Bent trac bar

[independent70]

Well I dont know if anyone read my old post about some serious creaking and squeaking in my moms 2004 limited. My dad and I took it in today to have the oil changed and that looked at. The dealer said that the trac bar was bent.

My dad blames me for this and I blame the shipping company who shipped the car from CA to CT. However I think it was very possible that I in fact did bend it off roading in CA. I did some pretty fast driving on some pretty rough roads, as well as going through mud at 45-50... Not smart I know and very likley could have caused it... However I did not notice this creaking and neither did my mom or my friends dad, all who drove the 4Runner after me and our off roading. So would it take a while for a problem like this to develop to something we would notice or was it more likley to be caused by the shipping company? Thanks Joe P.

Also, I have 2 questions about limits of my 2005 4runner, I have read that trying to spin the tires on gravel/mud/puddles while in 4wd with VSC off can be bad for the drive train as well as doing donuts in 4wd but not in 2wd? Also what is a fairly safe speed for going over curbs, logs and mid size rocks (basketball volley ball sized?)? Thanks, Joe P

 

[BenSD]

Well I dont know if anyone read my old post about some serious creaking and squeaking in my moms 2004 limited. My dad and I took it in today to have the oil changed and that looked at. The dealer said that the trac bar was bent.

My dad blames me for this and I blame the shipping company who shipped the car from CA to CT. However I think it was very possible that I in fact did bend it off roading in CA. I did some pretty fast driving on some pretty rough roads, as well as going through mud at 45-50... Not smart I know and very likley could have caused it... However I did not notice this creaking and neither did my mom or my friends dad, all who drove the 4Runner after me and our off roading. So would it take a while for a problem like this to develop to something we would notice or was it more likley to be caused by the shipping company? Thanks Joe P.

Also, I have 2 questions about limits of my 2005 4runner, I have read that trying to spin the tires on gravel/mud/puddles while in 4wd with VSC off can be bad for the drive train as well as doing donuts in 4wd but not in 2wd? Also what is a fairly safe speed for going over curbs, logs and mid size rocks (basketball volley ball sized?)? Thanks, Joe P

When going over obstacles --- anything from a rock to a curb, you should be going at a snail's pace. You need to take it slow to make sure you're going to clear it, and avoid damaging the vehicle. The offroading you describe sounds very wreckless and it sounds like the type of thing that would indeed cause damage. When you venture out onto a trail, it's also your responsibility to keep the trail in good shape for other offroaders. Tearing through a trail at high speed is going to likely damage both the vehicle, and the trail. Not a good idea.

 

[independent70]

i wasnt too worried about the trail... i think the general contractor might have been though.... haha... no if im on a public or wild area i am very cautious... and i think i may have described it so it sounds worse than it was... we just drove fast through the muddy water... which was reckless i admot but like 20 over dirt gravel roads

 

[Koz]

Well I dont know if anyone read my old post about some serious creaking and squeaking in my moms 2004 limited. My dad and I took it in today to have the oil changed and that looked at. The dealer said that the trac bar was bent.

My dad blames me for this and I blame the shipping company who shipped the car from CA to CT. However I think it was very possible that I in fact did bend it off roading in CA. I did some pretty fast driving on some pretty rough roads, as well as going through mud at 45-50... Not smart I know and very likley could have caused it... However I did not notice this creaking and neither did my mom or my friends dad, all who drove the 4Runner after me and our off roading. So would it take a while for a problem like this to develop to something we would notice or was it more likley to be caused by the shipping company? Thanks Joe P.

Also, I have 2 questions about limits of my 2005 4runner, I have read that trying to spin the tires on gravel/mud/puddles while in 4wd with VSC off can be bad for the drive train as well as doing donuts in 4wd but not in 2wd? Also what is a fairly safe speed for going over curbs, logs and mid size rocks (basketball volley ball sized?)? Thanks, Joe P

independent70,

What is the "trac bar" and if possible, could you show a pic. of the bent one. This may help determine how it could have happened and also may help prevent someone else from experiencing the same. The whole purpose in life is to have fun (as long as no one gets hurt), don't sweat-it if some people don't understand.

