UBJ going out?

[afg10000]

Hey, folks - Wife tells me she's getting some clinking and clunking occasionally in the front end at slow speeds going over bumps or turning. Checked everything out underneath there and this is the only thing I could find upon visual inspection. Everything else has been replaced on the steering and suspension and is solid. What do ya'll think? (I don't believe it matters, but this is an '01)
Thanks, everyone!

 

[TheDurk]

Did you jack up the front and rock the tires, at 6 and 12 and then 3 and 9? Because just looking often won't tell you much.

 

[afg10000]

Did you jack up the front and rock the tires, at 6 and 12 and then 3 and 9? Because just looking often won't tell you much.

Nope. Haven't had time to yet. I can maybe get to physical testing later this week. Do you think it's a major concern or something that can wait a week or two based on the pic alone? Never dealt with UBJ's before.
thanks, Durk

 

[Tyota89]

Nope. Haven't had time to yet. I can maybe get to physical testing later this week. Do you think it's a major concern or something that can wait a week or two based on the pic alone? Never dealt with UBJ's before.
thanks, Durk

Anttging suspension related is prett inportant. I would check it right away and replaced if needed..

 

[TheDurk]

Anttging suspension related is prett inportant. I would check it right away and replaced if needed..

Pretty much. If there is play at 6 and 12, that UBJ is a serious concern. 3 and 9, look elsewhere. Also check all four hubs for excessive heat after a drive (don't burn your hand). Might be a wheel bearing.

 

[afg10000]

Pretty much. If there is play at 6 and 12, that UBJ is a serious concern. 3 and 9, look elsewhere. Also check all four hubs for excessive heat after a drive (don't burn your hand). Might be a wheel bearing.

A buddy of mine also mentioned wheel bearing as well. That would certainly not make me happy. Gonna get it all checked out within the next few days. Thanks, guys

 

[krenaud33]

My passenger CV is worn out and it makes a lot of clunking noise. With the vehicle parked on the ground I can grab the CV shaft and move it and hear the noise. You might check the CV's for any noise as well.

 

[s20004runner]

I also have a mysterious clunk from driver side at slow speeds.

I have ordered the new type of the steering rack guide and hoping that solves the problem.

If not, I will be in same shoes as you.

BTW, mine is 99 t4r.

____________
Update:

my driver side cv joint shaft easily moves side to side by hand. I think this is my rattle. The dreadful day has come to do the cv joint.

 

[afg10000]

My passenger CV is worn out and it makes a lot of clunking noise. With the vehicle parked on the ground I can grab the CV shaft and move it and hear the noise. You might check the CV's for any noise as well.

I hear ya - We'll check them out as well. I've got a set of OEM axles sitting in the garage so that would be a quick fix. Every time she tells me the truck is making a noise, I go and drive it and it doesn't do anything abnormal to me. I'm taking hers for the day on Thurs so I'll see if that helps pinpoint anything.

 

[jeremyc74]

I hear ya - We'll check them out as well. I've got a set of OEM axles sitting in the garage so that would be a quick fix. Every time she tells me the truck is making a noise, I go and drive it and it doesn't do anything abnormal to me. I'm taking hers for the day on Thurs so I'll see if that helps pinpoint anything.

I get a clunking noise from mine sometimes when I'm backing out of a parking spot and go from Reverse to Drive. It feels and sounds like it's on the driver's side in front of my feet. Since it was happening when the wheels were turned and my truck has 200k on it I started getting nervous about LBJ failure, and I went in and replaced basically everything. I did the uppers, lowers, tie rods, steering rack bushings, and the transmission mount just for good measure. I feel much better about things but it still makes the noise. At this point I'm thinking it's probably a body mount and since I know all the important stuff is good I'm not going to worry too much about it.

 

[afg10000]

I get a clunking noise from mine sometimes when I'm backing out of a parking spot and go from Reverse to Drive. It feels and sounds like it's on the driver's side in front of my feet. Since it was happening when the wheels were turned and my truck has 200k on it I started getting nervous about LBJ failure, and I went in and replaced basically everything. I did the uppers, lowers, tie rods, steering rack bushings, and the transmission mount just for good measure. I feel much better about things but it still makes the noise. At this point I'm thinking it's probably a body mount and since I know all the important stuff is good I'm not going to worry too much about it.

