Another "What's That Sound Thread"...

[FatTiresRollin]

I am writing this knowing that I may get flamed and I may not get any responses what so ever, but once I again I would like to ask the expertise of the forum before I pay someone...HAHA! Any of you guys who spend a lot of time on trails and/or under your truck...you know better than I how all the suspension and steering components are interconnected and react with one another.

Story: Just got back from a mild wheeling trip to the GWNF near Harrisonburg, VA. Nothing crazy...a few rock ledge climb/descents, mud/water crossings. This was my first wheeling trip that really tested the capabilities of the truck. New bilstein shocks and LR UCAs (stock coils) are the only upgrades to the vehicle, and this was the first time taken off-road with the new(ish) suspension. Truck has about 28k miles and the new suspension/tires has about 3-4k miles. I had a ton of fun, but didn't really push the truck or my capabilities too far. I only tried one obstacle (that I knew I probably wasn't going to succeed at) and got high centered on a soft dirt mound. (PICS of the trip to be posted here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-roading/143217-dc-va-md-wheeling-trips.html shortly)

Sound: About halfway through our trail run, I started hearing and feeling a sound on the front passenger side...mainly just when the body would roll/rock to the passenger side (during left turns). The best way I can describe the sound I am hearing is a "popping" sound coming from the front passenger side. Imagine taking a piece of rigid, yet flexible sheet of metal or plastic and twisting it. The "popping" sound from that sheet metal would be similar to what I am hearing. You can actually feel it in the floor board. Sound is only present during low speed turns...not on the highway at all...and only present in a left turning situation...not when the steering wheel is straight or turned right.

I had 2 other guys sit in the passenger seat while I drove around and recreated the noise...and then we all climbed under the muddy undercarriage to try and visually identify the problem. We couldn't find anything obvious. The 3rd gen guys just laughed and said "you call that a noise...come ride in my truck....HA!" But of course everyone recognized to be a sound that shouldn't be coming from a 5th gen that has only done a few miles of mild wheeling.

Based on the sound/feeling and when it occurs, I am not sure if it is an issue with a suspension component, steering component or something else. I am at a loss. I just got it aligned before the trip...could it have something to do with high caster and strain on the LCA joint? It isn't a metal-metal clanking sound and all components appear to have ample clearance (UCAs, sway bar, coil spring, body mount, wheel wells, etc...)

Any and all help/suggestions are appreciated....Help me fix this before my wife finds out :hiding: :sniper:

 

[FatTiresRollin]

As I figured....no responses yet. Based on my research today via this forum, other forums, youtube, google, etc....there are an abundance of things this could be. However, most reasons are explained as a bushing or joint failure. At only 28k miles I can't imagine too many things would have the opportunity to fail. I have only had the lift on for 3-4k...so that to me lessens the chances for failure even more. So now I am stuck checking for loose nuts and bolts...everything seems to be OK. The noise can't be re-created by rocking the vehicle side-to-side or back-front...which is very frustrating. I can only re-create the sound when physically driving the truck, making it near impossible to pinpoint....and that much more baffling.

Looks like I will be scheduling some more shop time later this week. Maybe the guy I finally got a descent alignment from is also a specialist on front end clunks...

Hopefully I can find the problem and it can be fixed quickly and inexpensively or my wheeling days are over after the first trip out :bash::ballchain::crybaby:

 

[2013Trail]

You said you had a muddy undercarriage. Maybe the mud/debris has gotten in a place that causes it to displace something on your 4R. Maybe between frame and sheet metal? Have you washed off the undercarriage since your offroad sojurn? Maybe the noise will go away if you do. You could have also just knocked something loose.

BTW, I don't see how an alignment could cause that kind of noise, unless something has been adjusted beyond its limits. Did it make the noise before you took it off road?

 

[Ducmonsta]

If it's at full lock to the left only, I would guess it's the steering stop. If you look at the front of the lower control arm near the ball joint, you'll see a piece that slightly protrudes out. On the knuckle side, you'll see the exact opposite. That's your steering stop. When you're at full lock and the suspension articulates, this creates a metal on metal creaking/popping sound. You may be able to recreate it if you turn into a curb at full lock.

If this is the case, a big dab of grease on the metal parts will stop the creaking temporarily.

 

[2013Trail]

How about recording a clip of the sound with your cell phone, then posting the clip here on your thread? Also point to where the sound is seems to be most evident from inside the cab--.

 

[adam2562]

How about recording a clip of the sound with your cell phone, then posting the clip here on your thread? Also point to where the sound is seems to be most evident from inside the cab--.

Best bet would be to stick a gopro up under there with ample light somehow.. but [MENTION=68685]Ducmonsta[/MENTION] suggestion sounds like a good place to start.

 

[FatTiresRollin]

Thanks for the tips fellas. I actually stumbled upon an old thread from Tacoma world which suggested the body mounts. This made sense for me because my old westin nerf bars mounted onto brackets that I had to mount to the body mounts. I recently put on Nfabs, so I had to take the Westins off, thus taking those body mount bolts off. Well....the roughness of the trail seemed to have rattled me loose a bit. A few tugs to tighten those body mount bolts and the noise is gone!

 

[adam2562]

Awesome! Glad it was a simple fix!