Front end noise/clunking feeling

[TRDORmike]

Hi guys,

17' TRD Off Road w/ KDSS

Just wondering if any of you experience a very slight clunking/thumping from front end when going over small but jarring bumping? I cannot really hear this happing but can feel it through floor board and steering wheel.

The truck has about 2,500kms on it and I have noticed this since I took delivery. I know it is a body on frame vehicle etc etc and if thats what you guys think then perfect I can deal just fine with. However, I am interested to see what others have to say about this.

I did research this topic on the forum however everyone seemed to have a clunk worse than this. Over big bumps etc it is just fine however it is only the small jarring bumps and road imperfections that do it.

I find myself avoiding every small road access cover because that seems to cause this as well. The F150s etc I have driven in past do not do this and feel very solid over all bumps. I bought my wife a 2017 Toyota RAV4 and her car does not have this feeling at all. I know body on frame vs unibody but over the same bumps hers feels solid. I don't know if possibly the extra power assisted muted steering numb that input? Let me know what you guys think and have experienced with your 4Runners.

Thanks,
Mike.

 

[Engineer]

Many have experienced noises, cluncks etc - honestly without being there its almost impossible to say if its normal or not. My gut feel is its fine, and for whatever reason you are now "tuned in to it" so it appears worse. But it never hurts to make sure everything is tight. You mentioned you found other related threads so I wont beat the KDSS horse to death.

If you are worried I would try to find a 4runner with KDSS from the dealer to test drive and see if its any different (may be hard to do, in my area no one had them in stock, ever)

When I hit bumps I feel them swell

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

What about this one:

Anyone ever hear metal clanking like the sound of chains being rattled when going over bumps coming from their 5th gen front end w/KDSS?

 

[nb rob]

What about this one:

Anyone ever hear metal clanking like the sound of chains being rattled when going over bumps coming from their 5th gen front end w/KDSS?

Check the circle clip on your upper ball joints. This is common, and a dab of rtv silicone will fix it

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/205725-chasing-elusive-noise.html

Sorry OP, I can't comment on your situation. I just got home from days of northern gravel roads, and we were driving 50-55mph over endless potholes and sharp gravel. With the tires aired down, I just floated over everything. It was surreal. KDSS on my rig too.
I would say your situation is not normal, but I guess "jarring" could be subjective. I've also got different springs and dampers

 

[TRDORmike]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes i can see how this can be hard as each situation/sound is different.

I am going to put in the air next few days and check over the front end and have a look just to be sure. Otherwise I will just live with it and hopefully it doesn't worsen and if it does then it gets replaced .

Thanks,
Mike.

 

[FLY_FISHING]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes i can see how this can be hard as each situation/sound is different.

I am going to put in the air next few days and check over the front end and have a look just to be sure. Otherwise I will just live with it and hopefully it doesn't worsen and if it does then it gets replaced .

Thanks,
Mike.

Ever figure this out?

 

[Jivewalker]

What about this one:

Anyone ever hear metal clanking like the sound of chains being rattled when going over bumps coming from their 5th gen front end w/KDSS?

Check the chain on the spare tire. mine hangs down through the hole and makes noise over bumps.

 

[666HailSanta]

Hi guys,

17' TRD Off Road w/ KDSS

Just wondering if any of you experience a very slight clunking/thumping from front end when going over small but jarring bumping? I cannot really hear this happing but can feel it through floor board and steering wheel.

The truck has about 2,500kms on it and I have noticed this since I took delivery. I know it is a body on frame vehicle etc etc and if thats what you guys think then perfect I can deal just fine with. However, I am interested to see what others have to say about this.

I did research this topic on the forum however everyone seemed to have a clunk worse than this. Over big bumps etc it is just fine however it is only the small jarring bumps and road imperfections that do it.

I find myself avoiding every small road access cover because that seems to cause this as well. The F150s etc I have driven in past do not do this and feel very solid over all bumps. I bought my wife a 2017 Toyota RAV4 and her car does not have this feeling at all. I know body on frame vs unibody but over the same bumps hers feels solid. I don't know if possibly the extra power assisted muted steering numb that input? Let me know what you guys think and have experienced with your 4Runners.

Thanks,
Mike.

Had a very similar issue with mine after an alignment - turned out the LCA bolt was night tightened to 130ft/lbs. After a month of chasing it with multiple shop, I was ready to burn my truck to the ground.

 

[Spungus]

Hi guys,

17' TRD Off Road w/ KDSS

Just wondering if any of you experience a very slight clunking/thumping from front end when going over small but jarring bumping? I cannot really hear this happing but can feel it through floor board and steering wheel.

