Front End Clunk / Sway Bar Bushings

[innocent bystander]

I am experiencing a slight clunk in my front end when going over some low speed bumps. I went over the skid plate and it is on properly and tight. Next common cause seems to be sway bar bushings.

Is there a kit somewhere that includes ALL of the bushings (mount and end links)? 5th generation kits seem to be hard to come by. Hoping someone has a link they can provide.

Thanks in advance.

 

[my14runner]

I am experiencing a slight clunk in my front end when going over some low speed bumps. I went over the skid plate and it is on properly and tight. Next common cause seems to be sway bar bushings.

Is there a kit somewhere that includes ALL of the bushings (mount and end links)? 5th generation kits seem to be hard to come by. Hoping someone has a link they can provide.

Thanks in advance.

I ordered All Pro's replacement sway bar end links I'll post pics when I install them. They are pretty stout and use heim joints

http://www.allprooffroad.com/

 

[joneseyyy]

I was able to find the frame bushings and endlinks through my local autozone. However, I just decided to remove the front swaybar altogether

 

[innocent bystander]

I thought about removing it, but I am mainly riding on the road. Are you using your mainly for off-road?

 

[innocent bystander]

Thought I would update anyone interested. I replaced the sway bar end links and everything is back to normal. Upon taking them off though, I noticed ZERO play in them. The ball joints were quite loose, but I could yank them around and feel any play. The feel and sound are just incredibly amplified.

What made me decide to change them was that I got underneath the truck and had a buddy bounce it up and down. I put my hand on everything suspension related until I happened upon the sway bar link and I could feel the slightest of "ticks". I jumped to conclusions and ordered a couple of Moogs (lifetime warranty). Put them in and the noise is gone and the ride is much better.

Preemptively replacing the rear set now. Hoping to have as much improvement again.

For those interested, my rig a 2010 with 90k highway miles on it. It is a winter hockey player shuttle with frequent trips to the nether regions of New Brunswick, Canada. While I don't off-road, the roads can still be pretty sketchy. Probably slightly more than "normal" wear and tear.

 

[innocent bystander]

One last update to this... noticed under certain conditions that I still had a slight clunk. Got frustrated and took the following actions:

Took off the skid plate - NO DIFFERENCE
Took off sway bar completely - CLUNK GONE

With the end links being replaced, had to be the bushings. I went on the hunt but could not find any locally. I had to order some, but they will not be here for a week, so when putting it all back together I wrapped some teflon tape around the sway bar where the bushings mount, greased it well and clunk is still gone in EVERY situation.

Do not discount how little wear it takes to make some noise down there. Mine looked almost perfect. I think one factor that many people look past is the wear on the side of the side of the bushing where it contacts the collar that is meant to keep everything in place. Mine were worn in about 1/32" of an inch on each side. When I put them back in, I flipped them so that the "fresh" side was touching the collar. Whether it was the teflon tape, or flipping them, the noise it gone. Weird because a visual inspection would have you looking elsewhere.

I hope that helps someone as I have been beating my head against a wall trying to get to the bottom of this.

 

[Daily-runner]

I have the same problem. Going to replace the bushings and see also. Thanks!

 

[innocent bystander]

Taking the sway bar off can be a pain if not on a lift, but pretty straight forward. Worth the time to take it off and see if it goes away.

 

[Bossman]

I was also experiencing an annoying front end clunk going over bumps and potholes in my 2011 Limited.

As my 4Runner was going in for some other service, I asked my independent mechanic to look over the front end steering and suspension components. He identified the stabilizer bar bushings as the cause. My sway bar links were fine.

Although he has access to aftermarket parts, he/we decided to go with Toyota stabilizer bar bushings. Toyota part number 48815-35130.

 

[Byways]

2004 stabilizer bar bushings replaced

Mine (140k-plus on the odo) had bad clunking in front that not one of five shops, dealer included, could diagnose. I decided that at $15.24 x 2 (OEM Toyota part 48815-60190, bought online from a dealer), replacing the bushings was a chance worth taking.

It was easy to do ... and it worked! Suspension is now solid and tight.

My process ...

Leave the wheels on the ground.

Remove the skid plate (Impact wrench may be best, as these lower bolts can rust in place and snap off if you use a ratchet or breaker bar.)

Remove four stabilizer bar bracket bolts and brackets. Pay attention to the fact that each bracket is designated for left side and right side.

Sway bar will swing down loosely, with no tension on it.

Using the correct size metric tap and die (M8 x 1.25), clean up the threads on the bolts and in bolt holes. Use cutting oil. Don't be shocked if someone before you has cross-threaded both bolts and holes. (My dealer's resident bonehead did ...)

The bushings have a slit so they can slide off of/onto the bar.

Clean the bar where the bushings go, and the insides of the brackets.

Put silicon grease on the bar where the bushing goes. Grease inside and outside of the new bushing wherever it contacts the bar and brackets.

You might put a tiny bit of anti-seize on the bracket and skid plate bolts. Remember, lubing threads means using less torque than with dry bolts.

Replace brackets and skid plate using a ratchet, not an impact wrench. Use your sense of feel when tightening, to make sure you will not strip threads.

Now enjoy the silence with every bump you hit ...