during slow turns that I just noticed 3 weeks after 6112 install at 1.9 setting.

 

A groaning or growling sounds can sometimes point to a wheel bearing.

Being its at slow speeds while at a hard left turn could also point to a wheel bearing also, but thats just from my experience.

Your truck is still pretty new which works against the idea of a bad bearing, though.

Is the sound constent once you have the wheel fully turned?

 

Thanks for the response. It makes the sound while turning and goes away once the wheel is straight. Passenger axle did pop out though during install of the shocks and replaced with new axle. Not sure if that could be the cause.

 

Nope never fixed!! I took it to the dealer but of course couldn't reproduce it. Then it groaned all the next day.

Please PM me if you figure it out, I'm stumped and it still happens daily

 

For me the sound comes in the first 30-60% of the turn. At full lock, it's not present. My truck is also new, so wheel bearing seems odd. It's like a deep groan with a little bit of vibration felt in the cab and steering wheel.

 

Wish i could be more helpful, this one is new to me. Did the dealer check anything or just go for the ride?

And it wouldn't hurt to check the power steering fluid.

 

Could it be the power steering making some noise due to the workload?

 

We just went for a ride. Of course, I take 1000 turns and it is dead silent. They topped off the fluid. Anything else fluid related I could do in the driveway?

 

Sure! It seems like it is power steering related, but what would cause increased load? I did install 6112s in the front at 1.9in of lift. Anything in that install that could be over or under tightened now that would impact steering?

 

I was thinking that upgraded suspension usually comes with bigger wheels, tires, or both. Thats where I figured an increased load would come from. Mine makes more of a groan at greater than 85% to lock, but then I'm running 37s with a 7" lift. I expect I'll have to replace something before most people anyway.

 

I have the same noise and its been there since before the level kit and bigger tires were put on. Took it to dealer before the level/tires and they couldn't replicate. I just live with it now.

 

I'm about there as well. I get headaches trying to recreate it... Then I pull out of my driveway the next day and get a 3 second groan and vibration through the wheel.

Just came out of my 36k warranty last week.

 

I have a 17 CM TRD and I've had this same issue. I'm at 50k miles now and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. My 1st thought was wheel bearing but I dont know everything seems fine from the eye test and jacking it up there isnt any play. I had a Tacoma and at 62k I lost a passenger side wheel bearing but after that never had another wheel bearing problem and I traded it at 192k

 

Start saving for a new rack and pinion

 

We solved the problem on mine. It was metal grinding sound during slow turns and disappears once the turn was made and steering wheel straighten out. The problem was the backing plate. We just pushed it in more and totally solved the grinding sound.

 

Can you provide additional details or pics? I'd like to explore this on my truck but I'm not sure what your talking about.

Are you talking about the thin plate behind the brake rotors?

 

Yes, I'm having the same problem here on my 2014 1794 after a 3" Toytec Boss all-around suspension lift. I first noticed it when turning about 30-70% left to park on a hill, moving less than 5mph. It sounds atrocious outside the truck and embarrassing, though it's not real loud.

Happens every time I turn left the same % at around the same MPH, like entering my driveway. I'm glad to know I share the problem with others, but I want to find the solution. It has to be simple...

 

You just perfectly described my symptoms! Now... we wait for someone to figure out what it is. I don't personally think its the actual rack and pinion if its this common among us. And for me - it started immediately after the install, with like 12k miles.

-Jim

 

Jim, just curious here.. any updates for you? Were you ever able to find any relief?

Early on it was infrequent. I can actually replicate it perfectly now on U-turns or sharp lefts at slow speeds (not full lock, 3-5mph). Power steering fluid level seems fine and no leaks noticed near/around CV boots. Haven't taken it in yet, but likely will soon.

Has anyone else had this or better yet, actually fixed it?

 

Nope, I never figured it out. And I think its actually a bit worse now since I can hear it in both directions. My only lead is it seems to be present when its cold out. Back in the early spring when still under warranty, I tried to replicate it at the dealership and couldn't. From that day forward, I don't remember having heard it until it got cold again. Right now, Feb in Virginia... I can replicate it every turn.

 

For the most part, that's when mine is more "vocal" too. It still happened through the summer/fall, but mostly during a 90% left turn.

I did a bit more research and investigating this weekend since the rain and snow on Saturday turned to a beautiful, sunny ~60° on Sunday. I pulled into a lube shop to get my UCA boots greased and asked the guy to double-check my power-steering fluid while everything was "hot" under the hood. He said it was a bit low after all, but not bad, so he topped it off. He didn't have much insight to provide on the sound, but it made me think about any seeping or leaking if the fluid was low. I hadn't noticed anything before as I last posted, but I also hadn't given it a thorough inspection either. So I went home to check it out.

Turns out, the driver-side tie rod arm accordion boot had some PS fluid on the bottom of it. Nothing serious, but enough to notice it pretty easily. I couldn't tell if it was fresh and I didn't see anything else of concern or indication. I looked it up online more and found the below articles/posts.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/rack-and-pinion-replacement-on-2014-tundra-crewmax-4x4.26872/
https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/steering-operation-after-adding-new-steering-stops.255938/

(These are more for the 1st-2nd gen, but still helpful)
https://www.tundras.com/threads/power-steering-leak.48461/
https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/...ck-thread-with-solutions.451194/#post-5660218
I looked into the "backing plate" (dust shield?) rubbing as Mkpw24 described above, and that doesn't seem like that's the issue at all. I think Wiscdave hit the nail on the head, unfortunately. It seems Tundras are just notorious for rack issues relating to hydraulic over-pressurization on the internal seals. Having a lift and/or bigger tires would only exacerbate that force or "hyper-extend" the rod arms. With a lift on a stock rack and pinion, full-lock is should probably happen sooner than the 100% mark. I'd say more like 80-85% on Tundras, being conservative to not over-pressure the internal rack seals. Maybe adding steering stops could also help preventing full-lock at 100%. IDK.. just a theory...

I'm going to do a PS flush/fill with some Royal Purple fluid and see if it goes away even slightly or if anymore seeping/leaking occurs.