Front suspension issues, frustrations and disappointment

[Brandonium]

One of the few things I cannot deal with is bad tracking/steering on the road and wheel/suspension vibrations when driving. It's one of those things that dealerships often push off. Once had a dealer tell me that 75 was too fast and that they could not guarantee a good tire balance over 70.

Dealerships always have a fountain of excuses.. which one you get depends on which one is flowing that day.

 

[adam2562]

My left side clunks too under a specific circumstance. Usually a quick down drop turn left. My first thought too was a bushing. I have inspected the front multiple times everything visible is solid.

A bad KDSS sway-bar bushing should not cause that bad of an alignment issue, after all it is only controlling body roll, nothing to do with toe, caster, or camber (well camber can be affected by roll but that wouldn't cause pulling to one side)

BTW driving on sand IMO is harder on your truck than just about anything else you could do to it.

Feel for you finding a good dealer service department is a trial. Getting a rear KDSS stabilizer link replaced under warranty as we speak, we will see how these guys do...

My bushings looked fine too but contorted a little bit. But I replaced them anyways and it did the trick.. sounds like you need em too!

 

[willb0125]

One of the few things I cannot deal with is bad tracking/steering on the road and wheel/suspension vibrations when driving. It's one of those things that dealerships often push off. Once had a dealer tell me that 75 was too fast and that they could not guarantee a good tire balance over 70.

Dealerships always have a fountain of excuses.. which one you get depends on which one is flowing that day.

Yeah its the worst. I had a '03 VW GTI with 150,000 miles on it and that thing would go straight forever and you could jam a brick in the wheel spoke and it still would not shake. I feel like i need to preform some kid of ritual or sacrifice before i drive my 4Runner or it becomes angry and tries to shake me to death.

 

[Brandonium]

Yes, my GTi and my Touareg never experienced these types of issues. There are so many variables with these issues that it's just too easy for finger pointing. It's the road, or the tire manufacturer or your driving habits..

I'm frustrated for you. This would drive me nuts!

Yeah its the worst. I had a '03 VW GTI with 150,000 miles on it and that thing would go straight forever and you could jam a brick in the wheel spoke and it still would not shake. I feel like i need to preform some kid of ritual or sacrifice before i drive my 4Runner or it becomes angry and tries to shake me to death.

 

[willb0125]

Yes, my GTi and my Touareg never experienced these types of issues. There are so many variables with these issues that it's just too easy for finger pointing. It's the road, or the tire manufacturer or your driving habits..

I'm frustrated for you. This would drive me nuts!

What really drives me nuts is some people never have this issue and some have noticed it during test drives. Really seems like some kind of underlying design issue.

 

[Brandonium]

When I test drove a TEP without KDSS a few weeks ago it was smooth as could be. Not even the slightest vibration BUT it was not as firm as I would have liked. If I noticed a vibration during a test drive I'd not take delivery.

What really drives me nuts is some people never have this issue and some have noticed it during test drives. Really seems like some kind of underlying design issue.

 

[willb0125]

When I test drove a TEP without KDSS a few weeks ago it was smooth as could be. Not even the slightest vibration BUT it was not as firm as I would have liked. If I noticed a vibration during a test drive I'd not take delivery.

Mine was like butter for the first 5,000 or so miles and now its annoying me everyday. I think it needs a full Icon Stage 7, seems like the only reasonable course of action now.

 

[FoneRunner]

There's a member here who works in the service department at Riverhead Toyota...if that isn't the dealer you've already tried then I might suggest them. If you're interested in the details, let me know. He's got a 3rd gen and I've wheeled with him, which is as good as vouching for someone as it gets on here! :guitar3:

 

[Jeremy556]

I installed front and rear LCA armor out back a few months ago.

Pretty sure this is going to be the source of your noise - common complaint with rear LCA armor.

 

[wfo9]

Pretty sure this is going to be the source of your noise - common complaint with rear LCA armor.

Exactly what I was thinking... Depends on the type though...

OP, take a picture of what you have on there for the rear LCA.

On mine the LCA frame side bracket skids.. make noise unless they are tack welded to the the frame.

