Front End Thunking Noise

[Rverrat Cargel]

Good Afternoon,

I will be researching this but i thought i'd just ask first. I have a pretty loud noise/feeling in the front end of my truck when i go over a speed bump or curb. It acts like something is bottoming out but it only does it after i come over the bump, while the springs decompress. I am wondering if maybe a lifted it wrong or am missing something. I have the Yellow OME shocks with 1.5" spring spacers so its about 4" of lift up front.

Thanks,
Cordell

 

[saurkraut]

What is the condition of the upper and lower ball joints?

 

[Rverrat Cargel]

Pretty sure they are original with ~185k. Is there someway I can easily check them?

 

[saurkraut]

The consensus is, replace at least the lower at 100k and use only Toyota parts. If it fails, it is a safety issue and could cause you to wreck.

Put the front up on stands - For the lower, take a long pry bar and put it between the knuckle and ball joint and pry up and down. If there is any movement, it will need to be replaced. For the upper, grab the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and push and pull while watching the upper joint. Any movement, replace.

 

[MuddyButt]

Also check your sway bar end links if you haven't . Those make noise as well when they are broken

 

[MuddyButt]

Exactly what mine was doing over speed bumps.

 

[Rverrat Cargel]

Oh damn, yeah those could very likely be broken, had some front end damage. Thanks.

How hard are they to replace?

 

[St Runner]

I hate to be the downer here, but you have 4 inches of lift, original ball joints and a banging noise in the front end. Something is going to happen and it will not be good. Replace the lower ball joints asap,when you are doing that you can check the upper ball joints and the control arm bushings to make sure there is no play in them. It is not difficult and you should use toyota parts. If you wait for something to break you will pay a lot more

 

[pluton]

Exactly what mine was doing over speed bumps.

How long did these LBJs remain installed on the vehicle after the boots failed and the grease inside turned to dirt?

 

[MuddyButt]

Oh damn, yeah those could very likely be broken, had some front end damage. Thanks.

How hard are they to replace?

Very easy to repair. Two nuts (no pun intended) assuming they arent frozen with rust.

 

[MuddyButt]

How long did these LBJs remain installed on the vehicle after the boots failed and the grease inside turned to dirt?

what?

 

[jeremyc74]

Sway bar links sounds like a good place to start. I'm getting a similar noise when I'm going from reverse to drive after backing out of a parking space, and I suspect that's what it is on mine as well. I replaced them about a year ago, but I used Rock Auto parts and they look like shit already.

With the lift you probably want to research extended links.

Like other people have said though, you really should consider replacing those lower ball joints. The failure mode isn't pretty.

 

[Gadgetguy]

How long did these LBJs remain installed on the vehicle after the boots failed and the grease inside turned to dirt?

He was talking about his sway bar end links luckily, or that could have been bad news bears

 

[RiverratCargel]

Well, I figured out where my noise was coming from. :-/ Hoping rotating the springs might fix it but the overlap is pretty bad. Thoughts? Gonna take the tires off and check all the ball joints and what not tomorrow anyway.

 

[Gadgetguy]

That upper balljoint looks toast, I'd probably replace all of them if it were me.

 

[RiverratCargel]

Thanks, I am looking at a new set of ball joints and a diff drop kit....maybe. I cant afford the UCA kits yet. I just need it safe enough for travel and capable enough for winter.

 

[Rock_Rat]

Hmmm Interesting. Two of you with the exact same problem. Must be brothers.
[MENTION=130534]RiverratCargel[/MENTION] and [MENTION=84100]Rverrat Cargel[/MENTION] either that or someone is impersonating the OP.

Go see Brock at Broadway Toyota and tell him Mike (Imperial Jade 4Runner with 318K miles) sent you there for new LBJ's and bolts. Works the parts dept. Good guy. See if he'll give you my discount. If not go online with Toyota of Dallas or Rockauto.

EDIT: Upper and lower.

 

[4RUNNERTMAN]

I just did my LBJ, ITRE and OTRE and after a few learning moments it really was not that hard to do. Just make sure you have all the right tools and if replacing ball joints use new bolts instead of using the old ones. They can be purchased for around $1.00 each and some Locktite blue to keep them in there.
I used Camelback Toyota and all orders over $150 get free shipping. Use OEM on ball joints for sure and OTRE if yours need replacing. ITRE I went with aftermarket ones with lifetime warranty.

Here are some good write-ups on here that I used:

LBJ and OTRE:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/103217-lower-ball-joint-removal-installation.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/149467-official-lower-ball-joint-write-up-thread.html

ITRE:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/102959-inner-tie-rod-removal-installation.html

Doing this yourself will save you a ton and you likely get some new tools out of it!

 

[D Farms]

I know exactly what this is. You are using a top plate spacer, and you are over extending the suspension. When it droops the spindle is hitting the coils. this is a common problem if you use a top plate spacer, or if your spring is wider than the stock spring. sure you can rotate the spring, but you aren't getting anything out of having it lifted that high, you probably have no flex or down travel at all.

 

[RiverratCargel]

D Farms, yeah pretty much the problem I got myself into. Trying to figure out a solution without having to redo the whole set up.

Rock_Rat, I'm same as the OP I just got tired of messing up my log in so i changed the user name to match mine on other forums.