Loose/Clunking front end - 140K miles 03 V6

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Beau04

New member
I've noticed a slight clunking from my front end over small bumps and potholes, as well my steering sometimes feels loose while going over rough terrain and offroading.. I'm at approx. 140k Miles on my 2003 4th Gen

I've replaced sway bar endlinks and will be installing new FJC springs and struts later this week. While I have everything apart what else should I be looking for that could cause these issues?

Thanks for any help.
 
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Grease up the drive shafts. Look at ball joints. UCA and LCA bushings. Sway bar bushings. Front diff mount bushings. make sure camber bolts a nice and tight. Shock bushings.
 
I want to say I am exp this as well and I'm only at 45k but suspect it is the lower ball joints. When I installed fj springs and spacers I think I pinched my lower ball joints and now I think all the grease is squeezed out.
 
I have the exact same issue. Only manifests itself when I am offroad or when I hit a pothole or something on the road. I haven't found the problem yet. Tie rods look good, ball joints look good, shocks are new and are tight. To me it feels like a problem in the steering shaft but a quick glance under the hood shows that the steering shaft would be a total nightmare. A) You can't hardly get tools on it and B) it's rusted over like everything else on this truck.

If you find the problem please post it up so the rest of us can do the fix. Thanks.
 
WXman said:
Sway bar bushings at the frame mount?
Click to expand...

Yup, at the frame mount.

zopperman said:
No, you can get poly bushings for a fraction of the dealer price. They make ones with grease fittings on the brackets too

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/34115-swaybar-bushing-upgrade.html
Click to expand...

I believe that if you go with poly bushings, that will reduce sway while cornering, but at the expense of reducing articulation. So if you do a lot offroading, you might want to stick with rubber bushings.
 
M1911 said:
Yup, at the frame mount.



I believe that if you go with poly bushings, that will reduce sway while cornering, but at the expense of reducing articulation. So if you do a lot offroading, you might want to stick with rubber bushings.
Click to expand...

I wondered about that myself. I just cant see the stiffness of the bushing limiting the articulation THAT much, but its totally possible. I'm thinking of ditching my sway bar altogether and getting stiffer coils. :becky:
 
OK AutoZone shows 17mm or 29mm as the options. I suppose I need to go with the 29mm bushings for my V8. Neither of these were mentioned in the link above but 29mm is closest.
 
Replaced the Sway Bar Frame Bushings today for $20 and it solved all the clunking/looseness. Feels like a new truck again. Now to replace the rear bushings..
 
ebg18t said:
Did they look worn out when you removed them?
Click to expand...

No they actually looked fine, it wasn't until I removed them that I noticed they were really loose and stretched out, the new ones had a much tighter fit. I would definitely recommend replacing them if it's been a while..
 
Replaced mine last night. The OE ones were stamped "30mm". The new ones were stamped "29mm". But it's the closest thing AutoZone had.

The old ones didn't appear to be worn out or torn. They closed all the way around the bar. The new ones after being greased and installed would not wrap completely around the bar. There's still a little slot left. I double checked and they are installed exactly like the OE ones were. Also, the brackets are marked with arrows and both of those are installed properly too.

Buttoned everything back up tight with air tools (this truck has all the common rust issues) and it still has some of that loose feeling in the steering. I'll try to hit a gravel road this afternoon and see if there is any improvement at all.
 
I have to do mine now since I can hear the clunk.
No big deal though, the hardest part is finding the time to do it and the money.
 
Beau04 said:
Replaced the Sway Bar Frame Bushings today for $20 and it solved all the clunking/looseness. Feels like a new truck again. Now to replace the rear bushings..
Click to expand...
I have the same vehical as you and was wondering what size are yours and were did you get them at.
Thanks
 
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