TRD Pro Clunk

[Bevo]

For those of you taking it into the shop soon ask the mechanic to check the shock oil level in the remote reservoir please.

No remote reservoir in the front, only on the back suspension. I think your earlier suggestion that fluids shouldn't make a clunk makes sense, but there are only so many things that could be loose on the front end. Maybe something inside the shock body itself?

 

[CSix]

Just thinking about narrowing down the population a bit... How many of the "clunks" are on 4Runners that had the TRD Pro suspension added at the docks VS the 4Runners totally built in Japan? Not sure how to tell. Maybe telling if there is a correlation?

 

[TRD4runnin]

Good question. The guy at Bilstein asked a similar question, but worded it as were they already factory or port installed vs being bought from TRD and then installed.

 

[Maverick]

Just thinking about narrowing down the population a bit... How many of the "clunks" are on 4Runners that had the TRD Pro suspension added at the docks VS the 4Runners totally built in Japan? Not sure how to tell. Maybe telling if there is a correlation?

All of the TRD Pro's (in the United States at least) had the suspension installed at the port and not in Japan.

 

[1engineer]

Just thinking about narrowing down the population a bit... How many of the "clunks" are on 4Runners that had the TRD Pro suspension added at the docks VS the 4Runners totally built in Japan? Not sure how to tell. Maybe telling if there is a correlation?

All of them are port installed. Orange paint is Japan.

 

[phillyd2]

Different colored kids water washable paint on parts that are close to another part that could be hitting. I found the source of a clunk on my UTV this way. If it helps I used Red and Blue :art:

 

[1engineer]

Different colored kids water washable paint on parts that are close to another part that could be hitting. I found the source of a clunk on my UTV this way. If it helps I used Red and Blue :art:

That's a good idea. I said to check shocks because nobody can see any wear or contact points yet. Bottom line is there is a finite number of things that could go "clunk" under there. It will be found.

 

[Bevo]

For reference, here is a pic of the shocks/springs that are used. I have tried moving things around with the truck on the ground and it all feels tight.

It has to be something within the shock/spring assembly itself. That is the only difference between a Pro front end and the other models. I guess it is possible that the slight lift has caused some new geometry issue, but it seems unlikely.

 

[TRDPRO]

Update: Toyota called my dealership and is sending a representative to inspect the vehicle next week. Will post what comes out of it in a couple of weeks.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

Thank you folks for taking the lead on finding the problem!

I painted a permanent marker line from the top of the shock post down through to the mounting plate for the coil-over and took pictures. So far nothing there has moved but since all the bolts are on pretty tight I didn't really expect to find shifting up there.

Silly question but could it be that when the coil unloads and loads back on to the bottom ring plate the thunk is the noise as the force sounds through the shock body that the ring-plate is mounted on?

Looking forward to finding the cause. Don't want to find out that this new suspension setup for the TRD Pro has a lifetime of getting you just past warranty!

 

[Ridin4Runner]

Update: Toyota called my dealership and is sending a representative to inspect the vehicle next week. Will post what comes out of it in a couple of weeks.

Huge! Thank you!!!

 

[9lb taco]

Took some time today to pay the 4Runner some attention, and wanted to share some of my experiences with its "clunk".

Before taking ownership of this one, I had only test driven a 2010 Trail without KDSS, and a 2014 SR5. I don't remember noticing this behavior in either of those, but I also wasn't attacking speed bumps in those short drives. I also didn't notice anything like this over all the years with my 3rd gen 4Runner.

That being said, I have noticed very similar behavior in many newer rental cars that I've driven, and an Avalon that a family member owns, over extended periods of time. Nothing was "wrong" with those cars, that I knew of. Of course there are many differences, but I'm also not sure that anything is "wrong" with my 4Runner now.

Here's what I've noticed about the "clunk" over the last ~5,000 miles of ownership:

• Hasn't gotten "better" or "worse" since day 1 (all conditions being equal)
• Front end only
• Affects both driver and passenger side (typically more apparent on drivers side, all conditions being equal)
• While tracking straight forward/not turning (have not tested in reverse)
• While turning (no apparent increase in severity vs. not turning)
• Traveling below 20mph
• Over sharp bumps which cause quick, sudden vertical movement in both directions (your average parking lot speed bump or ruts on a packed dirt road)
• Weather ranging from 30 °F to 80 °F (more apparent at temperatures below 60 °F)
• Sounds and feels like bushing contact, not metal-on-metal, from inside the truck

I think this probably sums up a good part of the testimonies in here, too.

