Front suspension clunk

S

settytb

New member
Hey all. I have a clunk going on mostly front passenger, but driver sometimes too. I'm wondering if anyone has replaced ball joints? If so do you need all new control arms or do they clip in. I see there are some replacements to buy just the joints themselves and they look like they are held in with a big clip/snapring. Just wondering it anyone's ever done it before? Also, what are some common sources of clunks that people have seen on their T4R? How about control arm bushings or sway bar bushings? Anyone have those go out? My runners and 03 v6 with about 120k miles on the clock so it makes sense for the ball joints to be going just wondering if it's common and if anyone else has replaced them?
-Seth
 
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I'll bump this, I'm having the same problem on the driver's side but can't seem to find out what the problem is. Has anyone replaced control arm bushings? I removed my sway bar and the clunk is still there.
 
I have an occasional clunk on the driver side front suspension. I had the wheel bearings replaced, but that didn't fix it.
 
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/28414-07-v8-4x4-zerk-fitting-pics.html


Grease your zerks. This helped a lot of people eliminate the sound. It took care of my driveline clunk. I also replaced my front and rear diff oil, as well as my center transfer case oil with a sythetic gear oil. My clunk is now totally gone.

For what it's worth, the clunk you're describing is very common. I would only get it whilst turning on an incline, but it was an ugly sound and feeling. Proper greasing of your driveline will help greatly.
 
No, it isn't the steering stops. I've already greased those, and I only got a noise from them before I greased them when I was at steering lock. The clunk that I get is when I'm driving straight and hit a pothole.

No, it isn't the driveshaft. I've been greasing the zerks for years, and it isn't the driveline thump. It is a heavy metallic clank, from the front left suspension.
 
I have it too. I'm going to have a friend look at it and see what he thinks. I am honestly out of ideas on what it could be. Mine is mostly Driver but occasionally passenger. Going to replace my CV tonight and then drive it out hopefully this week as the next few weeks are going to be hell with work but if I find anything out I'll pass it along.
 
:shrug:Anymore info on the clunk? I've had it for a while now. I'm pretty sure it is only on the front driver side. Could be passenger, but if it is it's 9 times out of 10 it would be driver side.

I get the clunk when first I turn and drive off. After that, I don't hear anymore. Even if I stop at a light or something. Feels like something shifts into place, and once it shifts it stays there until another movement that makes it shift. Usually a prolonged stop, like parking and going inside the house or store etc... and heading off again will generate the sound again.

Buddy with Fj cruiser had similar problem. We only had this issue after an alignment. Members on an FJ forum also had similar clunk. Front suspension is pretty much 100% the same as out 4th gens.

With the truck lifted on a jack, and the front wheel/tire off the ground try to jiggle it by hand. If you can, then maybe you have ball joint, bearings, tie rod, I don't really know.... :shrug:

I was not able to jiggle mine by hand. But if you take a crow bar, to your lower control arms and slide it near the bushings, see if you can move it, and recreate the sound. Mine does. Changing the bushings according to some Fj cruiser dudes seems to fix this. I haven't changed the bushings. My buddy with the same issue simply re-tightened all his bolts. His clunk is gone. I will try that forst once I get a chance. But I do notice that my bushings are a little worn.
 
@CAN yours sounds like swarbar bushings or end link to me. Just because those would settle with movement and then stay in place for the most part...but again that's just a guess but worth checking out. Mine is more of a metal rattle from the front passenger side when driving. Like a bushing is going out or bad. I just need to get off my butt and lube up the ball joints etc. I'm thinking my issue is either ball joints or control arm bushings is my guess. We'll see. I plan on getting the Daystar spacer lift here in a little bit and I'll check out the components as I take them apart. Hope that helps
 
You sound like you like sitting on your butt too.... hahaha..... Interesting comment about the sway bar bushings or end link. I have done the toytec sway bar relocate and the diff drop. Intially I thought maybe that would help but ut didn't. Maybe I should take a look at those bushings too. It's just that when we did the crow bar trick, it reproduced the sound pretty good. If its just bushings it's a relief only because it is not something more major like a bad diff, or steering etc....except the work involved still sounds like a pain in the butt. And I'm still debating whether to replace bushings, or buy a new control arm. And if the bolts don't come off nicely, Toyota sells the bolts at the relatively normal and fair price of 180$. What the hell. 180$ for bolts, these guys are nuts.
 
Wow...180 bucks for bolts...I'm sure you could get some high grade bolts for like 20 bucks probably stronger than the oem ones...wow! Yeah, interesting to hear you already moved/replaced the swaybar. I'm not sure what that would be if it isn't a tierod end i would have to point at the steering rack...and If it is the steering rack. Drive it til it falls out because I'm sure that's really expensive! ;)
 
mine clunks and its from my shot shock bushings. been spending $$$ on both kids vehicles and new 35's for the wifes jeep so my bilsteins will have to wait a little longer.
 
Well I finally gave up and took mine to the shop. Problem Solved!!!! It ended up being the driver's side lower control arm bolt being slightly loose. He said they probably didn't torque it properly after the last alignment. If I think about it, the noise started not long after I had it aligned.

The interesting thing was that he said it wasn't terribly loose, but looser than it should be. I couldn't believe the noise it made for being just a loose bolt.

Anyway, I guess it goes to show a little movement can cause a lot of noise.

I hope this helps someone. Just wanted to post my findings and would say to look up all the torque specs on your suspension parts and snug em up.
 
CAN-03runner said:
:shrug:Anymore info on the clunk? I've had it for a while now. I'm pretty sure it is only on the front driver side. Could be passenger, but if it is it's 9 times out of 10 it would be driver side.

I get the clunk when first I turn and drive off. After that, I don't hear anymore. Even if I stop at a light or something. Feels like something shifts into place, and once it shifts it stays there until another movement that makes it shift. Usually a prolonged stop, like parking and going inside the house or store etc... and heading off again will generate the sound again.

Buddy with Fj cruiser had similar problem. We only had this issue after an alignment. Members on an FJ forum also had similar clunk. Front suspension is pretty much 100% the same as out 4th gens.

With the truck lifted on a jack, and the front wheel/tire off the ground try to jiggle it by hand. If you can, then maybe you have ball joint, bearings, tie rod, I don't really know.... :shrug:

I was not able to jiggle mine by hand. But if you take a crow bar, to your lower control arms and slide it near the bushings, see if you can move it, and recreate the sound. Mine does. Changing the bushings according to some Fj cruiser dudes seems to fix this. I haven't changed the bushings. My buddy with the same issue simply re-tightened all his bolts. His clunk is gone. I will try that forst once I get a chance. But I do notice that my bushings are a little worn.
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Were able to figure this out ever? Mine is doing what sounds to be the exact same after my alignment too.
 
Interesting. I have clunk also. New tires and alignment couple weeks ago. But my clunk is when depress brakes in reverse mostly, can barely hear it in drive. New rotors & pads about a year ago. Pulled pad slide pins, cleaned, and greased. Torqued lug nuts to 90 ft lbs, little more than 83 ft lb in manual. Thought it was brake related, still have clunk. Not super loud but enough to cause concern. Definitely in front on driver's side. I'll check control arm bolts. I ruled out just about everything else. I'm always open to suggestions too everyone. Thank you. I'll post results.
 
Clunk

hi everyone. I've registered in Dec 2015. Read all the forums. I have a clunk in front end like some others. Replaced LCA and bushings, new quick struts, cam/cast bolts, and my sway links and bushings are fairly new (year old).

Still have a clunk. Any help appreciated.
 
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