Front wheel - high pitched squeak

Hey y'all,

First post on here - let me know if there's a better place for this.

l've got a 2012 4cyl 4x4 MT tacoma with 74k on it. Stock build, nothing crazy. A few weeks ago I started hearing a *really* high pitched squeal/squeaking coming from somewhere down in the wheels/steering rack area. The sound seems to oscillate in time with the speed of the wheels (i.e. not a steady squeak). At first it only happened on slight left turns, but now it's happening most of the time no matter where the wheels are positioned. I haven't been able to make a good recording of the sound because it only happens when driving between 10+50mph and is hard to capture without traffic/wind noise. Probably worth noting that the sound stops when the brakes are applied, where ever the wheels are pointing.

From the research I've done it seems like it could be shot wheel bearings or a power steering pump issue (I made sure enough fluid was there at least). Are there any other likely causes for this sound? Open to any thoughts and advice.

Thanks,
Henry

 

Wheel bearings most likely are going out.
Here ya go
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-press-service-4x4-prerunner.537080/

 

How do the brake pads look?

There is a metal tab that drags on the disc rotor when they get load. It makes lots of noise.

 

I had the truck inspected two weeks ago and they didn't say anything about the pads when I asked how the brakes looked. But I'll take a closer look/picture this evening.

 

could be dirt in the pads/calipers

I went mudding oh about a thousand times and a few times I had horrible screeching like that...

just needed to pop wheels and calipers (pita but saturday mechanic doable) and hose out the
mung and pick some tiny pebbles from pad groove. good to go after that

 

UPDATE: made a quick video to capture the sound. Let me know if it rings any bells.

 

sounds like pad wear scraper tang

or pebble


you need to get wheels off and take a real look at it

 

OP, did you figure out the issue? I seem to be having this happen also. Mine goes away with tapping the brakes or Turning the steering wheel slightly to the right. thanks for any info.

 

I never figured it out exactly - seemed to go away on its own. I asked a mechanic about it while the truck was in for something else, and he said his best guess was some rust or something caught up in the wheel bearing, but wasn't concerned. The sound stopped eventually after I did a long interstate drive.

 

Mine is doing it too. Same as described by Pokatink.

 

Have you looked at the brakes?

 

Could be Dust shield/backing plate on front brakes. Try bending it back.