D'oh...I've introduced a clicking sound- front suspension

[alia176]

I'm not sure WTF I did but I now have a metallic clicking sound when I go over uneven terrain.

- no clicking when both front wheels hit a speed bump at the same time
- do have clicking when either front wheels hit uneven bumps or terrain
- sometimes I can hear it when I start from stop

Things I've done recently:
- swapped over front suspension from a FJC with 110k miles. Didn't take the struts apart, simply swapped out my old suspension.
- while doing the swap, I did have to remove the two bottom bolts that connect the LCA to the spindle. I torqued them during install.

Things I've checked:
- front sway bar end links for play - NONE
- front sway bar bushings for play - NONE
- nothing loose on front skid plates
- went under the vehicle and pushed up and down, no clicking
- top shock nut is tight, same amount of thread showing on both sides.
- not a front DS 'CLUNK' sound when I come to a stop.
- wheel bearings - no slop that I can tell. Vehicle drives straight and super smooth.

ideas?

 

[CXS]

CV's click when they're going bad but it would be an odd coincidence.

 

[fdbyrne]

It's very likely the sway bar ends or bushings. They make that sound when there is nothing visually wrong with them. Replace both the ends and the bushings and I'd bet good money the sound goes away.

Take your sway bar off completely and drive it for a few days. If the noise goes away you'll know you're on the right track.

 

[alia176]

It's very likely the sway bar ends or bushings. They make that sound when there is nothing visually wrong with them. Replace both the ends and the bushings and I'd bet good money the sound goes away.

Take your sway bar off completely and drive it for a few days. If the noise goes away you'll know you're on the right track.

Ok, great idea. I think you're correct.

 

[alia176]

CV's click when they're going bad but it would be an odd coincidence.

I agree, a huge coincidence. Also, this noise is happening during turning or accelerating. Only when I hit bumps.

 

[alia176]

It's very likely the sway bar ends or bushings. They make that sound when there is nothing visually wrong with them. Replace both the ends and the bushings and I'd bet good money the sound goes away.



Take your sway bar off completely and drive it for a few days. If the noise goes away you'll know you're on the right track.

New end links installed but still have clicking [emoji26]. Damn it.... I must've left something loose during the suspension swap.

 

[JGardner]

New end links installed but still have clicking [emoji26]. Damn it.... I must've left something loose during the suspension swap.

I had a similar sound - really bugged me. Replaced the Sway Bar Bushings with some Polyurethane ones from energy and the noise stopped. Really easy job.

 

[chitown40]

It's very likely the sway bar ends or bushings. They make that sound when there is nothing visually wrong with them. Replace both the ends and the bushings and I'd bet good money the sound goes away.

Take your sway bar off completely and drive it for a few days. If the noise goes away you'll know you're on the right track.

x2. Had this same issue when I put on my Bilsteins and new coils. After I completed the install it exaggerated the weak sway bar links and I ended up replacing the links with new aftermarket links. Noise gone.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Regarding the LCA bolts, did you torque those while the suspension was at full droop or at ride height with the vehicle on the ground? If you torqued them at full droop, the bushings may be over-rotated and may be moving the LCA cams slightly. With the vehicle on the ground, mark the LCA cam positions and loosen each cam, jounce the front end a few times and re-torque the cams to 100 ft/lbs.

 

[alia176]

Regarding the LCA bolts, did you torque those while the suspension was at full droop or at ride height with the vehicle on the ground? If you torqued them at full droop, the bushings may be over-rotated and may be moving the LCA cams slightly. With the vehicle on the ground, mark the LCA cam positions and loosen each cam, jounce the front end a few times and re-torque the cams to 100 ft/lbs.

Well, the LCAs were never removed for the suspension swap but anything is possible I guess.

Rob,
Did you torque down the end link nuts? I can't imagine they're moving even if I didn't torque them.

 

[chitown40]

I did not torque them, but I must've somehow introduced some play into them when I removed them to install the new suspension. I ended up replacing them due to age, miles, and the clicking sound.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Well, the LCAs were never removed for the suspension swap but anything is possible I guess.

Oops, I misunderstood your first post. How much lift did you gain with the swap? Since you didn't loosen the LCA's, could be the bushings showing there age or over-rotated a bit. Did you happen to drive/listen to the FJ that the springs/struts came off? Just wondering if it could also be the strut itself making the clicking noise.

 

[chitown40]

Alia176--

Any luck with the clicking after loosening the struts a and re-torquing them with the vehicle weight on them?

R

 

[alia176]

Alia176--

Any luck with the clicking after loosening the struts a and re-torquing them with the vehicle weight on them?

R

I haven't take it for a drive yet. The interior is all apart for a Ham radio install before we head out for ouray on Monday.

 

[alia176]

*** Update ***

As Chitown suggested, I retorqued the lower shock mount bolts while the front suspension was loaded. Then I proceeded to flog her for a week in Ouray and I haven't heard any clicking. The belly scratched up but the sway bar ticking went away.

So, it's all good now.

 

[chitown40]

Excellent