Thank you for the tip. I’m definitely going to try this. Do you think it could stop the clunking I hear when driving over a bump?


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I appreciate the recommendation. I’ve never been one to do PM on the suspension (mainly because I didn’t know better). But I’m gonna start now and try to stave off any issues for a while.


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Clunking over bumps is usually from blown shocks/struts or sway bar links.

unfortunately no, greasing suspension parts wont fix a loose or worn part that causes clunking... as mentioned thats usually shock related or worn out & sloppy parts like BJ's or ushings etc.

based on the pics that dont show the full bushing & cant determine if the bj's are bad or not, i would guess its the shocks or other suspension part. there is a pretty simple procedure to check the bj's, youtube should show it or check a repair manual.

another things to look at that hasnt been mentioned for clunking noise over bumps is the front sway bar to frame bushing, not the end links, the bushings will eventually wear & allow the sway bar to touch the frame & cause a clunking noise.... had that happen on my old jeep cherokee & on my 08 4runner, quick cheap & easy change & going to poly bushings will stiffen up the handling on corners some too. check for any play or slop on the sway bar or visible signs of the bushings being worn or the hole wallowed out.

The mechanic indicated that all struts and shocks are worn and need replacing. It’s still running the originals from the factory. I’ve done shocks in the past so I feel decent about being able to do it.


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I’ll get some good pics that show everything. And thank you for the sway bar recommendation, adding that to the list!


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4runners dont have struts... i hope the shop/mechanic that told you that is just using generic terms for the front coil over shocks.

the shocks on these 4runners are pretty easy to replace, download the service manual posted on here somehwere or watch some youtube videos.

aside from the front shock possibly being rusted in the top tower & needing some prying to break it free, the rest of the procedure is very straight forward... reason why the prices quoted from that shop are ridiculously outrageous.

The report they sent me actually says front struts and rear shocks. After I looked the other day, I was thinking they looked an awful lot like shocks. I can do this!


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Air hammer is really nice for getting the top shock mounts out of the coil bucket if they're really stuck

Thanks for the tip! Thankfully we just got a harbor freight in our town lol


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You keep saying this, but Toyota along with every aftermarket supplier of front suspension parts calls them struts. As far as I can tell, our front suspensions meets the description of a Macpherson strut per the Wiki.

The BMWs, Hondas, VWs, Subarus, Mazdaa, and Hyundais I also maintain call the same arrangement of a weight bearing spring seat on the shock body with a rotating upper mount point a strut as well.


Please enlighten me (us) on why the 4Runner does not have struts.

Its a coil over shock assembly in a double wishbone suspension. On the BMWs I own, the struts are a cartridge in a housing with control and thrust arms. I cant recall any production model BMW that used a double wishbone, aside from the M1 which was produced for homologation.

I mean this with absolutely 0 offense to any one who doesnt have the means to do their own work, but holy hell... seeing stuff like this makes me so glad I've been fortunate enough ( or not? lol) to be able to tackle just about any mechanical project needed on any of the cars.. There is absolutely no way in hell I would be able to have any of my vehicles at the stage they are now if I had to pay even half of those labor prices..

I also have absolutely 0 trust in anything any shop tells me is a necessary repair (this one is from a multitude of absolutely terrible experiences over the course of my car ownership). There are literally a handful of people I can count on one hand that I would blindly trust the recommendation on what needs to be done on my cars.

i keep saying it because its true. the definition of a strut vs a shock clearly describes the difference, struts are part of the steering axis & dont have an upper control arm. shocks/coil over shocks dont have any rotating points related to steering & have upper & lower arms. but here is a pic to show it better.

regardless of what aftermarket companies or some mechanics call them, 4runners do not have struts, they have coil over shocks in the front with upper & lower ball joints in the 2 control arms & do not rotate.

hope that enlightens you

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please enlighten me (us) where toyota calls 4th gen 4runner front shocks, struts??

when buying new shocks from toyota they are called shocks. & in the repair manual they are called shocks, no mention of these being called struts on 4runners.

not sure why people are so confused on the proper terminology of shocks vs struts... probably comes from aftermarket companies & mechanics using generic terms, but if you hold a shock or coil over shock in one hand & a strut in the other its very obvious how/why they are different.

my apologies for correcting people when they call them struts, i have this crazy affliction where i like to provide accurate info in an attempt to help others... & i appreciate it when others help or correct me when im wrong.

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