Loosey Goosey

[Thorgan112]

ok, I have no idea what is loose on my front end. When I hit bumps and the front end goes over them, it sounds like my axle is almost loose. I know this is an extremely borad question, but im just looking for advice on what I should go check. I know its none of my ball joints or tie rods. I have had them fail before and I know what the sounds and feels like. Any bushings I should look at that may cause this?

Thanks guys

 

[shootmymime]

Sway bar link broke and it's hitting the sway bay. I'm 99.3847274938272% sure that's right even tho I'm correct 72.28272% of the time.

Lol just being stupid. Yeah check end links.

 

[Brian757]

Do you feel it in your steering wheel? If not, disregard everything below and do like shootmymime said and check your sway bar links.

-------------------

You could have play in your steering rack. In terms of bushings, you have steering rack bushings.

How do they look? You can also diagnose steering rack play.
The first image in this thread is actually a video: HERE

There is also the slip-joint. But what most people do not know is the slip joint is rarely loose.
Here is the thread describing it though: HERE

Good luck with the diagnosis.

 

[MStudt]

Bad bushing somewhere. Broken sway bar could do it, but you're more likely to hear that on every bump you hit. I'm actually trying to track down the same issue. I have something loose up front that I hear when crossing train tracks and at slower speeds. I think mine might be my exhaust clanking around and resonating through the frame. Jack it up, look at all your bushings, and start checking for loose parts.

 

[5vzT4R]

Same problem here.. I crawled under there and wiggled my sway bar link and it did seem to have a small "clunk" in it.

 

[tre9er]

I'm seriously contemplating removing my front sway and driving around for a week without it. A lot of guys don't even run one.

 

[5vzT4R]

I'm seriously contemplating removing my front sway and driving around for a week without it. A lot of guys don't even run one.

I have thought about it also. But being its my daily driver kinda worries me it might have to much body roll for a DD?

 

[MStudt]

I'm seriously contemplating removing my front sway and driving around for a week without it. A lot of guys don't even run one.

Took mine off and never looked back.

I have thought about it also. But being its my daily driver kinda worries me it might have to much body roll for a DD?

I drive mine about 70 miles round trip on the highway and 2 lane county roads 5 days a week. The front end does a good job of eliminating body roll by itself. With the extra weight of the engine and stiff coils it does pretty good. About 90% of your body is going to come from the rear.

 

[tre9er]

Took mine off and never looked back.

You have a lift though, I'm guessing firmer front springs than stock? I haven't studied spring rates of the various lifts much, I just know that the LC coils are soft. Did you or anyone ever run stock suspension without front sway?

 

[MStudt]

You have a lift though, I'm guessing firmer front springs than stock? I haven't studied spring rates of the various lifts much, I just know that the LC coils are soft. Did you or anyone ever run stock suspension without front sway?

Stiffer springs with a lift, but you also have a higher center of gravity. Stocks springs aren't going to be as stiff, but they do give you a lower center of gravity. With stock springs and no front sway bar you'll still be fine. I drove mine for a short period of time with nothing on the front. It had a broke link when I bought it. I drove it from Akron Ohio to Holland Michigan, and then St. Louis with it that way.

 

[Jaketino]

I found a broken link last week and decided to take the other side off. Not much body roll but I do have some vibrations when going 60-70 down the freeway. This could be from the 1.25 wheel spacers, TBU or my tires not being properly filled though. How do people secure the links when they aren't attached to the sway bar? Mine are just flopping around for now. Or now do I remove them completely?

 

[MStudt]

I found a broken link last week and decided to take the other side off. Not much body roll but I do have some vibrations when going 60-70 down the freeway. This could be from the 1.25 wheel spacers, TBU or my tires not being properly filled though. How do people secure the links when they aren't attached to the sway bar? Mine are just flopping around for now. Or now do I remove them completely?

For the front you can tie it up, or leave one side connected.

 

[Thorgan112]

I'm seriously contemplating removing my front sway and driving around for a week without it. A lot of guys don't even run one.

I have thought about it also. But being its my daily driver kinda worries me it might have to much body roll for a DD?

Sway bar link broke and it's hitting the sway bay. I'm 99.3847274938272% sure that's right even tho I'm correct 72.28272% of the time.

Lol just being stupid. Yeah check end links.

It's not the swaybar end links, I wish it was thats an easy fix. But i actually just replacedmine about 5000 miles ago. The sound comes from practically right under the seats in the front. Like I said the best sound I can describe is like the axle is loose and hitting something. Where are the bushings I should check? I have never changed any bushings so it may very well be them, but I dont know which ones.

And as far as removing the sway bar, I'll say this. I didn't realize my sway bar links were snaped for the longest time. So for awhile I was driving with no front sway bar essentially, and that is all over driving, sand, highway, everything. but that was also prior to my lift. Now with the lift and the bigger tires, and THE SWAY BAR ATTACHED, I have to take it really easy around turns. My vsc kicks in about once a day to let me know its leaning. That's just my opinion though. everyones got their own on the sway bar. try it and seee which you like better.

 

[Jaketino]

So mine are detached, but are just kinda flopping around. How do people secure them? On the other hand, how do you remove the links altogether? The body roll isn't bad on my rig (stock) but those links still bug me.

Edit: never mind. Found out how and I feel like an idiot for spending an hour trying to get them off without success.

 

[Thorgan112]

If you guys are gonna go back and forth between taking them on and off I would look at http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/160563-sway-bar-links.html. [MENTION=98153]MStudt[/MENTION] makes them I believe, he posted earlier up in the thread. I don't personally have them, but out of all the ones I have seen that people make and sell on here, these are definitely the beefiest. Not to mention double sided quick release is nice.

 

[Jc12]

well you only have so many parts left to check haha so try wiggling the cv where it connects to the diff.. that would be right under your seat ish but it would take a lot to pop that guy out..

 

[Jaketino]

If you guys are gonna go back and forth between taking them on and off I would look at http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/160563-sway-bar-links.html. [MENTION=98153]MStudt[/MENTION] makes them I believe, he posted earlier up in the thread. I don't personally have them, but out of all the ones I have seen that people make and sell on here, these are definitely the beefiest. Not to mention double sided quick release is nice.

I just cut one off last night. Tired if trying to get the rusted nut off. The other one came right off. I don't notice the body roll so it doesn't really matter to me if they stay off. But I would check out MStudt's if I need to out them on again. Have heard nothing but good reviews.

 

[Thorgan112]

well you only have so many parts left to check haha so try wiggling the cv where it connects to the diff.. that would be right under your seat ish but it would take a lot to pop that guy out..

jackpot, I just went to take a look and try and find it. Well what do I discover? GREASE EVERYWHERE!! :crybaby: The boot to my cv ripped open, and when I tap the arm that holds up the front differential it makes a little noise, so I believe that is what it is. Unfortunately, this cv was ripped once before so I think its time for a new one .

Now everyone, I know this is a big jump, but if I am going to replace on cv I will prob just do both, and I am not one who wants those napas, so I would end up getting OEM. At that point After product and install, I am prob looking about 1000 bucks for that. Is it worth it to do the IFS to SAS switch at this point? how much does it run? If its only like another thousand I would much rather take the 1,000 hit and do away with cvs