I also captured some video, because I was curious. Like 1engineer had pointed out, simply slapping a go-pro on the 4Runner won't magically show us what's happening or why. But it does show some evidence of what isn't happening at this specific angle (I am considering mounting options for different angles, and am open to requests/suggestions).


<iframe width="960" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rsvuTjwX-E0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[TRDPRO]

Took some time today to pay the 4Runner some attention, and wanted to share some of my experiences with its "clunk".

B
Here's what I've noticed about the "clunk" over the last ~5,000 miles of ownership:

• Hasn't gotten "better" or "worse" since day 1 (all conditions being equal)
• Front end only
• Affects both driver and passenger side (typically more apparent on drivers side, all conditions being equal)
• While tracking straight forward/not turning (have not tested in reverse)
• While turning (no apparent increase in severity vs. not turning)
• Traveling below 20mph
• Over sharp bumps which cause quick, sudden vertical movement in both directions (your average parking lot speed bump or ruts on a packed dirt road)
• Weather ranging from 30 °F to 80 °F (more apparent at temperatures below 60 °F)
• Sounds and feels like bushing contact, not metal-on-metal, from inside the truck

I think this probably sums up a good part of the testimonies in here, too.

Thank you for sharing. Your summary and observations are the same here and should help others identify if they are in the same boat.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

There might be something else to look into...

Just happened to read into this thread about removing the TRD Pro front skid to change the oil and discovering that the back nut to support the bolt was spinning freely in it's spot and so the owner couldn't tighten the nut at all.

Check this thread out and if anyone is taking it to the dealer to have it looked at it may be another place to look?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/188450-trd-pro-problem-skid-plate.html

 

[TRDPRO]

Update: I met with the Toyota representative at the dealer today. He brought another TRDP with him for comparison purposes. We went first in my vehicle for a road test and speeds between 5-20mph the sound was clear, above 20mph you couldn't really hear it. We then took his TRDP that had less than 2K on it and went the same route and replicated the noise. He acknowledged the issue and asked to keep my truck for testing.

He will be documenting with pictures and videos along with special sensors/testing equipment that he brought to the dealership and escalate the case to TMC. He was very knowledgeable and like the dealership service department, looking to help get to the bottom of this. He said they may ask to have me bring in the vehicle again to remove the struts and send them in for additional testing as well.

So far I have to say that I am pleased that they are taking this issue seriously and time will tell what the final resolution is. I wish I could have provided more troubleshooting information per 1engineer suggested but it's just too cold here. I appreciate all the folks on this thread that have been sharing their insights and input.

Stay tuned....

 

[Boyds4Runner]

A million thanks [MENTION=115475]TRDPRO[/MENTION] for taking the lead on this and keeping us informed!

Since nothing has fallen off yet I am simply getting used to the clunk.

Thanks also for being able to give up your vehicle as the test subject! Hopefully they are providing you with a free loaner or something!

 

[Orc]

Is this just an issue with the T4R or are the Tacoma and Tundra models effected?

 

[kzanard]

Is this just an issue with the T4R or are the Tacoma and Tundra models effected?

If I am not mistaken, the issue is mainly affecting some of us with the 4Runner TRD Pro (not Tundra or Tacoma, or other 4Runner models). Logic dictates that it is because of the suspension that is specific only to the TRD model. However, the exact cause has still not been pinpointed (and not all 4Runner TRD Pros are experiencing it).

 

[Mango22]

Okay so I don't know if this question had been raised yet about the TRD pro suspension "clunk" noise but are any of the people who had the TRD pro suspension installed on their stock 4runners having the clunk noise issue.

I have the new trd pro suspension but am waiting to have it installed until this issue is resolved.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[Mango22]

Okay so I don't know if this question had been raised yet about the TRD pro suspension "clunk" noise but are any of the people who had the TRD pro suspension installed on their stock 4runners having the clunk noise issue.

I have the new trd pro suspension but am waiting to have it installed until this issue is resolved.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I forgot to mention that the point to this question is to consider if the suspension from the "port install" is the issue or if all trd pro suspensions are "clunking", therefore it would be a high probability that it was the shocks/springs themselves making the sound if all trd pro suspensions were making this noise.
Hope this makes sense.