Sounds frustrating. U-joints or driveline perhaps?

 

[saurkraut]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm having a similar issue and trying to track it down. I've got a lot of play in the driver side inner tie rod so will be replacing both sides inner and outters this weekend. Was thinking it might be lower control arm bushings as well.

 

[afg10000]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm having a similar issue and trying to track it down. I've got a lot of play in the driver side inner tie rod so will be replacing both sides inner and outters this weekend. Was thinking it might be lower control arm bushings as well.

No, We checked for play in the wheel and it was tight as a drum. Never found anything else awry. Everything has been replaced on that truck. She says it still does it every once in a while. Mystery to me ...

 

[OkiSurf1996]

I get a clunking noise from mine sometimes when I'm backing out of a parking spot and go from Reverse to Drive. It feels and sounds like it's on the driver's side in front of my feet. Since it was happening when the wheels were turned and my truck has 200k on it I started getting nervous about LBJ failure, and I went in and replaced basically everything. I did the uppers, lowers, tie rods, steering rack bushings, and the transmission mount just for good measure. I feel much better about things but it still makes the noise. At this point I'm thinking it's probably a body mount and since I know all the important stuff is good I'm not going to worry too much about it.

This sounds like drive shaft greasing. Get under there and find all the grease fitting on the driveshafts and get them lubed. If you've done any kind of lift, the slip joints may take quite a bit of grease.

 

[OkiSurf1996]

No, We checked for play in the wheel and it was tight as a drum. Never found anything else awry. Everything has been replaced on that truck. She says it still does it every once in a while. Mystery to me ...

The suspension is factory? No way the coil could have been turned slightly? Mine made wonderful sounds for a bit because one front coil would contact the UCA going over bumps. Adjusted the way the coil sat on the strut and it was good to go.

 

[saurkraut]

I'm going to be looking at the rack guide on mine today. I see yours is an '01 and I think it went to the new style rack guide then. Mine is a '00 and has the old style and will need to be replaced with the new style more than likely. But the preload should be adjustable on yours and might help. The problem is, if the guide is worn or out of adjustment then this allows the inner tie rod to have up and down movement and could be causing it to clunk like this when going over bumps with the wheel turned. I hear it every time I go out of my driveway since mine is dirt and gravel and full of bumps. I have to turn to the right, almost to full lock while backing up and it does it several times the whole time. I'm going to be checking this on mine today, but either way, I'm going to change it to the new style and also my inner tie rod since it is completely shot. I will post back when I get it figured out.

 

[jeremyc74]

This sounds like drive shaft greasing. Get under there and find all the grease fitting on the driveshafts and get them lubed. If you've done any kind of lift, the slip joints may take quite a bit of grease.

I've greased everything multiple times. My truck had the typical symptoms of lack of grease when I got it (the "axle wrap" sensation) but it's gone now. This is coming from the front left. If feels like it's right under my left foot and only does it when I'm going from reverse to forward after backing out of a parking spot, and even then it doesn't do it all the time.

 

[3bears]

cv ?

 

[jeremyc74]

cv ?

Maybe, but it doesn't really sound like that. I sounds more like a rubber bushing is shot, and letting two pieces of metal get together. If it's not a body mount I think the next most likely culprit is the lower control arm bushings.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Maybe, but it doesn't really sound like that. I sounds more like a rubber bushing is shot, and letting two pieces of metal get together. If it's not a body mount I think the next most likely culprit is the lower control arm bushings.

Mine made a noise like this. I had replaced my sway bar end links and the connection to the frame was loose. Sitting still it looked tight. but when I turned or hit bumps, it would move in the frame hole. I had to get that thing really tight to stop it. Also, check the LCA lock bolts. I had an alignment and the tech didn't get them tight enough and whenever I pulled out of my driveway I could hear a "clunk" sound. Those bolts have to be pretty tight too.