Front Suspension Creak

[Xtremluck]

So I just spent the last week banging around the Mojave and Sedona deserts. All the rough driving seems to have exasperated a popping and creaking sound coming from the front suspension. Been trying to address this noise for a while now but had little luck. Up until now it usually only happened during tight parking situations or when load was put on the front suspension at odd angles (off road driving).

During the trip I checked the LCA bolts with a hand wrench and they seemed snug. Still haven’t had a chance to put a torque wrench on them (129 lbs). Will try that next. Anyone else experience this?

You can hear the noise quite prevalently in this video of me descending a rocky chute: https://youtu.be/WZQjGNZrvWI


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[CoMtn4Runner]

Have you given your suspension a good cleaning since you got back? I have noticed similar issues after getting back from Moab but it seemed to clear up after a good wash.

 

[nb rob]

129 lb/ft is a surprising amount of torque, even with a 2' long torque wrench.
I would most definitely start with checking the LCA bolts.

Also try removing the 2 front skids and see if you can recreate the sound where it normally would occur during tight parking

My favorite trail has a similar hill, and my skids were flexing and making noise, even though the bolts were snug. Once I chased the noise down to the skid plates, a few strips of weather sealing on the backside of the skidplate fixed it up. It was a real bear to track down that creaking.

Good luck! please update if you get to the bottom of it.

 

[cdiset]

So I just spent the last week banging around the Mojave and Sedona deserts. All the rough driving seems to have exasperated a popping and creaking sound coming from the front suspension. Been trying to address this noise for a while now but had little luck. Up until now it usually only happened during tight parking situations or when load was put on the front suspension at odd angles (off road driving).

During the trip I checked the LCA bolts with a hand wrench and they seemed snug. Still haven’t had a chance to put a torque wrench on them (129 lbs). Will try that next. Anyone else experience this?

You can hear the noise quite prevalently in this video of me descending a rocky chute: https://youtu.be/WZQjGNZrvWI


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This morning I developed what you started with. When I turn right hard and come to a stop, I get that noise. I also get it in reverse, with the wheel turned hard right. Let me know what you find out and I will do the same, sound good?

 

[L-Force]

I was having the same noises with my 4runner when making hard turns at slow speeds, like backing out of a parking space. I checked my LCA bolts, I know the alignment shop only torqued them to 100 ftlbs. I upped the torque to 129 and the noises stopped, definitely look there.

 

[Xtremluck]

Have you given your suspension a good cleaning since you got back? I have noticed similar issues after getting back from Moab but it seemed to clear up after a good wash.

Wish it was because of dirt/sand but alas even after a nice detail the sound is still there. :ybrick:

 

[Xtremluck]

129 lb/ft is a surprising amount of torque, even with a 2' long torque wrench.
I would most definitely start with checking the LCA bolts.

Also try removing the 2 front skids and see if you can recreate the sound where it normally would occur during tight parking

My favorite trail has a similar hill, and my skids were flexing and making noise, even though the bolts were snug. Once I chased the noise down to the skid plates, a few strips of weather sealing on the backside of the skidplate fixed it up. It was a real bear to track down that creaking.

Good luck! please update if you get to the bottom of it.

Thanks, will be trying the LCA bolts tonight. I also suspect the skid plates as well. Had to use spacers to get them to fit underneath part of the exhaust (RCI) and I'm sure there is some loss of rigidity from that. I also slammed my front skid badly coming off a ledge on this trip. I essentially don't have an oil filter access door anymore :hatsoff:

 

[Xtremluck]

I was having the same noises with my 4runner when making hard turns at slow speeds, like backing out of a parking space. I checked my LCA bolts, I know the alignment shop only torqued them to 100 ftlbs. I upped the torque to 129 and the noises stopped, definitely look there.

Good to know, really hoping this is the cause of all the noise.

 

[Xtremluck]

This morning I developed what you started with. When I turn right hard and come to a stop, I get that noise. I also get it in reverse, with the wheel turned hard right. Let me know what you find out and I will do the same, sound good?

Yup, will report back!

 

[Xtremluck]

Alright just went down to the garage and checked all four LCA bolts and they were snug to spec. The sound still persists. Will remove my RCI skids next to see if that helps any.


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[Seattle206]

You running a sway bar? Try removing that and see if that eliminates the noise.

 

[MTN4RNR]

Check your LCA bushings. If they are worn, they can have play and cause a clunking sound.

 

[white4run]

Could the sound be coming from the upper control arms? Does the sound happen when you turn the the wheel at slow speeds or when your stopped?

 

[Xtremluck]

Check your LCA bushings. If they are worn, they can have play and cause a clunking sound.

One of the first things I checked. They seem to be nice and tight.

 

[Xtremluck]

Could the sound be coming from the upper control arms? Does the sound happen when you turn the the wheel at slow speeds or when your stopped?

I don't think its from the that. I've had the sound when I was running the OEM UCAs and still have it now with the new ICON UCAs. Sound appears to only rear its ugly head in low speed parking and off road situations. Sometimes when I brake at a stop light too (This was recent).

 

[Xtremluck]

You running a sway bar? Try removing that and see if that eliminates the noise.

Yup I am, will try adding that to the troubleshooting list. I know people have had problems with the end links making noise!

 

[Xtremluck]

So I was just noodling over this a bit at lunch. Any chance this could be the lower ball joints going bad? The truck has just shy of 100,000 miles with some good off road use.

 

[cdiset]

So I just spent the last week banging around the Mojave and Sedona deserts. All the rough driving seems to have exasperated a popping and creaking sound coming from the front suspension. Been trying to address this noise for a while now but had little luck. Up until now it usually only happened during tight parking situations or when load was put on the front suspension at odd angles (off road driving).

During the trip I checked the LCA bolts with a hand wrench and they seemed snug. Still haven’t had a chance to put a torque wrench on them (129 lbs). Will try that next. Anyone else experience this?

You can hear the noise quite prevalently in this video of me descending a rocky chute: https://youtu.be/WZQjGNZrvWI

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So my klunk turned out to be a loose LCA. They tightened everything up, and I am knock free. (knock on wood)

 

[Xtremluck]

129 lb/ft is a surprising amount of torque, even with a 2' long torque wrench.

I would most definitely start with checking the LCA bolts.



Also try removing the 2 front skids and see if you can recreate the sound where it normally would occur during tight parking



My favorite trail has a similar hill, and my skids were flexing and making noise, even though the bolts were snug. Once I chased the noise down to the skid plates, a few strips of weather sealing on the backside of the skidplate fixed it up. It was a real bear to track down that creaking.



Good luck! please update if you get to the bottom of it.

I put her up on the lift this weekend and went through my list of diagnostic tests. After watching numerous failing ball joint videos and hearing the sounds and symptoms I was sure it was them! So I did the vertical and horizontal wheel wiggle. Everything was tight but the driver side tie rod end was leaking grease (still tight though).

Next up was my front RCI skid plate. Apparently, when I came off a shelf in the Mojave and slammed into a large rock I bent 3 out of the 4 mounting bolts. It also obliterated my oil filter access door. Replaced the bent bolts and threw the plate back on. No noise at all now.

My nightmares of failing ball joints and wheels flying off were for nothing . Thanks for all the help guys!


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[nb rob]

Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear you found the source

Skid plates are always better with a bit of character. I hope you can get that access door sorted out. It's not the end of the world to take the skid off for an oil change I suppose... There's lots of stuff to inspect and wipe down while you wait for the oil to drain.