KNOCKING noise over bumps???

4gin007 said:
Since my last post in this thread I lifted my truck and the clunking noise has gone away for now and hopefully for good. 5100s and fj springs up front, fj springs and 1.5 ds spacer in the rear. I always felt like the noise was coming from the right front also.
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Well she is losing the xreas. I did not mess with my sway bar bexause two master cert Toyota/Lexus techs said it was fine. One of them was in Lexus R/D and gifted a Lexus LX480 or whatever the 4runner equilivent is. Although so far they have both incorrectly diagnosed the noise. After the shocks I'm getting close to a grand on this knock. Maybe more if I don't replace them myself. I guess if I do myself I know it will get done correctly. Any links on how to replace them? Thx
 
Im still knock free at this point. I ordered a body lift and will be installing that myself hopefully next weekend. I can report back on the condition of the mounts and that may give you some insight on the problem. Although my noise is gone for now it could come back. And all info regarding any possibilities is good IMO.

sorry i cant help with any links on the how to but it is pretty straight forward once you get down and take a look at it. Google search the no spring compressor method for the front struts, I used it and it worked like a charm.

Im a firm believer in do it yourself, you know its going to be done right.
 
BCfish said:
Sounds like it could be the right front strut bearing(bushing) at the top I know I've seen some posts here or on 120 about this. I have the exact same sound and it drives me nut's just haven't taken it in to my suspension place to get them to check it out..
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4runner doesn't have struts, it has double wishbone, and the shock does not turn.
 
BCfish said:
I thought that an assembled front shock and spring was a strut(shock) but hey I may have the wrong terminology there.
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That is a coilover (coil over shock), technically. Struts are shit for suspension, they have a failure assured top bearing (which you mentioned), and change camber throughout suspension movement. The only thing they have going for them is they are simple and very cheap. If a Toyota product bearing struts is ever called a 4Runner, I'll never acknowledge it as a 4runner.
 
Jeremy556 said:
That is a coilover (coil over shock), technically. Struts are shit for suspension, they have a failure assured top bearing (which you mentioned), and change camber throughout suspension movement. The only thing they have going for them is they are simple and very cheap. If a Toyota product bearing struts is ever called a 4Runner, I'll never acknowledge it as a 4runner.
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Interesting cause I have read numerous threads here, toy120 and toyotatech that refer to them as struts. Even when I went and purchased my billies 5100s the fronts were called struts just sayin:hiding:

Top pic of Billies (Struts)
2nd pic coilovers
 

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BCfish said:
Interesting cause I have read numerous threads here, toy120 and toyotatech that refer to them as struts. Even when I went and purchased my billies 5100s the fronts were called struts just sayin:hiding:
Top pic of Billies (Struts)
2nd pic coilovers
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Well, they're wrong.
Strut
macphersonstrut.jpg

Double wishbone
layout.PNG


More from Wikipedia:
A strut is a structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression. Struts provide outwards-facing support in their lengthwise direction, which can be used to keep two other components separate, performing the opposite function of a tie. They are commonly used in architecture and engineering.

As components of an automobile chassis, they can be passive braces to reinforce the chassis and/or body, or active components of the suspension. An automotive suspension strut combines the primary function of a shock absorber (as a damper), with the ability to support sideways loads not along its axis of compression, somewhat similar to a sliding pillar suspension, thus eliminating the need for an upper suspension arm. This means that a strut must have a more rugged design, with mounting points near its middle for attachment of such loads.
 
new bilsteins and klunk still there! threw away a good set of xreas:toilet:
Back to the drawing board.......out of cash for the moment. Got over a grand into this in the last 30 days...:confused: I will find it, just not sure when or how much...LOL
 
Try sway bar bushings. I had the knock/popping sound from right front end and the bushings made it go away. They didn't look too worn but I have 130k and I figure I would start with the cheapest fix. Greasable energy bushings. I also have the Billie set up. Give this a try if you have not yet.
 
Figured mystery noise out!

It's my steering rack! Happy I figured it out, not happy I need to r/r it! It has fooled many techs and cost me hundreds...i am actually surprised the master Toyota tech service guys didn't figure it out, they had plenty of chances and got paid plenty of $$$$'s.
 
WacoCharlie said:
It's my steering rack! Happy I figured it out, not happy I need to r/r it! It has fooled many techs and cost me hundreds...i am actually surprised the master Toyota tech service guys didn't figure it out, they had plenty of chances and got paid plenty of $$$$'s.
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So who has the best price for a quality steering gear for our 4runners?
 
engine off and 4r staionary. had my son rock the steering wheel from side to side with some force while I was down under. That same noise was coming from my steering rack. it won't do it when power is supplied unless you are moving slowly down the street. When you go side to side while moving it makes the popping sound when you go R and L or over bumps/flaws in the pavement. Sounds like a banging, knocking loose noise. I like the Bilstiens feel better than xreas although I didn't like wasting the money and canning a perfectly good xreas setup. I'm still baffled the Toyota master 2 techs couldn't find this.....they where to lazy to keep looking...who has done a rack before on one of these? Looks like a ***** of a job. Especially getting the steering shaft off.
 
WacoCharlie said:
engine off and 4r staionary. had my son rock the steering wheel from side to side with some force while I was down under. That same noise was coming from my steering rack. it won't do it when power is supplied unless you are moving slowly down the street. When you go side to side while moving it makes the popping sound when you go R and L or over bumps/flaws in the pavement. Sounds like a banging, knocking loose noise. I like the Bilstiens feel better than xreas although I didn't like wasting the money and canning a perfectly good xreas setup. I'm still baffled the Toyota master 2 techs couldn't find this.....they where to lazy to keep looking...who has done a rack before on one of these? Looks like a ***** of a job. Especially getting the steering shaft off.
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WacoCharlie - was wondering if you ever found someone to complete the steering rack job, and at what price. I think everything you previously mentioned relates to what I'm going through on my 2005 4Runner V8 Sport
 
Just another data point to this thread. I had the 'clunk' in the front end, when driving over speed bumps, irregular surfaces, etc., and tried many times over 6 months to find it. I have a few friends in the automotive business, including an ace front-end guy, and it would never happen when they drove or inspected it. One day I grabbed the bull-bar on the front and push/pulled it side to side and could duplicate the noise every time.

It was the front sway bar bushings.

The rubber was dried out and sticking to the bar. I discarded the stock ones, including mounts, and replaced them with a set of universal grease-able polyurethane ones from a 4x4 shop for about C$30. Greased them with synthetic red.

The best part is the 4runner corners much better now, since the bar can float in grease.
 
Billf6531 said:
Just another data point to this thread. I had the 'clunk' in the front end, when driving over speed bumps, irregular surfaces, etc., and tried many times over 6 months to find it. I have a few friends in the automotive business, including an ace front-end guy, and it would never happen when they drove or inspected it. One day I grabbed the bull-bar on the front and push/pulled it side to side and could duplicate the noise every time.

It was the front sway bar bushings.

The rubber was dried out and sticking to the bar. I discarded the stock ones, including mounts, and replaced them with a set of universal grease-able polyurethane ones from a 4x4 shop for about C$30. Greased them with synthetic red.

The best part is the 4runner corners much better now, since the bar can float in grease.
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Did the outside temp matter in your case? I have a buddy with a 4th gen who is battling this issue, but his only does it when the temps are lower than around 45.
 
Temperature made no difference in my case. A quick and easy test is to push the front end side to side, while one of you has his hand on the s/b mounts. You'll find it right away if that's the source of the noise.
 
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