Wheel turning clunk/Pop sound?

Tried searching for this can't find anything. The weather here in VA has been getting colder, I'm starting to notice a loud clunk/pop sound when making extreme slow right and left turns out of a parking space or when rein-acting the sound at a stand still while turning the steering wheel left to right. Seems to be coming from the front wheel area just below or near the top of the front shock area. Seems to be a part of the wheel steering mechanism. Does anyone know what this could be and possibly how to fix this? I have an automatic 2007 Prerunner 2WD, V6

Thanks~

 

Hmm it could be your steering stops. Look under you truck and check your steering stops. Does it do it when you max out your turning on your steering? Does it do it when steering is maxed out and you go over a bump?

 

Not sure what you mean by steering stops? Can you post a picture or illustration? It doesn't happen when I go over any bumps just happens when I backing out of a parking spot and making a extreme steering wheel turn then straighting the wheel to drive away. It also happens when I ask my wife to turn the steering wheel slowly left to right at a stand still. This truck does not go off roading of any kind.

 

Here's a picture of a steering stop. This person put grease on the steering stop and on the lower control arm.



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Are you turning the wheels while the vehicle is not moving?

 

Thanks for the pic. Yes, that is what is puzzling me. The "steering stops" make sense on extreme wheel turns like maybe a U-turn or something, but this is also happening at a stand still too while rein-acting a turn. I could even make the clunk sound when I roll down the drivers side window and stand out of the truck and turn the wheel myself with one hand to the left while watching the front tire turn on the pavement. I would also add that with one hand I doubt whether I'm turning the wheel all the way left before it makes the loud clunk/pop sound.

 

yeah it's not the steering stops if your turning the wheels while the trucks at a stand still. Maybe you could get under the truck and get someone to turn the wheel while you look under to see if you can see or hear from where it's coming from?

 

Does it happen when going straight and applying the breaks?

 

No only when turning out of a parking lot stall or turning the wheel left then right at a stand still. I did look underneath while my wife turn the wheel, seems to be coming like I said before while looking up towards the top of the shock area (general direction only I know it's not the shock or spring) but some part of the wheel turning mechanism just right of the shock while looking up from the ground.

 

Check your ball joints, upper and lower, and tie rod ends. See if they are leaking grease or are torn open. Try to isolate it more by getting under there and having someone turn it. You should be able to feel the pop in the component making it and parts around it. Just dont get your hand crushed in the process...

 

Fixed..

 

curious to find out if you found the problem, i too experienced the same thing yesterday morning and today....16deg out, pulled stragiht out of the driveway and when i transfered to the street I heard one clunk, wheel was barely turned though, sounds like we might have the same issue. I remeber i had this same problem on a VW Jetta i owned, and it turned out it was the strut top bearings were worn out. dont know if our Taco's have that or not, but im sure they do.....lemme know what you find out, as i am leaving mine alone until it warms up, if it still does it when its warm i'll look into the issue

 

Mine has been doing this also. Sounds like mine is coming from the driver side wheel well area? Only seems to do it when it's really cold or wet? Mine doesn't do it when im sitting still and turning the wheel though? Only when i'm making a slight turn.

 

Thanks for the replies, I still haven't figured it out yet. I did grease some different areas of the wheel rod connections/mechanisms, but there's no zerk fittings really to do that. I didn't notice the problem today so maybe it help some. Possibly the grease soaked down into the washer joint connections I guess who knows. I'll keep you posted if it seems to do the trick.

 

Same exact location for me too

 

I think I have the same clunk when turning the wheel to the left side and straightening it out while standing parked or moving slowly. I don't hear it when wheel turned to the right though. I went down and had someone turned the wheel, I noticed the clunk coming from the inner tie rod/steering gear housing location. I hold on to the tie rod and I could feel some kind of snapping.

So I went to the dealership this morning and have it looked at. I was hoping that it's only the inner tie rod but they told me it's the rack and pinion and it will cost me $1600. I looked at the boots, they didn't even open it to see if it's only ball joint with a play. I'll have it looked at by another shop.

 

Whew I thought I was the only one that heard the clunks! I still haven't figured it out.

 

Please keep us posted I think were starting to get somewhere. Anybody else have any solutions to this problems?

 

Ever figure it out? Mine did it once today and it's about 5 degrees out

 

Hydrating this old thread. I hear the clunk sound once in awhile, but not too often under the driver side wheel well. Wondering if anyone found the problem.

 

I am starting to hear a bit of the clunk noise on the drivers side when turning only or pulling out of the parking lot. I have noticed that I only hear it when it rains and it has been raining today. Not sure if anyone knows what it could be?