The truck has about 2,500kms on it and I have noticed this since I took delivery. I know it is a body on frame vehicle etc etc and if thats what you guys think then perfect I can deal just fine with. However, I am interested to see what others have to say about this.

I did research this topic on the forum however everyone seemed to have a clunk worse than this. Over big bumps etc it is just fine however it is only the small jarring bumps and road imperfections that do it.

I find myself avoiding every small road access cover because that seems to cause this as well. The F150s etc I have driven in past do not do this and feel very solid over all bumps. I bought my wife a 2017 Toyota RAV4 and her car does not have this feeling at all. I know body on frame vs unibody but over the same bumps hers feels solid. I don't know if possibly the extra power assisted muted steering numb that input? Let me know what you guys think and have experienced with your 4Runners.

Thanks,
Mike.

Hey man, 17 TRD Pro owner here. I think I know what you’re talking about, it’s not really loud but if feels kind of loose/wiggly in the steering wheel when going over washboard/small rocks, ya? I have that same issue and I don’t have kdss. I’ve read on this site that it could be down at the steering box but I happen to have a Toyotacare appt for routine maintenance and I plan to bring it up then. I’ll also have them check my lower arm ball joints as suggested in one of the comments in this thread. If what I described sounds about right to you I can give an update in a couple weeks after my appointment.

 

[mrblah]

I'm getting a clunk from front passenger side that mysteriously appeared. It only happens when I go over speed bumps or potholes at high speed, and only when the tire comes back to the ground. Sounds like a hard plastic thud.... I thought it was my bump stops, but it only happens on the passenger side. Loud enough to make pedestrians take notice on the sidewalk.

No other symptoms. I've pulled the tire, inspected the suspension. There is no play in the suspension, and there is no visible signs of contact except for where the bump stops are (which are normal). I've lifted my truck a little bit higher, to make sure its not the bump stops.

So now I'm concerned if this can be a front diff issue or steering rack related.

anyone want to guess?

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

Check the chain on the spare tire. mine hangs down through the hole and makes noise over bumps.

Thanks! I figured out what it was. The outer circlips on the UCA ball joint boots were loose somehow. Boot still in place though by an inner circlip it looked like. Since replaced them.

 

[mrblah]

I'm getting a clunk from front passenger side that mysteriously appeared. It only happens when I go over speed bumps or potholes at high speed, and only when the tire comes back to the ground. Sounds like a hard plastic thud.... I thought it was my bump stops, but it only happens on the passenger side. Loud enough to make pedestrians take notice on the sidewalk.

No other symptoms. I've pulled the tire, inspected the suspension. There is no play in the suspension, and there is no visible signs of contact except for where the bump stops are (which are normal). I've lifted my truck a little bit higher, to make sure its not the bump stops.

So now I'm concerned if this can be a front diff issue or steering rack related.

anyone want to guess?

update to my own clunk and post:

I think its my kings lower shock mount thats causing my issue. After spending an hour at my local mall parking lot doing figure 8's like a new driver, I've ruled out the steering rack, and cv joint.

The clunk isn't consistent, I could go flying over speed bumps and not hear anything, and then one random speed bump will cause a huge thunk. I got out and checked and it seems as if the shock mount is moving within the bolt that is holding it in place, and this is just me visually inspecting it, so I can be wrong. I took a pic of it and see if the position changes in a few days. IF it is, I'll play with the lower shock mount when I have a day off.

Not sure how common a moving lower shock mount is.

 

[Knuckledragger]

I had a front end clunk that was driving me crazy. It showed up after a small lift and allignment. Now that it’s warm out I figured that I better deal with it. I was out with my brother earlier today trying to figure it out. We thought it was my LCA’s clunking everytime I would quickly hit the brakes at slower speeds. I brought it into Firestone, where I had my allignment done. I asked them to check the bolts on the LCA’s. They said they were fine and said that the noise was from my skid plate. Apparently one of the screws was loose.

As for now, my issue appears to be gone. For all I know, they tightened up the bolts on the LCA’s AND found a loose skid plate.

 

[TRDORmike]

Hello everyone. Just happened to be scanning and saw my post come up. I actually sold my 4Runner due to the front end feeling like a cheap piece of junk. Nobody could solve it after multiple dealer visits. Was having an issue with steering shake at highway speeds and put on 2 different sets of wheels and tires each being road force balanced. Regardless I didn’t want to deal with it anymore and gave up. Purchased a new 2019 ZR2 Colorado. Had an issue with shuddering trans on this truck but it has been fixed with a new fluid (what did I get myself into lol) BUT. It has been perfect for 300kms and the truck is solid as a rock. I don’t even care about small repairs as they can actually be fixed! The feeling of how solid this truck drives down the road and it’s composure off road is outstanding. I am keeping this one for the long haul. Or so I think.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

update to my own clunk and post:

I think its my kings lower shock mount thats causing my issue. After spending an hour at my local mall parking lot doing figure 8's like a new driver, I've ruled out the steering rack, and cv joint.

