Installed Lift - Popping noise

[Jubsz]

On my 00' Limited 4WD 230k miles, I had OME 881/890s installed with OME shocks and a diff drop this past week. I had new end links installed with them, made by MStudt on this forum. The truck rides great, a million times better than before. I'm hunting down a popping noise, seemingly from the driver front side. Noise seems to occur with articulation of the front driver side suspension. It also occurs notably when turning left at speed, particularly when transitioning from turning right to turning left. I believe I can feel it slightly in the steering wheel as well. Seems to be something under tension in the suspension or steering. I think it has gotten worse over the few days I've driven it but I may just be way more attuned to it.

I have a few ideas but haven't gotten anywhere with them. Worth noting that the boot on the outer joint of that axle seems to have peeled back. However, the joint does not have play in it and I do not believe this to be my culprit. I believe the boot peeled back just because of the lift. I'm picking up an OEM replacement for it and plan to re-boot that axle. I have new sway bar bushings coming in as well. I've jacked it up and shaken things around with nothing seeming out of place. My idea is to go for the sway bar bushings and axle first and hope that resolves it. If not that, I worry about the steering rack. My steering is definitely not tight but I've always assumed it was the steering shaft that people talk about welding. I've also heard some mention body mount but to both that and the steering rack idea, the odd part is that I did not hear this happening before, even on OEM 230k mile suspension. Any other ideas here or things that I may not be thinking of? Could it just be the springs not seating properly in the bottom cup mount, etc?

I think I'm on the right track but would like any other ideas and things I may not have thought of.

 

[Endlessblockades]

I'd say loosen and re-tighten the sway bar and end links. Make sure the sway bar isn't preloaded in some way. This is a very common cause of the sound you describe. I had the same issue after installing a set of OEM 2nd gen rear links on my 2000 front bar. I have a similar front lift (881/5100). Tighten the F out of the lower link nut. Mine has been rock solid since I did that. Before that it sounded like the front end was going to fall off over a speed bump or full-lock turn or pothole.

 

[Jubsz]

I'll take off the driver side end-link tomorrow and drive it over the speed bump in my neighborhood. That should at least tell me if its the swaybar or not.

Also worth noting... I cannot replicate this issue sitting still and moving the steering wheel back and forth. I'm not sure if this clears the steering components but it leads me to believe there is not a tremendous amount of slop. I'll have to grab someone to turn the steering wheel while I'm sitting under it to see if I can see the rack moving around on the mounts.

 

[Devbot]

MStudt's links pop like crazy. I just finally threw mine out in favor of some normal links from Moog (typical 2nd/3rd gen combo) after trying to remedy the popping for months on end. Literally NOTHING would stop it. After swapping them out, I immediately had a quiet ride. Not to mention I broke one of these "unbreakable" links my first time wheeling with them.
I'm far from the only one who's had this issue too, but I'm sure you'll find some of my posts on the subject. I've been very vocal about my experience with them (such as here). You can try contacting MStudt about them, but in my experience I got very little other than "did you try tightening them down again?"
If the popping persists without them, check out the front differential bushings. If they are worn out they can cause a clunk that sounds/feels very similar. Timmy the Toolman has a video on how to replace them, not nearly as bad as it sounds.

 

[Jubsz]

Dang, thanks for the info. That's frustrating but good to know. I didn't read through that whole post but it seemed like the easy button for extended end links. If that ends up being my issue, I'll be disappointed that I spent all that money for the links but at least it's an easy fix if it bothers me enough. Right now, the unknown is bothering me more than the noise itself. Any indecent noise does bother me though. I guess the next try would be 2nd gen links.

My other car (s2k) has an aftermarket front sway on it with HEIM joints as well. That car makes a little bit of a similar noise but not nearly as pronounced as the 4runner. The s2k's noise also seems to bobble between both sides a bit as opposed to being very pronounced on one side. I guess it doesn't have nearly as much weight or suspension travel. Hopefully I'll find out tomorrow if I have enough time over lunch to remove an end link and take a trip to the speed bumps.

 

[Devbot]

I fully get you. I was very hesitant to buy them in the first place, and was very frustrated that they didn't work. Part of the reason I put up with them for so long was that exact reason; for the money I was determined they would work properly.
If your suspension is stiff enough, you may find that you can comfortably run without sway bars all the time. When my rear link broke and the bar was no longer connected, I barely noticed it aside from being a little bouncier.

 

[Jubsz]

Very glad to say that it seems tightening the end links made it go away. Where the end link mounts to the control arm was fairly loose. I could turn the nut, spinning the joint fairly easily while it was attached. I busted out my 16mm's and properly tightened them. Based on 3 speed bumps, it seems to have gone completely away. I'll do a more complete test drive to verify but I am happily comfortable that my noise was the sway bar and not something more critical. Either way, I feel it will be very livable and I'm ok with the links as is.

On the note of running with no front sway bar.... I have no intention of doing that. I tend to drive fairly aggressively and dive into corners faster than I probably should. I've had the tail kick out a fair number of times in the wet and don't plan to add to that tendency. I'm sure it would be fine, but given my experience playing with front swaybars on the S2k, I feel they make a huge difference. Driving that car without a front sway would be borderline suicidal. I know the T4R is quite different and I don't drive it as aggressively, but still, I'd rather not make it worse.

 

[Jubsz]

As a follow up, my noise seems to have completely gone away! I'm pretty pumped it was that simple as I clearly went down the wormhole of what else could it be after all the work that was just done. I'm happy with the end links if they keep quiet for a while. They appear to be quality pieces and I'm glad they're working out for me.

 

[Devbot]

Keep an ear out, there were multiple times I "solved" my clunking only for it to come back within a week or two, usually by the time I've forgotten about it and would sit there racking my brain on what it could be before putting two and two together

 

[WeakSauz]

MStudt's links pop like crazy. I just finally threw mine out in favor of some normal links from Moog (typical 2nd/3rd gen combo) after trying to remedy the popping for months on end. Literally NOTHING would stop it. After swapping them out, I immediately had a quiet ride. Not to mention I broke one of these "unbreakable" links my first time wheeling with them.

I am with you. Not a slam on Mstudt, his stuff is beefy, and I get that sometimes with performance you have to deal with a little noise. But I tried and tried with those endlinks and ended up getting so frustrated, i just removed both swaybars altogether and haven't looked back. I went as far as trying red loctite on the Mstudt front links, and I couldn't not get them to hush. Heims were greased with triflow as well. My rear Mstudt links were actually trouble-free, but they contacted my thicker aftermarket rear LCAs at full stuff. So decided to off them as well. I just wish I put those funds to something more productive. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Devbot]

I am with you. Not a slam on Mstudt, his stuff is beefy, and I get that sometimes with performance you have to deal with a little noise. But I tried and tried with those endlinks and ended up getting so frustrated, i just removed both swaybars altogether and haven't looked back. I went as far as trying red loctite on the Mstudt front links, and I couldn't not get them to hush. Heims were greased with triflow as well. My rear Mstudt links were actually trouble-free, but they contacted my thicker aftermarket rear LCAs at full stuff. So decided to off them as well. I just wish I put those funds to something more productive. Oh well, live and learn.

Agreed. I'm sure hes a fine guy and I'm sure there are some out there that benefit from these, otherwise why would they sell so well?
But personally, I can suffice without