That “dunk” noise

[CutthroatSlam]

2014 SR5 with 160K mikes. At the end of stops there’s a “dunk” noise in the front. Also occurs sometimes while backing up and turning. I’ve put it on stands and tested ball joints (fine) and control arm bushings (fine). Steering is tight with no slop. Tie rods are fine. Just replaced front pads and silicon lube on caliber slide pins and they are tight. Wondering if the sway bar bushings need replacement?

 

[Jeremy_A]

Immediately upon stopping? I have a 4th gen. Occasionally when I stop within a few seconds it clunks and lunges... I think mine is the tranny... maybe downshifting. Does it more often when I come to a quick stop.
Do you feel a jerk in yours when it happens?

 

[CutthroatSlam]

No jerk. At the end of the stop. Been like this for like 70K miles. I asked a very experienced 4wd Mech on another forum and he said “if you find out let me know as he has the same issue on his wife’s 2007 FJ.” Some suggested worn pins in the calipers, but I just inspected and lubed them when I did the front brakes 15K miles ago. No noise when turning at speed or while offroading. I’m under there all the time as I do all oil changes and drive shaft lube. The sway bar connects to the knuckle with linkage that has small ball joints and I’m suspicious of those and also the bushings.

 

[Jeremy_A]

I have no idea then... only when stopping? What about revving it? On a FWD car I would assume a motor mount.
I can't really see sway links affecting it during a stop. But who knows... they are cheap at least.

 

[bcdave]

I have something similar; I was thinking it was coming from the break pads moving so very slightly in the calipers;

You might have sway bar / stabilizer tie rod bolts that have come loose but that should only make noise when there rattling on a bumpy road; not stopping at low speed.

A bushing somewhere is warren and getting metal contact?

...hope that helped...

 

[CutthroatSlam]

I got out to hear it alongside and couldn’t. M

I’m limited right now as my right foot is in one of those cam walker boots post surgery. They did Osteotomies (precision bone breaks/cuts) on my heel and 1st toe bone to re-align the foot and in the process, disrupted a nerve. So bottom of heel is numb and Back and sides of heel are very painful. They say the nerve is intact, but it’s going to be awhile before the numbness and pain goes away.

I’ll get after this when my foot is better.

 

[rigtec]

2014 SR5 with 160K mikes. At the end of stops there’s a “dunk” noise in the front. Also occurs sometimes while backing up and turning. I’ve put it on stands and tested ball joints (fine) and control arm bushings (fine). Steering is tight with no slop. Tie rods are fine. Just replaced front pads and silicon lube on caliber slide pins and they are tight. Wondering if the sway bar bushings need replacement?

Hi CutthroatSlam,

...just the fact that you're hearing that sound At the END of Stops; which is when the truck is recovering from a Nose-dive, and re positioning it's weight to the rear, I'd be inclined (if you haven't already), to check the front upper shock bushings... they may have developed some lash between the rubber cushions and metallic parts surrounding the shaft! 'Best',

rig, Cheers!

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Hi CutthroatSlam,

...just the fact that you're hearing that sound At the END of Stops; which is when the truck is recovering from a Nose-dive, and re positioning it's weight to the rear, I'd be inclined (if you haven't already), to check the front upper shock bushings... they may have developed some lash between the rubber cushions and metallic parts surrounding the shaft! 'Best',

rig, Cheers!

Good suggestion!

Here’s a pic of some of the work they did on my foot.

 

[rigtec]

...Sorry about your foot CutthroatSlam,

I've had my own catastrophic injuries (over the years) as well and it's no picnic when trying to function! 'Best to you',

rig, cheers!

 

[Decipher]

Drive down the road at 20-30 MPH or so. Turn the wheel side to side so the truck sways a little in your lane. If it’s the sway bar bushings you’ll here the knock under these circumstances. Sway bar bushings can knock at odd times as well but this test will allow you to recreate the knock. If it doesn’t, then you ruled those out.