The clunk isn't consistent, I could go flying over speed bumps and not hear anything, and then one random speed bump will cause a huge thunk. I got out and checked and it seems as if the shock mount is moving within the bolt that is holding it in place, and this is just me visually inspecting it, so I can be wrong. I took a pic of it and see if the position changes in a few days. IF it is, I'll play with the lower shock mount when I have a day off.

Not sure how common a moving lower shock mount is.

On my F-150 I had a thunk going over bumps and it turned out my rear lower shock mount bushings were completely or almost all missing. Looked like they had ripped/degraded apart. Putting in new bushings solved this issue. It may have sounded a bit more metallic than you're describing, but you could possibly be onto something with the play in the shock mount. Potentially worn bushings?

 

[BigredTEX]

I have been chasing a clunk in my front left for over a year. So far I have replaced lower control arms (includes bushings and ball joint), upper ball joint (I have Light Racing UCA's), removed and re-installed UCA's to inspect and grease bushings, replaced inner tie rods (they were bad), installed the East Coast Gear axle bushing in the front diff and replaced the front left CV axle. Some of these made a difference and the front end is tight and true, but the clunk is still there.

It is faint, only noticeable at low speed and can be felt in the pedals and floor board. I'm out of ideas. I live on a hill and as I coast down the alley, rolling over slight imperfections in the pavement it is very noticeable to me. My son can drive it and he claims he can't hear or feel it. It happens in both 2WD and 4WD. Other than this little clunk the truck is tight and tracks straight.

 

[Jivewalker]

I have been chasing a clunk in my front left for over a year. So far I have replaced lower control arms (includes bushings and ball joint), upper ball joint (I have Light Racing UCA's), removed and re-installed UCA's to inspect and grease bushings, replaced inner tie rods (they were bad), installed the East Coast Gear axle bushing in the front diff and replaced the front left CV axle. Some of these made a difference and the front end is tight and true, but the clunk is still there.

It is faint, only noticeable at low speed and can be felt in the pedals and floor board. I'm out of ideas. I live on a hill and as I coast down the alley, rolling over slight imperfections in the pavement it is very noticeable to me. My son can drive it and he claims he can't hear or feel it. It happens in both 2WD and 4WD. Other than this little clunk the truck is tight and tracks straight.

Replace sway bar bushings?

 

[comtn4x4]

I have been chasing a clunk in my front left for over a year. So far I have replaced lower control arms (includes bushings and ball joint), upper ball joint (I have Light Racing UCA's), removed and re-installed UCA's to inspect and grease bushings, replaced inner tie rods (they were bad), installed the East Coast Gear axle bushing in the front diff and replaced the front left CV axle. Some of these made a difference and the front end is tight and true, but the clunk is still there.

It is faint, only noticeable at low speed and can be felt in the pedals and floor board. I'm out of ideas. I live on a hill and as I coast down the alley, rolling over slight imperfections in the pavement it is very noticeable to me. My son can drive it and he claims he can't hear or feel it. It happens in both 2WD and 4WD. Other than this little clunk the truck is tight and tracks straight.

I recently changed from a Toytec Boss setup to a 2.5" Radflo coilover like you have and have noticed what I perceive to be the same noise as you. (I also have SPC UCA's like you.) After the shop I use told me it was normal with "racing" style suspensions I contacted Radflo to ask them about it. They also indicated it was normal and was due to the lower mount not having a rubber bushing in it like other brands. Jokingly they also said that if it was riding rough I wasn't going fast enough which does seem to cure the issue, although going that fast all the time isn't practical or safe.

 

[WhiteLightning]

I too have been chasing an elusive clunking sound from the rear passenger. Felt in the floor and heard from back right at low speeds over minor road imperfections. I went from 5100s to Kings - no solution. Changed out sway bar end link, sway bar bushings, read UCA (passenger side), panhard, and LCA - no solution. It use to be only in cold weather, but as it's warming up here in AK and getting into the 40s I'm hearing/feeling it now as well. I'm about to lose my f*cking mind and contemplating selling it. :frusty:

 

[BigredTEX]

Replace sway bar bushings?

I have not replaced the sway bar bushings but have removed and inspected the bushings and end links. Everything looks good.