Random but recurring clunk/thud...

[KVA]

I know I can't get a definitive answer here (absolute issue) but the problem is annoying enough to ask if anyone has had this experience/issue.

Starting a few days ago, I started to hear/feel a dull clunk/thud from the right front (passenger) side. It feels almost like hitting a small pothole but it only occurs when going from a complete standstill. It also doesn't occur every single time, but randomly. I have felt this thump when driving straight ahead and turning left. Have not been able to get it to repeat itself when turning right yet.

My thought is it feels like something is stuck and when taking the initial first movement from a standstill it resets/corrects itself. It would also feel similar to rubbing on something/hitting something.

I have lifted the truck and have gone over every bolt, looked at all the suspension and everything looks solid. I have looked for rubbing or other indicators but couldn't find anything. I also realize there is no way I am physically going to be able to recreate this while jacked up and without the weight of the truck on the suspension.

Right now I have no idea except to think it is suspension related but wanted to see if anyone else has experienced something like this so I can narrow down the possibilities?

Ideas?

 

[eddiebx]

I have this light clunk which seems to sound similar to what you are describing...it mostly occurs when I start moving from a standstill in reverse and especially if I have the wheels turned. It sometimes happens in forward too, but must be from a standstill also.

I think most people have this clunk, so it might be seen as "normal" enough; was gonna link you to a couple of relevant threads, but I can't seem to find the thread where I read about this in the past, sorry!

 

[KVA]

It is totally odd and is very recent as I have never had this occur and I have 65,000 miles on the truck.

It is almost like starting from a standstill at the edge of a small pothole and driving through it, but only on the right side.

I also didn't mention that I looked for a leak in the coilover, but nothing.

I don't know if you also feel this, but overall the truck feels like the suspension all around is very "loose" when going across small bumps. Best way to describe this is that the suspension is lightly bolted/loose for about 2" of play but is rock solid going over anything of substance. Like there is a few inches of play but this ins't something you can feel even when jacking the car up.

Also, forward-to-back (vs. up-and-down) articulation feels very odd at the front only.

Sorry for the lame descriptions, but it is the best I can do as I am sure anyone taking a ride would go "whoa" once they felt what I am describing. Just had a passenger remark on it last night.

 

[Canazes9]

Drive shaft slip yoke - grease it (and all the other zerks while you are under there). See if the clunking goes away (or at least is greatly diminished). Lots of threads on subject, google search seems to preferentially find 4th Gen threads, but its the same problem...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/gsear...ota-4runner.org/search.php&ss=4988j1397468j25

There is also a 5th Gen TSB on the problem...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...21-12-driveshaft-replacement-impressions.html

I think the TSB is swap to a drive shaft w/o zerks. Not the directions I would choose to go...

I only have about 15K on my 2013SR5, no clunking yet (I just got through greasing my zerks before Thanksgiving....).

HTH
David

 

[KVA]

Drive shaft slip yoke - grease it (and all the other zerks while you are under there). See if the clunking goes away (or at least is greatly diminished). Lots of threads on subject, google search seems to preferentially find 4th Gen threads, but its the same problem...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/gsear...ota-4runner.org/search.php&ss=4988j1397468j25

There is also a 5th Gen TSB on the problem...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...21-12-driveshaft-replacement-impressions.html

I think the TSB is swap to a drive shaft w/o zerks. Not the directions I would choose to go...

I only have about 15K on my 2013SR5, no clunking yet (I just got through greasing my zerks before Thanksgiving....).

HTH
David

Thanks...read through the threads and most folks speak about the thud/clunk coming from the rear of the car and/or the feeling like it came from the rear. Mine is absolutely from the front right side. It is very noticeable. The symptoms are very similar though so I will grease the drive shaft and see what happens. Sucks as I am at 65K miles and now it happens. I am prepared to change my entire suspension - lol. This crap annoys me like no other.

Funny as I was thinking of greasing my UCA's this morning and noticed grease already applied - these are relatively new so I didn't do anything. I am trying to do the process of elimination by greasing everything and checking all bolts, etc...

