Front end noise

Tiny
CAMP.
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA
  • 4.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
My truck under suspension is rust free and I lube it up every other oil change.
Okay, I noticed if i'm parked, or driving, and decide to make a u-turn my tires make a squealing sound, and I can feel the front end goes into a sliding or skipping, as I'm making the u-turn. Other than that, tt drives and run just great.
What you guys think?
Thank you.
Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 7:21 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,742 POSTS
This is common on a number of models. Big, heavy GM cars from the '60s and '70s in particular had this characteristic, especially when turning sharply to one side while backing up. The two front corners of the car would bounce alternately up and down. On those car, you could reduce that wobble by lowering the caster settings on the two front wheels, but that resulted in a reduction in stability, and an increase in steering wander.

The first thing to do is check the alignment. Caster will not be adjustable, but pay attention to "total toe". If that is correct, look at "toe-out-on-turns". That is a designed-in angle set by the orientation of the steering arms coming off the spindles. They are angled in significantly relative to the center-line of the vehicle. Doing so causes the wheel turning away from the vehicle to turn sharper since it's making a tighter circle. If one of those arms is bent, that wheel will not turn the correct amount compared to the other wheel. The clue to that is that wobble you described will be different between turning left and right.

Most alignment computers can measure toe-out-on-turns. If that is within specs on both sides, chalk this up to part of the vehicle's personality.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 4:47 PM
Tiny
CAMP.
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
First. Thank you for the quick response to my question. So, you say try making the turn the other direction, and if the vehicle do the same thing going the other direction then it's my vehicle make up. Nothing I could do to correct the issue.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,742 POSTS
That's right. I haven't really noticed this much lately on any models, but the toe-out-on-turns measurements will tell you if a steering arm is bent. The two measurements should be the same and within specs.

It's pretty hard to bend a steering arm. If the vehicle is crashed sideways into a tire, it's usually the inner tie rod end that gets bent when you have rack and pinion steering.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 8:21 PM
Tiny
CAMP.
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
Once again, thank you for your quick response.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 8:43 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links