Front End "Clunk" and (separate) Steering Noise

[thirstyturtle]

Need some help here, fellas.

New to me (about 3 weeks ago) 2000 4Runner 4x4. Had a CV boot bust on me last weekend (driver's inner), changed it last Saturday using a new Toyota boot and Toyota grease. Drove it all day Sunday, including a couple miles on the beach, without issue. Then on Monday or Tuesday my wife noticed a "clunking" noise coming from the front end over bumps sometimes and a separate steering noise when parking. While under the car to check out these noises I noticed that my new CV boot had a very small leak from the fatter end of the boot (closest to differential) so I've gotten a new better clamp I'm going to switch out today.

The clunking noise is easily recreated by bouncing on the front drivers side of the car and it sounds like it's coming from the bottom center of the front of the truck, like right under the engine. The clunk occurs on the "rebound" of the suspension, so on its way back up only. I can't get it to "clunk" by bouncing on any corner of the car except the front driver's side.

Here's a video (from behind the front left tire and then in front of the car):


The steering noise I've isolated to only occurring when going forward and turning to the right pretty hard, not necessarily full chock, but probably 80% and beyond and it gets slightly louder the further you turn the wheel. It sounds an awful lot like a brake dust shield rubbing or dragging against something but I haven't changed anything down there and can't find where anything is rubbing it.

Here are two videos
From out the window (hard to hear the noise):


From in front of the car (faint but when the truck is right in front of the camera you can hear the dragging noise):


Any help would be greatly appreciated. If it helps, I didn't have any trouble with the CV boot job but it was my first time doing one of those. I torqued everything back to spec and would be surprised if either noise had something to do with the job but both noises did start just a couple days after the job so it may not be coincidence. Also, I've checked the power steering fluid level just to eliminate a rack issue and it was right on at the correct level.

All of my mods can be seen in my signature if necessary.

 

[MStudt]

Start with checking you LBJ's and TRE's. Sounds like you have something binding up. Remove your skids and crawl under it. Have someone bounce the drive side while you'r under it and try to find it that way.

 

[thirstyturtle]

Start with checking you LBJ's and TRE's.

Lower Ball Joints and Tie Rod Ends were replaced less than a year ago and have about 8k miles on them.

 

[MStudt]

Lower Ball Joints and Tie Rod Ends were replaced less than a year ago and have about 8k miles on them.

That still doesn't mean that one could be bad though. Sounds like you have something binding up; remove your skids and crawl under it. Have someone bounce the drive side while you'r under it and try to find it that way. Sounds can resonate through the frame, and might not actually be in the area you think it is. Check your bushings as well.

 

[thirstyturtle]

That still doesn't mean that one could be bad though. Sounds like you have something binding up; remove your skids and crawl under it. Have someone bounce the drive side while you'r under it and try to find it that way. Sounds can resonate through the frame, and might not actually be in the area you think it is. Check your bushings as well.

Truth!

I'm heading home in about an hour and I'm jacking up the front end, removing the skids, and replacing the CV boot clamp band. I'll do some thorough inspection while under there and have my wife bounce on the car once the wheel is back on, hopefully I can at least isolate the clunking in that way.

The steering noise though...it sounds JUST like the dust shield dragging on something metallic but I can't see where anything is touching it...anyone had a dust shield dragging sound issue?

 

[MStudt]

Truth!

I'm heading home in about an hour and I'm jacking up the front end, removing the skids, and replacing the CV boot clamp band. I'll do some thorough inspection while under there and have my wife bounce on the car once the wheel is back on, hopefully I can at least isolate the clunking in that way.

The steering noise though...it sounds JUST like the dust shield dragging on something metallic but I can't see where anything is touching it...anyone had a dust shield dragging sound issue?

After watching the video, I don't think its a LJB or TRE kind of sound. I would check anything that has a pivot, joint, or bushing. From watching the video you're only getting it when your suspension is rebounding. I kind of sounds like a knock, or a bad bushing noise.

 

[thirstyturtle]

BOTH PROBLEMS SOLVED!!!

Clunk:
I had my wife bounce on the bumper while I was underneath the truck and found that the clunking noise was coming from the passenger side sway bar end link. It was slightly loose at the bottom of the link and very loose at the top of the link. The bolt was sitting just below the top of the bolt on top of the assembly; after fully tightening the nut, the bolt was sticking out of the bolt about a half inch so there was a lot of play before.

Steering Noise
I bent the driver's side brake dust shield back a little bit all the way around as the clearance to the rotor was very very small. After that, no more noise! I think I must have bent it towards the rotor when I was doing the CV boot job. I left the whole knuckle assembly resting against the LCA on the shield so I'm sure that's why it just started after the CV boot job. I think the clunk noise was just a coincidence that it started after the CV boot job.

As a bonus, I replaced the CV boot clamp with a marine worm style clamp, cleaned up all of the previously splattered grease, took it about 10 miles down the highway at 70mph and upon inspection back at the house, no grease splatter! So that leak was fixed as well.

 

[ARC]

As a bonus, I replaced the CV boot clamp with a marine worm style clamp, cleaned up all of the previously splattered grease, took it about 10 miles down the highway at 70mph and upon inspection back at the house, no grease splatter! So that leak was fixed as well.

Got link or picture to this worm style marine clamp you speak of?

 

[thirstyturtle]

Got link or picture to this worm style marine clamp you speak of?

Sure! They have rounded edges and the tightening grooves are just indents instead of holes like on normal worm clamps. All for the sake of not tearing up the rubber. I got them at West Marine but if you don't have one nearby you can order the same thing from McMaster-Carr. I can add a link if you want it.

 

[ARC]

Sure! They have rounded edges and the tightening grooves are just indents instead of holes like on normal worm clamps. All for the sake of not tearing up the rubber. I got them at West Marine but if you don't have one nearby you can order the same thing from McMaster-Carr. I can add a link if you want it.

Thanks. A link would be great we don't have West Marine here.

 

[thirstyturtle]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#5574k24/=s82pea

That'll do it, $8.34 for a pack of 5. That is for the larger side, they're listed on the site as "for silicone hose, smooth band"