Suspension "clicking" noise - video

Been having this clicking noise coming from driver-side front. It happens on suspension compression and rebound.
My shocks are not worn out yet, and my lower ball joints are brand new. I tested the upper ball joint and find no play.
Driving me crazy trying to locate the source. Has anyone else on here had this same noise with their first gen?

Here is a link to the video:
https://www.veed.io/view/b3cd3758-0efb-42b0-9d94-6adee2f1c66a?sharingWidget=true

 

Do you have a sway bar?

 

yes I do

 

First thing I'd do is pull off the skid.

We're not with your truck, so it's up to you to get a visual on everything and see if something is loose/undone.

 

Might check and see if the sway has any play in it… might be hitting your skid plate

 

My skid plate is aftermarket, and doesn't cover the swaybar. Its something with the suspension.

 

Are you running after marker UCA? Hard to tell in video but check and see if there’s any contact between UCA and coil

 

No, the UCA's are OEM. I'll have to take a closer look to see if that could be what's happening, but I dont think it is

Edit: i just checked, and no, there is no contact with the coil while the clicking is happening

 

Yeah, I've done that. Thats why I'm here looking for ideas

 

LCA bushings / cams ? Have you ever replaced your LCA bushings?

Wheel bearings?

 

How new is this issue and how old are your 5100s? I ask because some folks have had clicking issues with 5100s and aftermarket springs like OME. Personally I think it's the difference in the style of spring seat on Bilsteins vs the style OME uses on their Nitrochargers. The coils of the springs are all visible with the 5100s whereas with the Nitrochargers, their spring seat is a cup style that obscures and possibly supports the bottom most coils of the springs.

I have this issue come up rarely and only when going over bumps at speed. I have 5100s with OME 881 coils and NONE of my fasteners are loose or old and worn. I also had the issue remain when my (anti)sway bar + links were completely removed.

I think it's your shocks that are clicking.

 

Cams are in good shape. I have not replaced the LCA bushings yet

I have the same shock/spring setup as you. I've noticed it intermittently for several months, but never paid much attention to it until recently when it really started to be more consistent. I think my 5100's are at least 5 years old now, with plenty of miles on them. They don't feel worn, and they don't bounce. I can see the shock mount bushings are beginning to show a little wear, as well as the rubber piece that goes between the spring and the top mounting point. No visible metal on metal, but maybe I'll just pull this one out and take a closer look.

 

It's for sure time to do the LCA bushings.

Non-rebuildable shocks are good for 50k. They are a wear item. Just because the valves haven't broken (resulting in the bouncing you're referring to) doesn't mean they are still good.

 

I definitely agree with you on this. I will replace my LCA bushings, shocks, and see if that solves it.

 

Please report back once you do. I have already decided to make my next set of shocks Nitrochargers just to experiment. Even though many many folks have paired 5100s with Old Man Emu coils, technically that is mixing lift components/brands and maybe it bites some folks with this clicking noise where others escape it.

 

You'd be surprised how often people think they're still good after +10 years.

Quotes from another forum disagreeing with me after I said 5 year/50k.

 

Your video doesn't play for me, It says archived, however clicking from the strut area can be the upper strut mount. Just replaced my Camrys struts for this very reason which could be best described as a clicking noise when going over bumps at certain angles. Otherwise my shocks were just fine, no leakage or anything.

 

For anyone else running into this problem..

I replaced the shocks and coils with new Bilstein 5100's, and OME 2881 coils. The clicking noise is now 100% gone.
After inspecting the old shocks, I can see the driver's side shock had some decent wear in the lower mount bushing. On both shocks, the coils were also wearing through the rubber at the top mount. Otherwise, there was no other obvious signs that these shocks were wearing out.

 

What setting are the 5100s on? Mine are set to zero, the lowest.

 

Mine are at the highest setting. Together with the OME 2881 coils, it's a 3" lift.