Hi all,

I know describing and diagnosing sounds is everyone’s favorite thing, but curious if anyone here has noticed or fixed a popping noise that seems to come from the front left and occur when the weight shifts - like making the rounds to exit a parking garage or making a sudden left onto uneven pavement, etc ?

I’ve noticed my truck doing it lately and it’s a popping noise that sounds a bit like a contact of some sort. It’s at the dealer now and I can’t tell if I’m being overly picky or if something might really be wrong. Of course, drove with two of their master techs and the sound was nowhere to be heard. It's more noticeable when the 4R has been sitting for a while and I first start moving, so they let it sit over the weekend and were going to try driving today but I haven't heard anything yet.

Strangely, there is no noise coming from the right side at all, even under the same circumstances.

Thanks in advance.

Man it’s like I wrote this post... I had/have the exact same symptoms, only on my right side. Coming down parking garages would provide a single knock/pop sound and driving on road with left-to-right dips would produce a sound similar to an old rickety suspension or box spring mattress.

I had the dealer look and double check everything they could think of during my last service but they were unable to find anything.

Oddly enough I haven’t heard anything lately. The only thing I can think of that’s changed lately that could affect it would be that I’ve added more weight prepping for a trip?

I’m eager to hear if the dealer finds anything!


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Could be a loose upper control arm long bolt.

Frustrating, right? Same thing you mention though - it's mostly a knock, and sometimes a bit of a squeak. Same exact circumstance as you note. I'll let you know what comes of my dealership visit.

Maybe try lubing hood latch, double check hood bumpers.

how many miles? check your jack is secure and spare tire first.

Changing the front sway bar bushings solved my issue. They wear out and aren't to difficult and not expensive to change.

Funny you mention that. I had my 4R in and out of the dealer 6 times for a front end, high pitched squeak and they couldn’t figure it out. One day, I leaned against the front of my car and heard the same squeak - it was indeed the hood bumpers. One was twisted all the way down, so the hood was flexing.

Also, the point about sway bar bushings is a good one. When they were trying to fix the sound above, they replaced them and I didn’t notice this knocking noise until about that time.

Also, just passed 28k miles, so still fairly new.

Thanks, all.

I feel like something is not torqued correctly. LCA bolts, sway bar bolts, shocks, propeller shaft,etc. I would go over all of that.

Maybe the upper control arm c clip. It was documented as a prior repair on my 4runner.

Chasing an Elusive Noise - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

So crazy, I have been going out of my mind with mine. It only happens when turning left and mine is more of a bloop bloop sound. I have tightened stuff, lubed stuff, I don’t know what else to do. I took of my center caps, it honestly sounded like the plastic from it was loose and popping while turning. Turns out, my runner looks way better without center caps so that is one good thing that came out of it.

Mine sounds like plastic, it is crazy. I have honestly considered getting rid of the darn thing because I am going out of my mind trying to find a solution.

i think i have the same noise you have on my 16 sr5, it is super frustrating i does it when im not trying to make it or listening for it, always seem to notice it when i have the family in the car making a ton of noise so i cant pin point it, i notice it more when shifting weight from side to side on dips in a parking lot.

as a dealership tech myself its even more frustrating that i cant figure it out, although i have noticed it less since i replace my rear control arms for a creaking from the bushing, found that by grabbing the roof rack and rocking the vehicle side to side.

I have had a squeak for over 30k miles and cannot find out what it is! This might help! haha fingers crossed.

Had the same problems described - it's was as simple as torquing the lower control arm bolts to 120ft/lbs. Had 3-4 mechanics miss it before I found this one weird trick dealerships don't want you to know.

Forwarded this over to my dealer. Thanks!

I've also heard this is common. The lower control arm bolts.