Front end clunk/pop

[Black798]

The entire time that I have owned my 4runner it has had a weird clunk that I have never been able to figure out. The clunk only happens in 4 wheel drive and only when the front is slipping like on soft dirt or in deep snow. Ive checked all the u joints and they are good. One of the front half shaves has been replaced within the past month and it still is doing it. As near as I can tell the oldest of the front axles is good. Ive checked the lower ball joints, inner and and outer tie rods and they were all good. And the steering rack bushings have been replaced. I really dont know what else could be causing the problem. If anyone has any ideas to offer they're greatly appreciated.

 

[nissanh]

Is that clunk happens only during going between reverse and forward?

 

[frodiesel]

Likely sway bar related. What else would have so much torque you would here a pop but otherwise have no ill affects. And an otherwise smooth, safe ride?

Or worn ball joint or worn upper or lower control arm bushing. I bet your lower control arm bushings are shot if all the tie rods and ball joints are good.

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[Black798]

Sorry I should have explained better. It doesnt clunk at all going in between first and reverse or upshifting in drive. It happens where if Im driving in the snow and it starts slipping in the front and rear I get a rhythmic thumping that i can feel in the floor/steering wheel and hear. It also happens if im say on a hill crawling on loose material. As it digs it will start to thump until it gets better traction. Since mine is a 98 I know it cant be trac and it isnt the anti lock brakes either. Ialso just replaced the sway bar bushings in the last year. It may be control arm bushings but I haven't been able to find any slop in them at all.

 

[St Runner]

Control arm bushings are hard to check but you would notice it in 2wd as well. Since it only happens in 4wd it has to be in the front drive train. Transfer case, front drive shaft, diff and front axles. I would pull the front drive shaft(after you mark it) and check the ujoints, then pull the front axles ,pull them apart and check and reboot them. If that is not your problem then I would suspect the front diff before the transfer case, but at least check all your fluids

 

[Black798]

Do I need to pull the drive shaft to check u joints? I checked them last night in the car and they had no slop. The driver side cv was just replaced last week. But I did notice the passenger side if I grab the shaft I can push it back and forth between the diff and spindle and there is a faint clunk in the outer joint. Front diff fluid is good. How would I go about checking the diff and transfer case? Do the bushings it the diff mount go bad?

 

[St Runner]

I would pull the driveshaft to check it. Like a lot of thinks it seems fine when you check it on the vehicle, but once you pull it off it is obvious what the problem is. I could not tell you how to check the diff or transfer case, but I would be totally sure the driveshaft and axles are not the problem before I would go there. I still feel the greatest chance of being the problem would be the driveshaft

 

[Black798]

I just checked the bushings in the diff mount. They look brand new so I can check that off the list. Next up Im going to check the axle nut on the passenger side cv because it seems like there is a lot of play in the spindle area but i dont see the joint itself moving. So maybe when the PO had the dealer change the axle they didnt do that properly. If that checks out Ill move on to the driveshaft.

EDIT: Check the axle nut off the list. It still has the factory paint on the nut and hasnt moved.There is about an 1/8th inch of slop in the joint if I push it in or pull it out. Could that be the cause? Im running out of things to check.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

I just checked the bushings in the diff mount. They look brand new so I can check that off the list. Next up Im going to check the axle nut on the passenger side cv because it seems like there is a lot of play in the spindle area but i dont see the joint itself moving. So maybe when the PO had the dealer change the axle they didnt do that properly. If that checks out Ill move on to the driveshaft.

EDIT: Check the axle nut off the list. It still has the factory paint on the nut and hasnt moved.There is about an 1/8th inch of slop in the joint if I push it in or pull it out. Could that be the cause? Im running out of things to check.

Are you talking about the slip joint?

 

[Black798]

Are you talking about the slip joint?

No the slip joint and all the u joints in the front appear tight. But the passenger side cv axle, if I grab it and pull it out like im taking it out of the diff or push it in has about an 1/8th of an inch of slop in the outer joint. Could that be the problem?

 

[frodiesel]

No the slip joint and all the u joints in the front appear tight. But the passenger side cv axle, if I grab it and pull it out like im taking it out of the diff or push it in has about an 1/8th of an inch of slop in the outer joint. Could that be the problem?

Take a look at whats moving when you do it. My new Autozone cv has a similar amount of play, but no issues. You said you just replaced it though, right?

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[Black798]

I just replaced the driver side with a autozone reman. This one has play but less than the other side. The passenger side, which is the original one from the factory, has slightly more play and is louder when it reaches the end of the play. I looked and it is definitely coming from the outer joint.

 

[Black798]

I just got done pulling the front driveshaft. The transfer case side u joint is a little stiff but it is consistent in both directions. The side that goes to the diff is much easier to move but neither one has any slop. The transfer case output shaft also rotates fairly easily. The same is true with the pinion except if I spin it and let it sit for a second, when I try to spin it again it sticks for a second, then releases and spins easy again. Not really sure where to go next.