05 4runner clunking up front.

[thastings05]

hey guys i have a 2005 4runner with some clunking up front. i happens at low speeds over any kinda of bumps, ive taken both wheels off and checked everything, everything seems to be ok the only thing i can see is on the inner driver side axle where it goes into the diff has alot of play in and out, up and down, and side to side. any thoughts its been driving me crazy. thanks.

 

[gptoy96]

I have the same thing, front and back actually. Heard it a bit last year, but has gotten worse this year and especially noticeable over our snow covered bumpy roads now.

My old Tacoma had something similar and it turned out to be sway bar bushings so that was my assumption and what I'll check into first this spring once things warm up around here.

I'm not sure what the back one is though in my case. Let me know if you confirm this or find something different.

 

[sonerick]

hey guys i have a 2005 4runner with some clunking up front. i happens at low speeds over any kinda of bumps, ive taken both wheels off and checked everything, everything seems to be ok the only thing i can see is on the inner driver side axle where it goes into the diff has alot of play in and out, up and down, and side to side. any thoughts its been driving me crazy. thanks.

Sounds like it could be the axle if there is a lot of play. Could also be your sway bar end links or ball joints. These items tend to make a clunk/pop sound when they've failed. Tough to diagnose something like that without seeing it though.

 

[thastings05]

hey thanks that narrows it down some.

 

[kobresia]

I've been experiencing such a noise for a couple of years now.

After replacing shocks/struts (over 100k on rough roads and they weren't really all that bad), and one of the axles that had a split outer boot for some time. I thought for sure replacing the axle would fix it, but despite having the damaged boot for some time, the joint wasn't that bad and the noise is still there. My best guess at this point is that the lower control arm bushings are worn on mine.

The axles will have a good bit of play in and out, that's the way they're designed-- they're somewhat telescopic to allow the suspension to go up and down. A tiny bit of wobble play is probably permissible, but I can't see the axles making the clunking noise unless they're binding or so loose they're about to just fall apart.

 

[CAN-03runner]

Check the bolts holding the lower control arms, the bolts used to do the alignment. That fixed this similar noise on mine. It wasn't noticable by moving any suspension parts. But became pretty obvious only when a wrench was put on the bolt and it was easy to tighten it. Too easy for a supposed rusty bolt.

 

[thastings05]

awsome thank for the input

 

[08GX470Driver]

I'd start with the sway bar too. Try to make note if it clunks while the steering is engaged more than when the steering wheel is straight.

Your sway bar will have more tension on it when cornering which may not allow it to clunk as much as if you were going straight.

 

[elykoj]

Had same rattles over all bumps for over year

Toyota could not figure it out first time in, once it got worse looked at it again and determined it was the front sway bar bushings.. Replaced now quiet and tight... Thank god ...it was getting really annoying

 

[Bossman]

As already suggested, my vote is also for a check of the front sway bar bushings. Corrected a similar problem for me.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...chassis-suspension-squeak-under-breaking.html

 

[Greydog]

Ditto on the sway bar bushings, the inboard one's which mount to the frame. Just replaced mine, was amazed how much sound/clunk they made, my endlinks were fine at 113k miles.