Koz

 

[boston_kevin]

Driving fast through water (and mud) is also not smart. Water will be forced into the diffs when driving at speed through water and muddy water, this will add to the oil in the diffs and mix eventually causing the gears to wear prematurely and have potential failure.

Driving over obstacles too fast can bend parts under the vehicle easily, not because of the direct impact, but the force you hit the obstacle with your tire. The tire can only absorb so much, everything else gets transferred to the drivetrain.

."stepping on soap box"
Driving off road is a priviledge and driving something as nice as a new 4Runner is something most people don't have. Please be careful offroading and drive responsibly. You can hurt more than your car very easily, including your friends or a complete stranger, and those 30 minutes of wreckless abandon cost you 30 years in anguish. I have seen people flip their vehicles while doing donuts, personally towed someone off of a trail because they were going too fast and ripped the tranny pan off the car while going over 10" rocks, and silently watched a friend's truck get pulled out to sea after he got stuck trying to be "cool" at low tide and couldn't get a tow until morning.
."stepping off soap box"

I don't mean to lecture, but if it isn't your car, shouldn't you treat it better?

I don't go at a snails pace unless I am going over obstacles more than 3-4 " with a blunt face (like a rock). Speed bumps I go over at 10-15 mph. Curbs, logs and midsized rocks are blunt obstacles, go over them at a snails pace

 

[Good Times]

Are you talking about the rear lower control arm? If so, that thing is pretty hollow so I wouldn't suspect that you might have bent it.

I will say that it can take a pretty good beating so it getting bent sounds abit strange. I currently have 2 bent bars as well (one is significant enough that it looks pretty ugly). Good thing that it's getting replaced w/ some custom stuff I'm building.

Not sure why it would squeak though unless the bushings have gone bad. I'm suspecting since you had fun in the mud, you just have a crap load of mud stuck everywhere. I'd recommend a good cleaning of your entire bottom and see if that solves it. If the noise persists, locate where it's coming from and see what the problem might be.

A bent trac bar will give you other issues so I'm suspecting it's just a dirty suspension or bushing part.

good luck

 

[Thai]

Do you mean the PANHARD BAR?? The panhard bar creates a solid link between the chassis and rear-end and eliminates uncontrolled lateral movement (during cornering).

An official definition of Panhard bar on google: A bar that connects one end of the axle to the opposing framerail (right end of the axle to the left rail). It stabilizes the suspension laterally and helps prevent bumpsteer.

So, if this is the case, then do you hear a noise when you corner or go over a bump?? Get it fixed and be done with it.

 

[Good Times]

Do you mean the PANHARD BAR?? The panhard bar creates a solid link between the chassis and rear-end and eliminates uncontrolled lateral movement (during cornering).

An official definition of Panhard bar on google: A bar that connects one end of the axle to the opposing framerail (right end of the axle to the left rail). It stabilizes the suspension laterally and helps prevent bumpsteer.

I doubt it's the panhard bar as that thing is tucked up between the axle and spare. Don't think he even removed that so the likelihood that he bent that is slim.

 

[Thai]

I doubt it's the panhard bar as that thing is tucked up between the axle and spare. Don't think he even removed that so the likelihood that he bent that is slim.

Lance...but a "trac(k) bar" is indeed a panhard bar by definition...unless Joe doesn't mean a track bar.

Basically, a panhard bar does two things from what i understand: (1) controls lateral movement of the frame relative to the axle; and (2) controls the weight transfer from side to side.

If Joe was doing donuts, rally-racing type off-roading, especially with a lot of "wheel hopping," then he could bend it due to stress over the rear axle.

 

[independent70]

Hey guys. first thank you for all the replys and great advice.

