Steering wheel knock offroad

[Lmteel]

I'm sure like a lot of other threads here, this has been talked about a lot but I had a knock and looseness to the steering when I was up on a pretty rocky trail yesterday. I was aired down to 20 psi on the trail. When I aired up, the steering tightened and had no further problems on the highway. Is this normal? I'm not familiar with the steering on the 4Runner so I wouldn't know what to check if something needed checked out

 

[fsaral77]

Did you ever figure out the clunk?

 

[fkheath]

I'm sure like a lot of other threads here, this has been talked about a lot but I had a knock and looseness to the steering when I was up on a pretty rocky trail yesterday. I was aired down to 20 psi on the trail. When I aired up, the steering tightened and had no further problems on the highway. Is this normal? I'm not familiar with the steering on the 4Runner so I wouldn't know what to check if something needed checked out

Rocky terrain will put a lot of stress on the steering and suspension components, so some noise is to be expected.

BTW, you do not need to lower the tire pressure unless you are on soft sand. Seems most people do it for comfort. (Tire Pressure: Does Airing Down Really Matter?) It could be the soft tire is allowing pointed rocks to compress enough for the force to travel to the wheel rims rather than be absorbed by the tire.

 

[delloro]

I'm sure like a lot of other threads here, this has been talked about a lot but I had a knock and looseness to the steering when I was up on a pretty rocky trail yesterday. I was aired down to 20 psi on the trail. When I aired up, the steering tightened and had no further problems on the highway. Is this normal? I'm not familiar with the steering on the 4Runner so I wouldn't know what to check if something needed checked out

IDK if it's normal, but I noticed it too a couple weeks ago on some very rocky trails while javelina hunting in southern AZ. An absolute knock in the steering system, not tire or wheel noise.

 

[ahtoxa11]

Did you ever figure out the clunk?

Normal. There is some slack in the steering box/column, but it’s nothing to worry about. Every 5th gen is like that.

 

[CalebT]

did you ever figure out a way to dampen the noise?

 

[MrSmartypants]

I have the same thing. Truck wasn't always that way. Based on my research it's likely either slack in the system as was mentioned or potentially wear in the inner or outer tie rods.

I've got new inner and outers waiting for install and will keep the old ones as trail spares. Truck has 75k, bunch of beach driving, lots of highway and some days offroading.

 

[CalebT]

My car is a 2022 brand new, and it has the most violent steering knocks while offroad I have ever felt, and I’ve been in some beater 4x4s haha

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

I'm sure like a lot of other threads here, this has been talked about a lot but I had a knock and looseness to the steering when I was up on a pretty rocky trail yesterday. I was aired down to 20 psi on the trail. When I aired up, the steering tightened and had no further problems on the highway. Is this normal? I'm not familiar with the steering on the 4Runner so I wouldn't know what to check if something needed checked out

I don’t have the knock but with very low positive caster the wheels deflect like HELL when you hit the smallest bump. Get them to +3.00 (about the limit OEM/stock) and see if it resolves.

If it still knocks I’d bring it in the dealer expecting them to warranty out some LCA’s.

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