My clicking, clanking, and clunking driving me crazy!

[WrexHAmm]

I have a loud click noise that happens during braking, occasionally when turning and I can also hear it some what when I go over hard bumps. It's almost like I can feel it on the floorboards and I've been told more on the passenger side. I've tried to figure out what it is but I for the life of me cannot figure it out. I've tried to re-create the noise when not driving but can't.

Here is what I have done to solve the noise. Inner/outer tie rods, lbjs, steering rack bushings, sway bar bushings, greased the zerks on the drive shaft, checked for broken parts etc., changed the front/rear diff fluid, transfer case fluid.

Any suggestions or ideas? I was thinking maybe u joint. Any other ideas than that? Feel free to ask questions too.

 

[fightman80]

Bad CV Joint??

 

[WrexHAmm]

Good call Fightman. I hadn't even thought of that. Time to do a little research.

 

[ledger35]

WREX, if you feel like it this is very easy to replace these. They will cost around 80 bucks but saving on labor is well worth the effort.

 

[WrexHAmm]

I checked out the CVs and they both appear to be in the same condition on both sides. Didn't see any sign of damage or noises coming from either. I guess they are both still good or they have both gone bad. What would be a good indication a CV has gone bad?

 

[Mpls80210]

I had this happen on my 95 and it turned out to be a bent wheel flange. It was difficult to get it to make the noise for a mechanic, so a friend and I just started taking stuff apart until we found it. It almost made me crazy before it was fixed. I'm fairly sure I caused it when I (forcefully) struck a curb in an ice storm at 30 degree angle.

 

[hrt4me]

that noise on mine turned out to be a loose panhard rod/track bar...

 

[WrexHAmm]

Checked the panhard and some rear end parts. Turns out the panhard was loose and so was a shock. I went ahead and tightened them up. It was needed but it didn't fix the problem. Took it out for a spin and it almost sounds like a hard pop when hard braking, hard shifting, or hard accelerating.

Any ideas?

 

[ICD]

Wasn't as loud as you described but my spare tire was a little loose and made her fair share knocking and squeaks.

 

[cobiker]

Took it out for a spin and it almost sounds like a hard pop when hard braking, hard shifting, or hard accelerating.

Any ideas?

Aside from what was said already.... drive shaft lube needed?
I had a pop (wouldnt call it hard though) when starting, stopping or going over a hump. Took out the grease gun and shot lube into the drive shaft. Noise gone.

Edit:
Never mind... I just realized youve already done that.

 

[WrexHAmm]

Update. Replaced the sway bar end links thinking that might help. No dice.

It has been driving me crazy so I took the front skid plates off to check parts under them. I don't know if the clunk was against the skid plates or from under but it doesn't make the noise any more. I've been driving without the front skid plates for a few days now. I also tightened up the front differential bolts that I had loosened up after installing the diff drop. I am thinking that the clunk was the sound of the front diff moving and the skid plates just echo'd the sound.

 

[WrexHAmm]

AHHHHH! The clunk came back. I am still thinking it is from the diff drop and the front diff. The bushings look a bit off when I look at it. Can somebody post a pic of what the front diff should look like with the diff drop?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Love4myRunner]

AHHHHH! The clunk came back. I am still thinking it is from the diff drop and the front diff. The bushings look a bit off when I look at it. Can somebody post a pic of what the front diff should look like with the diff drop?

Thanks in advance.

Ha! Looks like we are in the same city! If you know where "Go Toyota" is maybe i can take a look for you. In the mean time check the inside of your rims for any kind of damage. Sounds silly but i had a customer with a 3rd gen runner spend alot of money trying to fix a noise. He bought the same stuff you did but when he brought it to me to look at i fixed it for free... part of his brake hardware wasnt installed properly and it was hitting his rim whenever he would hit the brakes hard or go over bumps. I will be back at work on Monday.

 

[WrexHAmm]

Ha! Looks like we are in the same city! If you know where "Go Toyota" is maybe i can take a look for you. In the mean time check the inside of your rims for any kind of damage. Sounds silly but i had a customer with a 3rd gen runner spend alot of money trying to fix a noise. He bought the same stuff you did but when he brought it to me to look at i fixed it for free... part of his brake hardware wasnt installed properly and it was hitting his rim whenever he would hit the brakes hard or go over bumps. I will be back at work on Monday.

Good advice. I will take a look and I will also shoot you a PM.

 

[WrexHAmm]

And the winner is? Love4myRunner!!! <--------------- The Man!

Turns out when I added my trim packers in the rear I didn't tighten up the lower bolt for the drivers side lower control arm. Even though I checked everything recently I wasn't able to get it tight enough without some air powered tools.

Big ups and thanks to Love4mrRunner :thumb: After two months of beating my head against a wall he was able to help figure it out in 30 min.