 

[Canazes9]

Thanks...read through the threads and most folks speak about the thud/clunk coming from the rear of the car and/or the feeling like it came from the rear. Mine is absolutely from the front right side. It is very noticeable. The symptoms are very similar though so I will grease the drive shaft and see what happens. Sucks as I am at 65K miles and now it happens. I am prepared to change my entire suspension - lol. This crap annoys me like no other.

Funny as I was thinking of greasing my UCA's this morning and noticed grease already applied - these are relatively new so I didn't do anything. I am trying to do the process of elimination by greasing everything and checking all bolts, etc...

I understand, it may have nothing to do w/ your drive shaft. The price is right to check it though!

Good luck, keep us posted on what you find.

David

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Are you running stock UCAs?

I have the same clunk and figure it was my Light Racing UCA bushings going back so they are getting replaced. If I still have the clunk then it is the LCA bushings and I will replace those arms too.

But I can't be sure for you.

 

[KVA]

Are you running stock UCAs?

I have the same clunk and figure it was my Light Racing UCA bushings going back so they are getting replaced. If I still have the clunk then it is the LCA bushings and I will replace those arms too.

But I can't be sure for you.

No, the Icon tubular UCA's. These are relatively new and no issues until a few days ago. I looked at the bushings and they look great.

My understanding of the LCA bushings is that these aren't meant for normal replacement/aftermarket replacement. I enquired about it at one point when I was getting the total chaos tabs welded on and those bushings are a complete molded part that wouldn't be easy to replace aftermarket - at least it appeared that way. Stock replacement I assume is OK, though those things looked incredibly robust.

I will check those out...this whole thing is super annoying.

 

[Narkhelek]

Things I would check:

-Re-torque your LCA cam bolts. Three times I've had them come loose after having an alignment done.

-Give your front drive shafts a good going over. Check for any tearing of the rubber boots. If those boots get a hole in them the shafts will go bad quickly.

-Re-torque all of the rear suspension bolts not just the front. I had a very similar issue that ended up being tracked down to a loose rear control rod bolt even though the sound definitely sounded and felt like it was coming from the front. I thought for sure the Toyota tech was full of it and I was going to be back in the next day but it fixed the issue.

 

[KVA]

Things I would check:

-Re-torque your LCA cam bolts. Three times I've had them come loose after having an alignment done.

-Give your front drive shafts a good going over. Check for any tearing of the rubber boots. If those boots get a hole in them the shafts will go bad quickly.

-Re-torque all of the rear suspension bolts not just the front. I had a very similar issue that ended up being tracked down to a loose rear control rod bolt even though the sound definitely sounded and felt like it was coming from the front. I thought for sure the Toyota tech was full of it and I was going to be back in the next day but it fixed the issue.

Thanks.

I already went under the truck and touched almost every bolt tied to suspension to check. Will do it again tonight along with grease to the drive shaft and see how it reacts.

 

[Okki]

I had one (I'm running Icon UCA's) and mine disappeared when I greased the slip yokes. Easy fix and maintenance.

Okki

 

[KVA]

I had one (I'm running Icon UCA's) and mine disappeared when I greased the slip yokes. Easy fix and maintenance.

Okki

Thanks...as I mentioned already the feeling/thud comes from the front right. The passenger in my truck last night just confirmed that it felt to them like an up/down motion as if something was stuck. Only up and down item is the springs/shocks/UCA/LCA though the UCA/LCA is also potentially front-to-back.

This guy has a 4th Gen and he's never felt something like this.

 

[Okki]

Thanks...as I mentioned already the feeling/thud comes from the front right. The passenger in my truck last night just confirmed that it felt to them like an up/down motion as if something was stuck. Only up and down item is the springs/shocks/UCA/LCA though the UCA/LCA is also potentially front-to-back.

This guy has a 4th Gen and he's never felt something like this.

I would grease the slip yokes and check your shock for stratch/bite marks. I would also check the other moving suspension parts. However, my "clunk" sounded/felt as though it came from the driver rear and it was the drive line; so don't let that throw you off. Sound can bounce around in weird ways under you truck. Once your mind thinks it knows where it comes from, it will try to make reality match that sense.

