5th gen, Icon Stage 7, popping sound

[bartvonwolf]

Hey all,

So, took my new 2016 Trail Premium on it's maiden 4x4 adventure this weekend. Within the last few weeks, I have completed the following upgrades:

Icon Stage 7 lift
Level 8 MK6 Wheels -10 Offset
285/70R17 General Grabber A/Ts

I took the 4Runner on some mild Nevada trails, nothing crazy for the most part but there were some areas that were pretty rutted and rocky which gave the rig a good workout in 4LO.

When my front end articulated, I would hear what to my ears sounded like a binding CV. You know, the POP/CLANK type sound you get with some IFS rigs that have CVs at an awkward angle. But with the Icon Lift, my CVs are not really at all that severe of an angle. Now, that's not to say they are not what I was hearing, but it seems strange to have this kind of noise on a vehicle with 10,000 miles on it and a premo lift kit. Also, the sound seemed to be on the driver's side, from what I can tell. I had my coilovers set to S for maximum softness. Later, I dialed them to 6, and this seemed to help a bit with the popping sound, but it still appeared later on the trail.

My first thought is the sway bar making contact with the driver's side radiator support, but I took the time to clearance this bracket last week. I also have the relocation brackets and the spacers, so I really don't think the noise is this. It's not the creaking sound or the sound of the sway bar making contact. It is definitely a loud POP! sound...

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Bart

 

[DaPole]

The sway bar would have been my first suggestion, but it looks like you already checked it out. One more thing I'd check for is any missing/scratched paint on the sway bar. Mine looked to clear fine, but at certain angles/loads, it was contacting, and there was missing paint where the sway bar was rubbing and hitting the bracket. But again, I'd doubt this would be it if you installed the brackets and did them properly.

This is also very doubtful, but just double check your upper control arm bolt. I had an issue with a very poorly calibrated torque wrench, which I ended up tossing, that caused me to improperly torque the upper control arm bolt (there were other areas that were loose too, but only by a bit, luckily). The sound was a very loud popping sound, but it was also felt through the wheel. The bolt had come very loose and was slipping, causing a nasty popping sound as UCA was moving improperly. I fixed this very quickly after it started, but it sounds like your issue is a bit less "violent" and more of a chronic issue. Just figured I'd throw it out there in the rare case.

 

[marshal]

It's probably because you spent way too much on your suspension.

 

[krayton444]

Check all your nuts and bolts to make sure nothing came loose

 

[bartvonwolf]

This is also very doubtful, but just double check your upper control arm bolt. I had an issue with a very poorly calibrated torque wrench, which I ended up tossing, that caused me to improperly torque the upper control arm bolt (there were other areas that were loose too, but only by a bit, luckily). The sound was a very loud popping sound, but it was also felt through the wheel. The bolt had come very loose and was slipping, causing a nasty popping sound as UCA was moving improperly. I fixed this very quickly after it started, but it sounds like your issue is a bit less "violent" and more of a chronic issue. Just figured I'd throw it out there in the rare case.

Thanks, I will check this, amongst other things. It's definitely weird.

It's probably because you spent way too much on your suspension.

Well, that's a given.

Check all your nuts and bolts to make sure nothing came loose

That is my first plan.

Thanks,

Bart

 

[jbjones85]

I have the same thing going on with mine (stage 5) and think I have narrowed it down to a leaking coil.

 

[bartvonwolf]

I have the same thing going on with mine (stage 5) and think I have narrowed it down to a leaking coil.

Well, I looked at it tonight and found a loose bolt holding the DS lower trailing arm. The bolt holding the rear trackbar to the frame was also loose. I don't get it. In all the years of doing lift kits on old trucks I never once had a single nut or bolt come loose. I torqued all these down pretty good when I did the lift. I guess I really need to check everything out again tomorrow when I have more time and really crank down on the nuts and bolts. Problem is, you can't really get a torque wrench on everything under there. I am lucky the bolts didn't come all the way out!

Bart

 

[GzTEP]

Loctite is your friend on what could use it. Also a paint pen to mark some bolts or nuts.

 

[JSparky]

Well, I looked at it tonight and found a loose bolt holding the DS lower trailing arm. The bolt holding the rear trackbar to the frame was also loose. I don't get it. In all the years of doing lift kits on old trucks I never once had a single nut or bolt come loose. I torqued all these down pretty good when I did the lift. I guess I really need to check everything out again tomorrow when I have more time and really crank down on the nuts and bolts. Problem is, you can't really get a torque wrench on everything under there. I am lucky the bolts didn't come all the way out!

Bart

Dang, I'm surprised you didn't notice this while driving on the road.. Especially the loose track bar. Either way glad you discovereed it the easy way, hopefully it solves the popping.

 

[wfo9]

I've had man pops and creeks that sounded like the front end, but it is almost always the rear. The sounds will resonate through the frame and can even be felt in the brake pedal...

The rear LCAs are the most common area that loosen up. Make sure you use thread locker (red) on all those bolts.