The mystery popping sound still unsolved..

knightsfs4

knightsfs4

New member
Hey everyone,

So 3 years ago there was a popping sound that would occur whenever I would turn the wheel. I've had this sound since even before I had my body lift. The parts that are new on my suspension are:
Upper Strut Mounts
New Struts (5100s :D)
Tie Rod Ends
Ball Joints
Sway Bar Ends
CV Axles
UCAs (LR Now)
Camber/Caster Bolts
LCA Bushings
Driveshaft Greased (Multiple Times)

So in essence I've replaced every part in my front suspension except for my steering rack which I've heard "could" be the problem, but I've also heard this many times before.

This "popping" sound occurs at low speeds only. It's a quick metal pop sound. Sometimes on turns in forward and reverse and also at low speed when going straight. It is not very frequent but it's ridiculous and even if I had a million dollars the only thing I could think of could be replacing the steering rack. I mean I just put new ends on the existing rack, could the rack be it or am I missing something here.

If any additional information is needed I'd be more than willing to provide it, because I need this to be done already.

Thank you guys.

Jack

P.S: If any of you are from Tallahassee shoot me a direct message.
 
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I have been fighting a popping sound as well. I have new control arms and one of them keeps binding when I turn the wheel (Passenger side rear bushing). Usually will pop at full or close to full lock and when in a turn and under load (like a round about). Some times it will move during a turn and not make a sound then pop back when going straight. Dont know if that will help but something that you might want to look at. I figured it out by mounting my go pro and driving around the neighbor hood. I could see it bind and pop loose.
 
FFS, for at least the 3rd time today, 4runners don't have struts.

Put it up on jack stands under the LCAs and start pushing, pulling, and hitting everything with a hammer. These parts you have listed as replaced, are they Toyota OEM parts or Chinese crap from an auto parts store?

A go pro camera with a rare earth magnet is a very useful diagnostic tool.
 
How high is your body lift? If it's over 2", then the problem is your steering linkage. I've done several body lifts in my life and with a body lift, your suspension remains static, with absolutely no change in angles. Your steering linkage, however, is now at a steeper angle. I once did a 3" body lift on a Nissan hardbody 4x4 truck. Same result: steering linkage popping. I did a 2" body lift on a buddy's Titan truck: same thing, popping steering linkage.
 
I have a 1" body lift, and as stated above I had this issue since before I had it.

All of the replacement parts were moog.
 
How are the sway bar bushings? I've had some intermittent popping sounds on a previous 3rd gen that were caused by worn sway bar bushings. The bushings appeared fine from the outside while mounted, but once removed, revealed some rot on the inside. This would cause the bar to actually hit/tap the frame upon turns or random bumps. May be worth a look.
 
Are the lower control arms torqued? I had a similar noise when first backing up/pulling away from sitting for a while. I did an alignment on the 4Runner and noticed all my LCA bolts were loose (not super loose, but below spec) and then torqued them to the factory specifications, the noise appears to have gone away.
 
preacher35 said:
How high is your body lift? If it's over 2", then the problem is your steering linkage. I've done several body lifts in my life and with a body lift, your suspension remains static, with absolutely no change in angles. Your steering linkage, however, is now at a steeper angle. I once did a 3" body lift on a Nissan hardbody 4x4 truck. Same result: steering linkage popping. I did a 2" body lift on a buddy's Titan truck: same thing, popping steering linkage.
Click to expand...

I'm running a 2.5" bodylift and have installed the steering spacer that comes with the kit. Never have had a single sound from it, no binding, nothing. My pump is dying, but that is a completely different problem. lol
 
I have the same issue.

When I first bought my runner I didn't notice it. It arose after the dealer did an alignment... Just figured I'd add that
 
So here's my update. It has been out of the shop for a week and I still have this popping sound. The mechanic first told me that my strut mounts were worn out and that was my issue. So I had them put in new strut mounts, tie rod ends and bilstein 5100s. Afterwards he tells me that it's my upper control arms popping, but I've been hearing this sound since even before I installed my SPC UCAs. It has been looked at by 2 different shops and I honestly don't have a clue as to what it could be. It could be the brakes or the steering rack I suppose, but I only hear this sound at speeds of less than 5 mph when turning and going straight. I know it's hard to diagnose an issue like this without being under it, but I'm just hoping that someone has been in similar shoes as me because it is really driving me crazy..
 
4 or 5 posts back a guy recommend that you check the stabilizer bar bushings. Did you ever try that? I don't see in any of your posts that you have. It may not help you but it helped me.

After I replaced mine a new noise popped up that turned out to be the stabilizer bar itself rotating within the bushings. I pulled them out and applied some rubber-safe grease and now everything is finally quiet.
 
Hi... I had the same sound when I had spacers know my xreas. It went away when I replaced my spacers. I also thought it was my swaybar so I bought a icon relocated too and installed the same time(I didn't see one on your parts list). What I think is happening is that your 885 lift springs with 5100's are over compressed and binding

I would get a swaybar relocation and check the stopper and for contact points/rust.
Try lowering a step on your 5100's
It's worth a try
 
It has a swaybar relocation on it, when it didn't it would clearly hit. When you say the stabilizer bar do you mean the sway bar? My lift right now is bilsteins set at 0, ome 885s, and a 1/4" spacer. Could it be that there is too much stress on the suspension? I'd have to go in and remove the front spacers to see but maybe the suspension is just a little too jacked up.
 
What problems are usually associated with bad stabilizer bushings? How many are there? I wouldn't mind putting in a new set to rule that out as well.
 
There are only 2 on the front on a stock setup. It takes maybe 15 minutes and about $10 to replace them. They can make a popping sound like you describe. Mine did.
 
Just crawl under there with a ratchet and socket. Each one is held in place by a bracket and 2 bolts. Remove the rear bolt on each bracket and loosen each front bolt about half way out. From there you can't wiggle the sway bar free and pull off the rubber bushings, put new ones on, and bolt everything back together. No need to jack up the truck, remove either wheel, or even remove the sway bar ends.

You won't run into any problems. It'll make perfect sense when you're under there. Easiest thing I've ever done to my truck.
 
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