Speeding up thumping sound when coming to a stop..

89FourRunner

89FourRunner

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My 89 4Runner has developed some sort of thumping sound that speeds up as I come to dead stop, say from 5mph to stop, the front end will go "Thump.....thump..thump,thump, thump-thump". It speeds up as you come to a stop.

I am not quite sure what this is, and it doesnt happen all the time.

At first I thought I was stopping over a rough part of a road or tar strips or something, but now its apparent that it is the front end.

Anyone have any idea? Ball joints are good, wheel bearings are good, front end seemed tight 3 months ago when looked over.
 
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Is is louder when you stop harder? Can you feel it in the break pedal?

Sounds like break rotors.

Any chance we can get a video or something of the truck making the noise? Maybe have some one stand by the truck when your stopping to see if they can help pin point it from the out side of the truck.
 
Hyde802 said:
Is is louder when you stop harder? Can you feel it in the break pedal?

Sounds like break rotors.

Any chance we can get a video or something of the truck making the noise? Maybe have some one stand by the truck when your stopping to see if they can help pin point it from the out side of the truck.
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Sounds like Brake rotors and not at the same time, what happens if you just lightly press the brakes and stay at one speed?
 
What type of condition are the motor and trans mounts in? If they are shot, it can allow the drive line to shift enough to aggravate a worn drive shaft or cv joint in the axle up front. If it is a rotor, you can usually feel it in the pedal.
regards
 
I was in a similar situation. I changed the front pads and rotors and I think one of the calipers was frozen up and didn't release all the way so i replaced that too. After that the noise and banging went away.
 
Well, thanks for all the feedback.

I learned a little more, it actually does it when starting from a dead stop too sometimes now. No brake applied (I don't think it is the brakes either as I cannot feel anything in the brakes, smooth as glass.). Today I was making a U-Turn from a dead stop and it was thumping hard over and over, I had to bring the truck to a dead stop and start again, it continued to thump again upon start. Tried once more and the thump went away but I am sure it will return.

We can definitely rule out the rotors or brakes.

It does not seem to be tire related in my experience, it doesn't feel or sound that way.

The mounts may be a possibility...not sure.
 
89FourRunner said:
Well, thanks for all the feedback.

I learned a little more, it actually does it when starting from a dead stop too sometimes now. No brake applied (I don't think it is the brakes either as I cannot feel anything in the brakes, smooth as glass.). Today I was making a U-Turn from a dead stop and it was thumping hard over and over, I had to bring the truck to a dead stop and start again, it continued to thump again upon start. Tried once more and the thump went away but I am sure it will return.

We can definitely rule out the rotors or brakes.

It does not seem to be tire related in my experience, it doesn't feel or sound that way.

The mounts may be a possibility...not sure.
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I would look at the tires. I had the exact thing start and then I had a blow out right after. And it was due to a bad alignment
 
541joseph said:
I would look at the tires. I had the exact thing start and then I had a blow out right after. And it was due to a bad alignment
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Really? Wow. I hope its not a tire I cant swing a set anytime soon. I almost rather it be a front end part. I was hoping a control arm bushing or something little.

I am going to have to look the entire front end over tonight.

I will check:

Motor and Trans Mounts
Front end parts
Tires
Brakes, calipers and rotors.
 
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The entire front end checks out. Ball joints, CV axles, Automatic locking hubs, control arm bushings, motor mounts, tranny mounts, tires and wheels, brakes, etc. Everything was looked over.

The rear end seems fine too but I did just do add-a-leafs to the rear a few months ago, but the driveline angle is healthy and everything seems as it should. There was a set of angle shims already installed from years ago by someone that kept things looking right with the AAL.

The thump actually does make the vehicle move a bit when it happens, I actually have a crappy video I can post later where two "thumps" happen when coming to a stop sign, I will post it later.
 
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UPDATE: the truck now winds or sounds like a helicopter just before it startd to thump.

"Whaaa-whaaaa-Whaaaaa-WHaaa-wHaaa, thump thump thump thump thump, until I come to a stop (or the whining happens while making a sharp turn and then coming to a stop).

Does this help any?
 
89FourRunner said:
UPDATE: the truck now winds or sounds like a helicopter just before it startd to thump.

"Whaaa-whaaaa-Whaaaaa-WHaaa-wHaaa, thump thump thump thump thump, until I come to a stop (or the whining happens while making a sharp turn and then coming to a stop).

Does this help any?
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I know I've seen where the rear axles are bad it can do this. Hi does your rear diff fluid look?
 
Also, and this may or may not be related - yesterday in the bitter cold (after warming the truck up) I drove off, when stopping I heard this THUMP (the thump in question) once or twice and what sounded like a crack or snap. Now when I'm driving up to 30 mph, when I am off the gas I get a little whistle or chirp, similar to the sound of you calling a cat "pss-whhh-pss-whhh-pss-whh". Its really high pitched and whispy, nothing like the sound of a failing power steering pump, fyi.

Related? I have no idea. I climbed underneath and cant find anything wrong. Everything functions normal.
 
have you checked the u-joints?
sounds like you may have a bad one. sometimes they'll be dry and still tight. so just checking for slop wont work.

looks for rust around the edges of the caps, that's a sign of a dry/bad joint.
 
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I vote bad u-joints also but without looking at it or actually hearing it I couldnt tell you. Does it vibrate?
 
sam24th said:
I vote bad u-joints also but without looking at it or actually hearing it I couldnt tell you. Does it vibrate?
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It doesn't seem to vibrate. At least not as far as I can tell.

Its tough because my mud tires are so damn loud.

I definitely have a birdie chirping when letting OFF the gas (under 30mph) and coasting, the described thumping, and the "whaaaa" when making u-turns (but only once every 50 times!). I can rarely reproduce it.

My front u-joint is grease-able, but I don't have a gun with me currently, so I didn't try greasing it or anything. It seemed fine when I checked it last week.
 
Today I found all 4 u joints in desperate need of greasing. The one that meets the front transfer case has a little bit of play, a tiny clunk. I have placed an order to replace it.

I greased them all up too, one of them I could hear a leak in during greasing but I pumped it up and crossing my fingers lol.

I highly doubt that the U-joint that I am replacing is causing this issue.

I am moving on to the brakes next.
 
I cannot find a brake problem.

Could the Automatic Locking Hubs be the issue??

They seems to work fine, but what if one locks and the other stays unlocked, would that cause a wind at the transfer case, or would nothing occur?

I am shooting in the dark now.
 
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