Okki

 

[KVA]

I would grease the slip yokes and check your shock for stratch/bite marks. I would also check the other moving suspension parts. However, my "clunk" sounded/felt as though it came from the driver rear and it was the drive line; so don't let that throw you off. Sound can bounce around in weird ways under you truck. Once your mind thinks it knows where it comes from, it will try to make reality match that sense.

Okki

Thanks! I agree on the sound but it wasn't only me thinking it came from the passenger side while sitting in the driver side, but also a passenger sitting in the passenger seat and feeling it much more than I did.

I did check the shock and nothing stood out. Anyway - will grease and check bolts again and see where things stand. Appreciate the feedback!!!

 

[GO_USN]

As stated above, it could be the UCA Bushing. I had the exact same Clunk sound you're describing. Went and got it checked out at the local shop (High Tech Auto and Truck) and they diagnosed it as UCA Bushing. Called MT4x4, got the part cause it was still under warranty, had it replaced and the noise is now gone. I had LR UCA's btw.

 

[KVA]

Thanks...will definitely check it out today.

 

[KVA]

OK...

Fixed loose zerks on the UCA's (installer forgot to tighten and grease had pooled on the body under the UCA but behind the dust skirts so I didn't initially see them until I started taking everything off), re-greased. Tightened everything/doubled-checked all suspension and bolts again.

I did not have a chance to grease the drive shaft as the above took a little while since I pulled everything off the truck but did look at it and it does look OK. I will get to that next. Anyway...

Problem still there.

It absolutely feels like an up-and-down clunk/thud. Basically when coming to a stop and compressing the suspension, then taking off again and the movement upwards creates the issue. It doesn't happen all the time but I can absolutely re-create it at least 2-3 times on each drive to work.

 

[philsey]

OK...

Problem still there.

It absolutely feels like an up-and-down clunk/thud. Basically when coming to a stop and compressing the suspension, then taking off again and the movement upwards creates the issue. It doesn't happen all the time but I can absolutely re-create it at least 2-3 times on each drive to work.

I gotta tell ya, these symptoms sound an awfully lot like the prop shaft issues. I had it for many months ... the TSB fixed it for me.

 

[KVA]

I gotta tell ya, these symptoms sound an awfully lot like the prop shaft issues. I had it for many months ... the TSB fixed it for me.

LOL...that is my next plan of attack tonight - greasing the prop shaft.

I just didn't expect all the work on the UCAs. Once I saw one thing loose I immediately went over everything else. I even checked the zerks on the prop shaft and they were fine. Just didn't have time at 11PM last night to go through all the rest as I needed to put things back together.

It is interesting as the prop shaft is literally next to the gas tank and more towards the left (driver's side) and in the rear. This absolutely is in the front right passenger corner. I am 99.9% certain but also agree the feeling could be simply reverberating to that side even though it doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you feel it. It is definitely not a rear thump or clunk.

Also noticed some yellow tranny oil on the bottom of the transmission towards and on the transfer case. Not a ton, but it is there.

 

[eddiebx]

I initially didn't understand what you meant by your clunk, but the more you describe it now, the more it does sound like the prop shaft like other's are saying.

From what I gather researching this...say when you lay hard on the brakes and stop in a panic, the nose dives and the tail rises (stretching out the prop shaft) while also coming to the stop. This supposedly causes something in the prop shaft to bind up in the slightly stretched position, if it's not well lubricated. Once you start going again it forces it to unbind and retract, hence the clunk right when you start driving again.

I experienced this recently, and greasing the 6 zerks seems to have resolved this immediately. Keep in mind the two zerks on the slide yokes don't ever weep because there's a huge cavity to fill, so just give it like 4-5 pumps of grease and call it good. The other four zerks on the u-joints weep almost immediately, so it's obviously when you've pumped in enough. I think it only took me like 1-2 pumps before the grease started weeping out. You'll hear the grease "fart" once it's loaded up and ready to squirt out around the joints, lol.