I would like to say that I know my driving probably wasnt the smartest and thats why i posted ths question, so i could hopefully learn what is ok and what is not. I spent most of my time before i actually got a truck of my own with my friend in texas when i was a freshman and sophmore in high school and he drove a s10 and worked for a place that installed rancho and thats what he was equipped with so i guess i got the impression that i could push my 4runner as hard as he pushed his s-10.

But, I was not doing donuts, just driving fast through mud puddles, i guess a sort of tame version of mud bogging. The place i did it was a construction area with many miles of dirt roads that were very muddy. The GC actually said it was ok for us to go because he didnt have anyone working on that sunday and we knew we wouldnt run into anyone. I would say that on a 1-10 scale of recklessness it was a 6. I know, I probably shouldnt have pushed the car that hard but I have learne dmy mistakes.

It was the trac bar or as you said the panhard bar. THat is what the dealer said and it was fixed for no charge other than the 50 dollar 5000 mile maintenece fee. There was a lot of squeaking when turning, getting in and out of the car, pretty much all the time.

But now that it is fixed I will not drive the same in either my moms car or my car. Originally it was going to be my car but i traded an 04 limited for my mom for a 05 sr5. She prefered the leather and JBL and I felt better with her having the "nicer" car. So we are all happy now, mistakes done and learned from.

So the only reaosn I posted this question was to see about doing donuts, as I have seen pictures of 4runner of the month doing them and was wondering if that was bad, having learned from my mistakes, i dont want to chance anyting and do some serious damage.

The curb thing is more out of curiosity because I will be in WY in a few weeks going backpacking and the road to get to the trailhead is horrible, like 10-20 miles of ruts, mud, streams and rocks. I have done it in our old 2001 suburban which we sold, he drove pretty carefullly, max 20 miles an hour on the roads but a few times having to get up to 30-40 to actually make it up some of the loose stuff on the hills(very steep hills with very loose dirt and stock street tires... i think they were the firestone wilderness le?? dont remember)

I had made a post asking for advice as well as to what safety gear and preventative maintenece I shoudl take on my 4runner before going on this trip... I know it will be a blast and dont want to ruin it by doing something stupid... again...

So again, thank you for all your advice and opinions and I want to say i have, or at least am in the process, of learning from my mistakes, just need as much info as i can get! haha

Thnaks, joe p

 

[boston_kevin]

Thanks Joe for the clarification... Everyone makes mistakes, as long as you learn from them, you will have a great time off-roading. I've probably logged about 5000 miles offroading through Nevada, California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, even through the hills of Tennessee. I know I have made my mistakes - the worst of which was trying to cross 2 logs over a 15 foot raveen without a spotter. Almost totaled my jeep, but since I had a winch I pulled the jeep off the logs with only minor body damage.

Off road, things to take with you...

1) Cell Phone/CB/Portable communicator - absolutely essential. Cell phone may not have coverage, but generally the park services will monitor CB and portable communicator channels.

2) GPS - highly desired. You can get in and out without a GPS, but it's nice to be able to tell someone your coordinates if you need help.

3) Air compressor - essential for rock crawling and beach trips. Also helps for blowing out water from electrical connections if you decide to take your ride for a swim.

4) Winch (or at a minumum high-lift/come-a-long) rated to pull 1.5x your vehicle's weight (and don't forget blankets to cover the winch line in case it snaps).

5) Water, food - fresh water for you to drink, non-perishable food to eat

6) Blankets, firewood, clothes - stuff to keep warm

7) 5 gals extra gas - I used to keep this on a cargo hitch platform, not inside the car. I hated smelling gas.

Make sure the spare is inflated and ready for use, and you know how to get it off the vehicle. Most of all... Have fun!

 

[Sac State]

but a few times having to get up to 30-40 to actually make it up some of the loose stuff on the hills(very steep hills with very loose dirt and stock street tires... i think they were the firestone wilderness le?? dont remember)

Ok, so you race up the hill with loose rocks and gravel doing 40mph to gain speed, how do you propose getting down?

If there is that much gravel and rocks, your DAC will help, but it could be a very scary and dangerous experience.