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[2014-4R]

I had this after installing front suspension on my 2014. I'm almost 100% positive you need to torque your lower control arm bolts. If they are under torque by even a little you can get that clunk or dunk noise when turning or reversing, or at the end of a stop when the truck settles to the rear. Check it! Torque is 110 ft/pounds I think. Start by tightening the two on the rear. Be careful not to turn the alignment nuts. You have to hold the alignment nuts while tightening the other nuts.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Drive down the road at 20-30 MPH or so. Turn the wheel side to side so the truck sways a little in your lane. If it’s the sway bar bushings you’ll here the knock under these circumstances. Sway bar bushings can knock at odd times as well but this test will allow you to recreate the knock. If it doesn’t, then you ruled those out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you so much for this excellent suggestion. I will give it a test this weekend.

 

[rochmpr]

Could be LCA cam bolts or at which point they were torqued. I have found it is best to tighten and torque the Cam bolts on the LCA's when fully weighted on the front. For some reason, when I would torque mine while in the air I would get a clunk when stropping, then starting and backing up.

 

[nb rob]

Could be LCA cam bolts or at which point they were torqued. I have found it is best to tighten and torque the Cam bolts on the LCA's when fully weighted on the front. For some reason, when I would torque mine while in the air I would get a clunk when stropping, then starting and backing up.

I've noticed that too.
Now it's tires on the ground, 129 lb-ft.

twice I've had an alignment somewhere other than my preferred toyota dealership. Both times they were under-torqued. Clunk at stop and takeoff, and clunk when approaching a grade at an angle.

 

[EDC4rnr]

I just noticed this noise while braking coming to a stop. Once the suspension settles I hear a slight clunk/dunk noise from the front right. Will be taking it back to Firestone since this wasnt happening prior to alignment.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Some good suggestions here. Thanks! I will get under the vehicle and torque the LCAs tomorrow. I also need to lube the driveshafts and pressure wash off
the road salt from driving through Utah in the snow.

 

[yardsale]

Driveshaft slip joint needs lube.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

I had this after installing front suspension on my 2014. I'm almost 100% positive you need to torque your lower control arm bolts. If they are under torque by even a little you can get that clunk or dunk noise when turning or reversing, or at the end of a stop when the truck settles to the rear. Check it! Torque is 110 ft/pounds I think. Start by tightening the two on the rear. Be careful not to turn the alignment nuts. You have to hold the alignment nuts while tightening the other nuts.

Winner ^^^^! I only torqued the rear LCA nuts, as I’ll do the fronts on the next oil change. Passenger side rear nut needed several strokes with the torque wrench before clicking at 120. Did did quick tests in driveway and the “dunk” noise is gone. I will do more thorough testing on the road, but the driveway was more than enough to generate the noise prior to torquing. Also lubed the shafts and the slip yokes.

Ruled out sway bar bushings with a road test and the bushings atop the front shocks were squished tight. Nice to be back in sunny SoCal so I can do this work.

 

[niadh0]

Immediately upon stopping? I have a 4th gen. Occasionally when I stop within a few seconds it clunks and lunges... I think mine is the tranny... maybe downshifting. Does it more often when I come to a quick stop.
Do you feel a jerk in yours when it happens?

i had a the same issue in my 2011 Trail and many people said that i should keep my prop-shaft lubricated. i did that multiple times but he problem did not go away. some times it would just happen in stop-go traffic and sometimes it would happen after suddenly stopping (or just simply stopping) at a traffic light and when i let go the break paddle... it is would thud and jump forward by an inch or two two... as if the callipers got unstuck all off a sudden. could never figure out what it was.... always though that the Tranny was acting up.

 

[Jeremy_A]

Almost positive its tranny. It feels like its downshifting...
Maybe something with torque converter. Im.not concerned. It doesn't do it often.

i had a the same issue in my 2011 Trail and many people said that i should keep my prop-shaft lubricated. i did that multiple times but he problem did not go away. some times it would just happen in stop-go traffic and sometimes it would happen after suddenly stopping (or just simply stopping) at a traffic light and when i let go the break paddle... it is would thud and jump forward by an inch or two two... as if the callipers got unstuck all off a sudden. could never figure out what it was.... always though that the Tranny was acting up.