Creaking Noise Front Driver's Side Mystery

Hey guys, pretty new to 4runners...got my 2006 Limited a few months ago after my Wrangler was totalled. Yesterday when driving home from work, it developed a creaking sound that appears to be coming from the front driver's side. It seems to happen in a not easily repeatable pattern. It can occur while braking, accelerating, turning, going over a bump, or driving straight at low speeds. Gets drowned out by road noise at faster speeds. It's also repeatable when the vehicle is off and parked by either bouncing the vehicle standing on the driver's side rock slider and by jacking up the vehicle on the LCA (done to look for ball joint play). Creaking really is the best word I can use to describe it. I can't see any physical damage, but it's a very apparent and frequent noise that started abruptly, so I'm worried about driving it until I have a "diagnosis."

Things I'm considering include bushings, strut issue (maybe?), ball joints (even though I didn't really appreciate any play in the tire). Please let me know if there are good ways to test for the first two issues or if there are any other possible problems you can think of that I can look into!

Fairly high mileage vehicle (190k), but seems very well taken care of. In the last year, it had both front wheel bearings, both front brake pads, and the driver's front caliper and axle shaft replaced as well as a bunch of under the hood work and maintenance. Not sure if it'll be relevant, but it does have a 3" lift.

Thanks in advance for any help! Let me know if you have questions!

 

If the same sound is present when you arent moving then it shouldnt be the driveline. Did the LCA squeak when you jacked it up? Does it squeak every bounce/time you get on the slider and jump? Is it particular to the driver vs passenger side? Metal on metal sound is rather distinct, if it isnt that then likely LBJ, UBJ, LCA/UCA bushings, or something else loose? theres a lot under there... what about transmission fluid piping hangers? heat shield or bash plate loose?

You have ability to take pictures or video and upload?

 

if you get the tire off the ground you can do the 3 and 9 test 12 & 6 test. How to Check if a Ball Joint is Bad

Could be sway bar links or bushing as well.

 

Check the LCA bushings. They're very likely toast at 190K miles and being rubber, creaking is well within the possible sounds.

Not mine but to illustrate the point...

New - note how the rubber fills the space.


Old - rubber is shrunken and dried out.

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far everyone! I had already done the 9/3 and 12/6 tire tests...no issues there. When I get done with work, I'll definitely check out the LCA bushings as well! Do you think it's odd that the noise seemed to start so abruptly if it's the bushings?

When I jacked it up, it did make the creaking noise, yes.

It does make the noise every time you get on the side rail and bounce the vehicle, but sometimes requires more pressure than others (if that makes sense-sometimes it'll do it if I just step onto the side rail, sometimes you really actually have to bounce it).

Seems to be driver's side only. From what I can tell, the heat shield/bash plate look in place, but I'll give them another once over and check the piping hangers.

New to the forum, sorry...do you know if videos can only be uploaded through a computer? My phone isn't allowing me to upload video files (says it does not have an allowed extension).

 

About the bushings suddenly making noise, I don’t like being cynical but seems to me a seller could theoretically hose them down with WD-40 or similar to stop the squeak while trying to sell it.

 

If you can’t figure it out, Firestone does a diagnostic for cheap. I had to resort to that after a similar issue I had. I think they charged $10.

 

I just had my LCAs replaced because of a stuck caster/camber bolt. If it is the LCA here is the situation you’re in. They have to pull the LCA to replace the bushing. The cost difference is minimal between replacing the bushing and replacing the lca. Given you have 190k, if it is that lca bushing, I would replace the LCA entirely. An OEM LCA is $480 an aftermarket is 275.