Had my front stabilizer bar bushings replaced, still a thump in the rear. Any input?

[2003Can4runner]

I made a thread a while ago about the ride being thumpy. I've heard a rattle in the front end since I bought the truck and has gotten progressively worse. Finally took it to a dealer and had someone, after many rides, figure it was the front stabilizer bar bushings. I had them replaced today and the front end rattle is gone but there is still a thump in the rear. I talked to the mechanic and he wants me to book my truck in so he can have it for a whole day to see if he can figure it out. What could it be? I figured tires...I'm riding on new Terra Grapplers. I let some air out to see if it was maybe just a stiff tire but the thump is still there. Anyone have any input?

 

[sheik]

Did you follow up in your old thread at all?

 

[2003Can4runner]

Sorry I didn't I figured since I got the problem fixed for the most part I'd just start a new one. This can be deleted and I'll continue on the old thread if the mods would rather.

 

[sheik]

Oh no worries about that, I was just curious if you saw my suggestion for your thump issue. I was experiencing a similar situation and was just curious if you had checked.

Simple fixes are always good

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I'd check the following:
1) Do you ride around with a trailer hitch in the receiver? Is that making the noise?
2) Is the spare properly positioned and tight?
3) Are the rear swaybar bushings ok?
4) Are the rear shocks tight (top & bottom)?

Those are the obvious, likely, cheap things. There's control arms and bushings in the rear too, they may be giving you grief.

Good luck, let us know what it is...
:cheers:

 

[2003Can4runner]

No I don't drive with a trailer hitch.

Yep spare is nice and tight!

I had the truck up on a hoist and a Toyota mechanic and I walked around underneith it poking at everything, pulling at everything, to see if anything was loose. The shocks, rear sway bar bushings, and spare were all good. He finally found that the front sway bar bushings were loose, which fixed the front end rattle.

I'm just really curious if it could be the Nittos.

 

[li_runner]

When exactly do you hear this thump?

 

[2003Can4runner]

Update:

Had my truck in this afternoon. Turns out the left rear shock is shot, and so is the front left lower ball joint. Is this normal for 110 000kms? Inluding the stabilizer bar bushings?

 

[2003Can4runner]

anybody have some input?

 

[03Limited]

Update:

Had my truck in this afternoon. Turns out the left rear shock is shot, and so is the front left lower ball joint. Is this normal for 110 000kms? Inluding the stabilizer bar bushings?

That's a little over 68k miles for anyone wondering. I'd say shocks might be approaching the end of their life at that point and it's not too surprising for one to fail then. Seems awfully quick for a ball joint though, but given all the variables out there, not unreasonable. I think that's plenty of time for the sway bar bushings to go out as well. I need to do mine when it warms up.

 

[2003Can4runner]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm just looking forward to having the quiet ride back without the thump and rattles underneath.

 

[rbtool]

Hi, similar problem here on an 04 with 94K. I put on new shocks, replaced the rear caliapers and even removed the spare. I have a lift and only after chasing this "thump" for over a month I found it.
It is the plate above the spring, it does not bolt in, I cut an 8 by 8 piece of 1/8 thick rubber and my ride is much quieter.
I still have a slight sound only once in a while now, next thing is a piece of hose over the spring in the bottom where it contacts the round pad on the axle.
Hope this helps.

 

[tomhaney1]

Hi, similar problem here on an 04 with 94K. I put on new shocks, replaced the rear caliapers and even removed the spare. I have a lift and only after chasing this "thump" for over a month I found it.
It is the plate above the spring, it does not bolt in, I cut an 8 by 8 piece of 1/8 thick rubber and my ride is much quieter.
I still have a slight sound only once in a while now, next thing is a piece of hose over the spring in the bottom where it contacts the round pad on the axle.
Hope this helps.

Ah, ok. I have that odd thump when going over bumps in the right rear. I tore everything out of the cargo area and it still happens. Checked everything and it all seems fine- shocks, spare etc. Is the spare jack/tool kit on the right side?

05 V8 SE, ~29,000 miles

 

[Bangers Runner]

If your lifted and didnt upgrade your shocks they could be topping out.

 

[4Given]

The rear knock, clank, rattle was solved........mostly

I had a similar rear noise on my 08 Urban Runner.

This noise was noticeable when driving relatively slowly over expansion joints or divots in the road (voids in the pavement.....not bumps)

The noise increased incrementally, but became really noticeable after my
SE Oregon deer hunting safari where BLM roads are the worst I've traveled (4.5 hours to go 11 miles)

Originally I thought the noise was associated with the rear brake springs or possibly rattling brake pads. I had a brake expert at Les Schwab inspect and he found nothing out of order. My intent of taking it to Les Schwab was to get proof for the Toyota Techs that there was actually a problem and not just my imagination.

In my frustration, my next step was to have my dealership put it up on a hoist to do an inspection.

Here's what they discovered:

*** Left Rear shock had "fluid misting" on it.
This was indicated by dust which was collecting on the upper shock tube.
This was not visible to me while the rig was on the ground; only after it was lifted on the hoist.

*** Left Rear shock top bushing appeared to be misaligned; sort of "mushed-over" to one side.

Here's what they did:

*** Replaced shock, which included new bushings.

Not sure if the noise was associated with the shock OR the bushing.

Sorry, no pics. The Tech was too fast for me.



Update: My rear-end noise fixation is is starting to whisper softy in my ear, "I'm back". What's really strange is that when the Tech took me for a drive immediately after he replaced the shock, I didn't hear anything.

Now, I'm starting to hear a faint thump-knock noise again. My "fixation" is now on the XREAS system. Could it be that when this hydraulic shock system is disconnected there is a small amount of fluid lost and this introduces air, which in turn makes this noise??? Thinking back in time, I first noticed this noise not too long after having my Cornfed front lift kit installed in which the XREAS lines were disconnected.

The other culprit just may be other noisy rear bushings, but how do you convince the Toyota Techs that they need replacing, unless they're really loose or, as in my case, misaligned.

Anyway, as new discoveries happen, I'll post.

 

[CelticRunner]

Could be the rear stabilizer bars. At least I was told mine could be replaced and are likely contributing to the sound.

Haven’t had a chance to get them replaced yet and I was told it’s not something that needs to be done so I’ve been kind of putting them off.

Only making the comment in case it helps someone else.