Still squeaking after suspension refresh

[Toystory2]

My 2007 4WD had been clunking and squeaking when I would roll over a bump or hit a dip in the road.

But now that I have replaced both front upper and lower control arms, and front/rear shocks, it is still clunking!

Any idea what to check for next??

Only thing I can think of is sway bar bushings.


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[aemravan]

I mean you have both sway bars, 4 end links, tie rods, pan hard bar, and 4 links still to verify at least.

On my icon setup I just found out that the rear springs are squeaking on the upper rubber bump stop, been driving me nuts, I thought it was my custom links and heim joints but nope..


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[MikeinNH67]

Definitely look/replace the sway bar bushings where it mounts to the frame. Any looseness there will give an odd thunk with certain bumps. When the control arms were installed were the frame bolts tightened with depressed shocks? They should be tightened when the car is at it's normal resting position.

 

[Toystory2]

Definitely look/replace the sway bar bushings where it mounts to the frame. Any looseness there will give an odd thunk with certain bumps. When the control arms were installed were the frame bolts tightened with depressed shocks? They should be tightened when the car is at it's normal resting position.

Thanks, it actually is more of a thunk sound… and it’s not every bump, but more of the big ones.

Come to think of it, we may have tightened the arms in without load on the suspension….

If that’s the case, how would you fix that? Undo and retighten under load?


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[Toystory2]

I mean you have both sway bars, 4 end links, tie rods, pan hard bar, and 4 links still to verify at least.

On my icon setup I just found out that the rear springs are squeaking on the upper rubber bump stop, been driving me nuts, I thought it was my custom links and heim joints but nope..


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Much appreciated. I’m a novice at this stuff, so not real sure what all could produce such a noise lol

I believe I have at least isolated the thunk to the front … probably driver side


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[Billynath1988]

The sway bar is a well known and documented noisy point on these trucks, specifically the front..

 

[Toystory2]

The sway bar is a well known and documented noisy point on these trucks, specifically the front..

Is typically the bushings or can it be the bar itself making the clunk?


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[Keros]

Is typically the bushings or can it be the bar itself making the clunk?


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If you hit a driveway approach straight on, and both wheels move together and there's no clunk, it's very likely the sway bar.

If it clunks when one wheel goes up the approach first (articulating one wheel independently) and it clunks, it's absolutely the sway bar.

 

[Toystory2]

If you hit a driveway approach straight on, and both wheels move together and there's no clunk, it's very likely the sway bar.

If it clunks when one wheel goes up the approach first (articulating one wheel independently) and it clunks, it's absolutely the sway bar.

Interesting. I’ll have to pay close attention to that. From what I have noticed, it seems to clunk more on the one wheel approach l. Definitely seems to favor the driver side.


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[Toystory2]

Found some pics of the sway bar I took a while back. I wasn’t paying too much attention at the time, but it’s looking pretty rough. Even seeing some cracks on one side. I guess I need to start looking for a new one. I just ordered some Energy suspension bushings too.


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[firebirdguy]

the "cracks" are just the paint coating, not the bar itself. you most likely dont need a new bar, just install the new bushings & see if they fix or improve the clunk & go from there.

 

[Billynath1988]

Is typically the bushings or can it be the bar itself making the clunk?


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Its the bushings and endlinks..

 

[Toystory2]

the "cracks" are just the paint coating, not the bar itself. you most likely dont need a new bar, just install the new bushings & see if they fix or improve the clunk & go from there.

That’s good news, although I may just give it some kind of rustoleum paint while I’m at it.

 

[Keros]

If the bar is actually cracked, it will break at some point very soon. So I wouldn't worry about replacing it, it'll let you know.

The clunk is the steel bar being able to move back and forth. Normally, it's held rigidly and only able to rotate as the suspension moves up and down... doing it's job of being a linear spring. Once some play is available in the bushings it bangs around in there.

There's a huge amount of force involved in the sway bar system. I generally kill a set every couple of years. Speaking of which, mine need replaced too.

 

[Toystory2]

If the bar is actually cracked, it will break at some point very soon. So I wouldn't worry about replacing it, it'll let you know.

The clunk is the steel bar being able to move back and forth. Normally, it's held rigidly and only able to rotate as the suspension moves up and down... doing it's job of being a linear spring. Once some play is available in the bushings it bangs around in there.

There's a huge amount of force involved in the sway bar system. I generally kill a set every couple of years. Speaking of which, mine need replaced too.

That’s interesting. I didn’t suspect the sway bar initially because I didn’t think it would generate that loud of a clank. I just ordered new bushings, so I’ll take it off and give it a good check when I put those on. If it still squeaks, I guess the sway bar links are next.


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[gaber6]

My 2007 4WD had been clunking and squeaking when I would roll over a bump or hit a dip in the road.

But now that I have replaced both front upper and lower control arms, and front/rear shocks, it is still clunking!

Any idea what to check for next??

Only thing I can think of is sway bar bushings.


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Don't forget the expensive 1/2 steering shaft replacement. Mine was $275 from Toyota and was one of my last clunks that I fixed last year and completely worth it.

 

[Keros]

That’s interesting. I didn’t suspect the sway bar initially because I didn’t think it would generate that loud of a clank. I just ordered new bushings, so I’ll take it off and give it a good check when I put those on. If it still squeaks, I guess the sway bar links are next.


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The links can seize up, which will lead to them breaking. Or the ball joints can fail, giving them wiggle room to not transmit forces into the bar.

You'll be able to tell that the links are failing. Moog links are much better than OEM Toyota links. They have a larger diameter shank and a better design for installation/removal.

 

[Toystory2]

Don't forget the expensive 1/2 steering shaft replacement. Mine was $275 from Toyota and was one of my last clunks that I fixed last year and completely worth it.

Gosh, I hope I can hold off on that for at least a couple more years!


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[Toystory2]

The links can seize up, which will lead to them breaking. Or the ball joints can fail, giving them wiggle room to not transmit forces into the bar.

You'll be able to tell that the links are failing. Moog links are much better than OEM Toyota links. They have a larger diameter shank and a better design for installation/removal.

Thanks, I’ll check into Moog if it ends up being the links. Sure they’ll be cheaper than OEM.


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[MikeinNH67]

Thanks, it actually is more of a thunk sound… and it’s not every bump, but more of the big ones.

Come to think of it, we may have tightened the arms in without load on the suspension….

If that’s the case, how would you fix that? Undo and retighten under load?


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Thunk is most likely a sway bar issue as mentioned. I actually loosened mine shoved some bicycle tube in there to prove it was those bushings. It was and that tube is still in there a couple years later.

On the arms, you just need to loosen the nuts, let them settle and tighten them back up. You can do it whichever way works for you, using a jack or with the tires on if you can fit.