Constant Clunking Noise

T

tgoods

New member
I am a new 4Runner owner that has been lurking for about 6 months on this forum. I really appreciate all the shared knowledge on here.

Hoping you can help me diagnose a clunking sound.

1997 4Runner Limited 4WD
228K miles
Bone stock. Commuter vehicle only.

It has had a clunking noise for about 4 months. It appears to come from the front drivers side. It can best be heard when coasting at about 15 mph.

The speed of the clunking sound is in direct proportion to the speed of the vehicle. The noise is low frequency and can't be heard any faster than 30 mph because at that point the wind noise over-powers the sound of the clunk.

Based on many forum searches I don't think it's the slip yoke. The slip yoke clunking appears to happen more when stopping vehicle which is not the case for me.

I am thinking U-joints, CV Axle, or possibly a wheel bearing. I greased the U-joints and there was no change in the clunk. I tried to check the U-joints for play but could not notice any play. The front wheels spin free with no play. The CV Axles are not leaking at all.

Any thoughts on what is causing this sound?


Edit: Pretty sure the noise is coming from the rear differential. May be a broken ring or pinion gears.

 
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I would rotate tires or put your spare on the front drivers position.

Also I would try putting 4Runner in 4 wheel drive (dirt or snow covered surface) and see if problem can be reproduced.
 
Also, does it do it when it 's put in neutral while you hear the noise and if it still makes the noise does the pitch of the noise change? Does the noise change or go away when the brakes are applied?
 
JRZEE2000TR4LTD said:
Also, does it do it when it 's put in neutral while you hear the noise and if it still makes the noise does the pitch of the noise change? Does the noise change or go away when the brakes are applied?
Click to expand...


When put in neutral the noise remains exactly the same.

When applying the brakes the noise remains the same.

What does that tell you?
 
tgoods said:
When put in neutral the noise remains exactly the same.

When applying the brakes the noise remains the same.

What does that tell you?
Click to expand...

I kinda confirms that it probably isn't anything brake related or anything drivetrain related although a really bad ujoint would still be noisy not under load. A bad ujoint is easy to spot, like clunking when going into forward or reverse.

Maybe the dust shield for the front rotors is bent hitting the rotor. Or some thing is apart in the rear drums. Jack up each axle and spin the wheels and listen for the noise.
 
Okay, I think I figured out where the noise is coming from. Check out the Youtube video below.

I put the 4runner on jack stands and spun the rear wheels with my hands. You can hear a faint clunking coming from the rear differential. You have to turn up the volume and listen closely.

So is my rear diff. in trouble?!

 
Cannot view the video. Says "this video is private". Just one thing from what you said, if it's one light clunk when you first turn the axle, that is normal. Mine does the same thing. Maybe it's not normal, but mine doesn't have the continuous noise you describe. Make sure you have gear oil also, why you're down there.
 
Were there any chunks or small metal shavings in the old oil? I would make sure the U joint is good before digging into it much further.
 
krenaud33 said:
Were there any chunks or small metal shavings in the old oil? I would make sure the U joint is good before digging into it much further.
Click to expand...

No noticeable metal when I changed the oil.

If you spin the rear wheels with your hands I didn't think that would spin the driveshaft? So the clunk wouldn't be a u-joint? I'm not sure though.
 
Have you checked your ball joints ? Go out and move the tires side to side hard and watch your upper control arm bolt.
 
tgoods said:
No noticeable metal when I changed the oil.

If you spin the rear wheels with your hands I didn't think that would spin the driveshaft? So the clunk wouldn't be a u-joint? I'm not sure though.
Click to expand...

When you spin the rear wheels it does turn the DS. A bad ujoint should be easy to spot with that amount of noise/play. Grab both sides of the rear ujoint and twist. Shouldn't see any movement. Before condemning the dif, take off the drums and make sure nothing is off inside the drum.
 
control arm bushings...?
i believe my 99' had this same issue and it would only occur over a speed but or something like that.. pretty sure it was a worn control arm bushing or some bushing in the suspension that was just simply old and deteriorated...
 
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