After getting the truck back from the shop with the new gears, I have only driven 150 miles on them so far. I noticed yesterday and then again today that when I turn left at very low speeds, I have a grinding noise. It only does it at certain depths of left turn, and as soon as I straighten up the wheel, it goes away. After searching and reading many topics, I'm thinking it is either the unit bearings (hub assembly) or steering box. I don't think it is the new gears because I can't imagine that turning would make any difference on the gear lash. I also don't think it is the axle u-joints because there is no popping sound, just a rough grinding sound. I can lightly feel the vibration from it in the pedals/floorboards and in the steering wheel. And no, it is not the tires rubbing on anything as I turn.

Looking for anyone who had anything similar, and what they did to fix it.

I'm going to try jacking the truck up, turn the steering wheel to the left, and then go turn the tires and see if I can duplicate it and track it down a little better. But that will be later this weekend. Any other suggestions?
Thanks.

 

Dang, most people would come to you for advice on this, lol.

I'd ballpark your steering box, only cause mine is a 2wd and that's what I'd figure if mine was grinding. Maybe some power steering fluid?

 

Ya, I should know more after I can do some troubleshooting this weekend, but I thought I would post it anyway figuring someone might have had something similar, and I can look at whatever it was that fixed it for them.

 

Hey ya know, ya get this all the time, but what was your most significant upgrade you've done to your truck?

My gut tells me the fastman, but those 1.7 might take the trophy.

 

B&G was the most noticable by seat of the pants. 1.7's would be the next best, followed by the Fastman or gears. Kegger mod is up there too, but it's hard to say for sure since it was part of a plenum leak repair, so the gains were more then might have been had I only done the kegger mod.

 

What's the B&G? Computer chip?

 

Complete reflash of the PCM will all new parameters.

 

How do you go about doing that? And did you ever try the 1.6 rr, or are those stock? Never really looked into it to be honest.

 

There is a company that you senf your PCM to to get it flashed.

Stock is 1.6.

After thinking about my grinding noise, I think it just about has to be the hubs. Steering box wouldn't grind as the tuck is moving, only as I turn the steering wheel. This is a grind associated with forward momentum of the truck, so it must be the hubs.

 

Sometimes not all a ujoint will make that sound (no bearings in the cap) , did you jack the front up and check to see if it is the hub ? hands on the 12 and 6 on the tire , if the hub is that bad when you do jack the front up it will seem like the lugs are not tight and the wheel just bobbles.. Have fun if it is a wheel hub on a good day there a pain in the ***..