Noise Through Steering Column

So, about a week ago, I noticed an odd noise in the cabin of the '21 Pro. I am close to the end of the warranty, so I brought it in.

The noise seems to be coming into the cabin via the steering column, and only at highway speeds. If I put my ear to the horn, it's clear as a bell - sounds like a rattle of something like thick foil or something rubbing on something else? Hard to describe. I tried to record on my phone, but the TRD exhaust rules (ruins?) the day. But, it's VERY annoying and very audible.

There is no correlation to turning, bumps, etc. Just highway speeds. No felt vibration that I can notice. Just this annoying sound. And, it seems to be getting worse.

The dealership of course had no idea - and I have to bring it back and get a loaner. They pulled the skid plate (probably with an impact wrench) thinking rocks were on it. No dice. Then they told me that three of my four tires were manufactured in different years. I told them I bought this right off the truck and these are the original tires. And, I have never had tire noise without SOME felt vibration or whatnot, so I am skeptical.

Has anyone ever heard or experienced anything similar? Suggestions on what to look at?

Thanks.

 

It might help to describe the problem in more detail. The first thing to do is establish whether it is a resonance (always the same frequency...typically you'd look for a loose part) or whether the frequency changes with vehicle speed (then you'd examine rotating components). Does the sound change at all with vehicle speed? What do you mean by highway speeds (narrow speed range or broad?)?

You might try wrapping the steering wheel and column with towels to see if the noise is actually coming from the column (be careful if you do any development testing!). If you can "turn it off" that suggests there's something loose within the column itself or maybe something related to the steering system or front wheels. With the vehicle off you can try thumping the steering wheel with your hand to see if you hear anything strange/loose and you could also have someone pull at the tie rods and wheels while you listen from inside the vehicle.

Have you demonstrated the noise for the dealer and have they acknowledged that they hear it too?

 

It's definitely primarily audible through the steering column. If I put my ear the steering column on the highway, it's much louder and you can definitely tell it's being transmitted through the steering wheel. Whether it's originating there or not or the snowing column is simply a conduit remains to be seen.

The dealer has heard and acknowledged the noise. The noise is not vary in frequency with speed, but I can only hear it at highway speeds at about 60 or more miles per hour.

No perceived vibration that I can feel, and I already tapped around the wheel and column to listen for anything loose. Nothing. It really sounds like something loose and at speed it vibrates enough to be heard.

The dealer wants it back next week and they are going to give me a loaner, and apparently they called Toyota for advice.

 

Have you checked to see if the hardware securing your splash guards inside your wheel wells is secure and not loose?

 

First thing I checked ... I'd already been down that road ... Sound is definitely from a different location. I replaced the splash guards with the Rad Rubber parts ... Still tight

 

So, drive some today. It gets louder with speed, but the pitch doesn't really change - and it's inconsistent - really sounds like something loose rattling gently and as vibration increases with speed, it gets louder.

 

Does it sound kinda like someone playing with a wrapper from a stick of gum just behind the area above the steering wheel? If so, I got it too. I have to listen very closely to hear it. Only hear it on the highway at speed. Almost like a little mouse back there scratching around. It’s not a consistent sound.

 

It's scary to visualize someone putting their ear to the horn at highway speeds sounds.

 

Could be the needle bearing in the front diff. Almost makes a humming noise at highway speeds. And will get worse over time. The needle bearing is a common issue with 4runner and tacomas

 

I managed a recording ... I'll try and upload tomorrow.

 

Thanks, that's helpful.

 

Yes! That's a good description. It's getting louder, too.

 

Mine hasn’t ever gotten louder. And I have to listen for it. But it’s been there since new. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. It doesn’t bother me. It’s not that loud or noticeable. But like you, I am curious haha.

 

My noise is loud and very annoying ... They are going to have to fix it. My wife can hear it from the passenger seat.

 

Here is a recording of the noise if anyone is curious. Listen closely and you'll hear the rattling sound. It starts at about 7 seconds or so.

 

I can definitely hear something

 

Update - Toyota has the truck and gave me a loaner for its extended stay. I'll update this thread with the found issue once they know in case anyone is curious.

 

Sounds a lot like an issue I started having with my 2020 recently. Any fix? I took it into the dealership and they tried to sell me on new tires... happens at 50+ mph and its coming from the steering column.

 

No, they kept it for a few days and give me a loaner and took a bunch of things apart and put them back together, and rotated the tires and the noise went away for a few days. Now it's intermittently back again. They told me that they had fully documented it and if it came back it would be covered even though my warranty is about ready to roll over.

I don't like the terra grapplers anyway, so I may just go ahead and throw new tires on it, they have 35k miles on them.

 

The rubber splash guards in wheel well in front are attached with plastic push pin things and the parts will make a ruckus when they rub together.

 

Yeah, I had that issue about a year ago and replaced the guards with Rad Rubber parts, and those have been great. This noise is different, but I did re-check them and they seem fine.

 

I'm having the same issue with my 2020 4Runner, TRD Pro. It's that same squeak sound in the steering column I believe, but mines more intermittent, almost like a squeaky bed spring. It only happens from about 42-60 mph, but it's getting worse. The Toyota dealer I had look at it, thought it was my bumper because it was cracked from a hit and run, but that's now fixed and the sound hasn't changed. No idea what it is at this point.

 

Well, my update is that the dealer really thought the tires were the culprit. I was skeptical, as I was not feeling any vibration that seemed abnormal. After a few days, the noise came back, like you say, intermittently again. So, I bit the bullet and ditched the Nittos with about 36k miles on them for new Falken Wildpeak AT3's.

It's been well over a week, and no noise. And, these tires are certainly considerably quieter and smoother, not to mention a much better tire overall from what I have read. So, I don't know. Maybe it was the tires, and I had just become accustomed to whatever noise/vibration I was experiencing. That said - something WAS still making that noise, and IMO from how it sounded, it sounds like something that COULD have been secured or isolated if it could have been identified.

 

Well, hopefully that could be my issue as well. I'm at 38K on those Nitto's and I've been trying to decide which tires to replace them with because they've been terrible on wet roads. We just moved to NC a year ago from Utah and it rains so much more here. The noise started about 5K ago. I'll update on this post once I upgrade. I have my doubts like you since it feels like it's the steering column, but I'm open to this idea. Thanks for your feedback and updates.

 

So, I stand corrected. I had some new Falken WP AT3's put on a few days ago, and the squeak is completely gone. I didn't think that would fix the issue, but it has.

 

I have a similar sound on stock tires now. Falken's get installed tomorrow.

 

I've found the Falkens to be all-around better ... Despite the more aggressive tread, they are even quieter and smoother on the road. The Nittos are garbage IMO.

 

mine just started making this sounds as well, I noticed it when I turned down the music now that’s all I hear lol

any idea if it’s something else other then the tires? I’m on Yokohamas

 

Tires were the only thing that resolved my issue. I've been on the Falken's for a while now, and so far the vibration has never returned.

 

I made an appointment to rotate my tires I’ll see if that’s my issue, mine are only 3k miles old so I don’t really want to swap out tires