 

[Bighead2001]

Pretty sure this is going to be the source of your noise - common complaint with rear LCA armor.

That's what I was thinking regarding the noise. I had beefed up rear LCAs (not LCA armor) on my old 3rd Gen and a similar noise would let me know it was time to replace the Rubicon Express joints. Not sure what's causing the pull to the right.

 

[willb0125]

Exactly what I was thinking... Depends on the type though...

OP, take a picture of what you have on there for the rear LCA.

On mine the LCA frame side bracket skids.. make noise unless they are tack welded to the the frame.

Both pieces of LCA armor are from Rocktek. I think they are gone now because I cant even find them online anymore. Actually got the parts from Path Finder Recovery Gear. The skids on the forward LCA bracket have 2 bolts through the frame that keep them from moving. I didn't get a chance to check any of the bolts yet but it would be pretty tough for them to be moving around.

I dont have exact pics off my truck but these are the same parts so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

[STX4Runner]

Both pieces of LCA armor are from Rocktek. I think they are gone now because I cant even find them online anymore. Actually got the parts from Path Finder Recovery Gear. The skids on the forward LCA bracket have 2 bolts through the frame that keep them from moving. I didn't get a chance to check any of the bolts yet but it would be pretty tough for them to be moving around.

I dont have exact pics off my truck but these are the same parts so you can see what I'm talking about.

View attachment 214790

View attachment 214791

Check the two screws in your first picture holding the control arm skid to the frame. After some heavy offroading last fall mine was making a noise during left hand turns that baffled me. A bad metallic popping/snapping noise. It turns out that the had come loose and the skid was snapping against the frame. Tightened them up and no more noise.

 

[willb0125]

Check the two screws in your first picture holding the control arm skid to the frame. After some heavy offroading last fall mine was making a noise during left hand turns that baffled me. A bad metallic popping/snapping noise. It turns out that the had come loose and the skid was snapping against the frame. Tightened them up and no more noise.

I think I have to correct size sockets in the truck for the bolts on the skids. Going to check them at lunch time today.

 

[wfo9]

Check the two screws in your first picture holding the control arm skid to the frame. After some heavy offroading last fall mine was making a noise during left hand turns that baffled me. A bad metallic popping/snapping noise. It turns out that the had come loose and the skid was snapping against the frame. Tightened them up and no more noise.

This^^

There is a lot of torque going back in fourth in that area.... Also, I would just remove those rear ones. Seem almost pointless to me.

I like the way those front skids are designed.... BTW

 

[desert pirate]

May look at replacing shocks/struts to fix the shaking from 60-65mph, 5100s fixed this on mine, the stockers were done around 50k mi

 

[willb0125]

This^^

There is a lot of torque going back in fourth in that area.... Also, I would just remove those rear ones. Seem almost pointless to me.

I like the way those front skids are designed.... BTW

Ran out at lunch to check those bolts. Got 1/4 to 1/2 turn on all 4, not exactly the smoking gun I was looking for.

Wish I had some GoPro's to mount underneath to try and pickup where the sound is coming from.

I'm 99% sure its from the front end just can't pin down the exact spot.

 

[STX4Runner]

This^^

There is a lot of torque going back in fourth in that area.... Also, I would just remove those rear ones. Seem almost pointless to me.

I like the way those front skids are designed.... BTW

RCI makes ones that look very similar to his. I have them and they're pretty stout.

 

[willb0125]

I checked the torque on the rear LCA bolts last night to be sure. All 4 were still at 93 ft/lbs so I doubt the sound is coming from them.

Truck is going back to Toyota today for what seems like its weekly visit. Hopefully the can figure it out this time.

 

[wfo9]

RCI makes ones that look very similar to his. I have them and they're pretty stout.

Yea, I had those, but had to change to something different to clear my larger johnny joint style links. May try to modify them, since what I have is not smooth enough and causes more hang ups. 95% of my belly clearance issues are the gas tank skid or that skid (basically at that same spot on the truck). If I could get those two things up higher this truck would be way more capable. Unfortunately, neither can be moved ;-)