Popping from left and right side in the front

Hey TW. Every time I drive off and turn out of my driveway, I get a pop from the front end on the left and right side. One right after the other, about a second apart, if that. It wont happen again until I go to back up, and I will get that popping again. Same place and same timing. I put a jack under the front and lifted it up and I could not replicate the noise. I put it in neutral and pushed it back and forth, and still could not replicate. Any tips on where to look for would be appreciated. Thanks.

2014 4wd 26k miles, bone stock suspension, never driven hard or rough

 

It’s odd that it happens on both sides one right after the other.

Maybe the key here is “turning”.

If look and see if the steering rack bolts are tight, and bushings are in good shape.


It sounds like something is shifting.

 

Parts age out needing replacement, not necessarily only miles.

Check the following:

• Upper control arm ball joint
• Lower control arm ball joint
• Upper control arm bushings
• Lower control arm bushings
• Tie rod ends
• Sway bar end links
• CV axles

From personal experience, the lower control arm bushings go first, then sway bar end links, then CV axles.

 

26K miles??!!, on a 2014?
I have nothing else.

 

Just here for the thoughts because I get the occasional pop sound up front...

I will say I got many a pop sound, removed my sway bar and almost all of the sounds went away but I still get one or two every now and again.

 

Same here I removed my sway bar

 

I feel like thats reasonable, especially being off road trucks, having a pop or two and I can totally live with it. I was just more concerned if there is and actual issue i need to get resolved ya know. Hate to be cruising down the road and have a control arm decide it wants to take an alternate route

 

Check your CV boots to see if they’ve cracked/allowed the joints to dry out, as well as the ball joint boots. The reverse and turn pop when you drop off the curb to the street is where you will hear those consistently.

 

Ive checked all the boots. No signs of any cracks or anything there, they appear to be fine. Also, its not every time I drop off a curb, its only the initial pull put of the driveway and then its done. So far I havent noticed it when I am just driving around.

 

I had a similar situation on my 08, turned out the upper ball joints were shot. The boot was fine but the ball joint had completely rusted on the inside. Fortunately i ended up snapping the ball joint at the end of my block so it was a short ride back with the tow truck. But for some reason when the truck was jacked up there was no play in the ball joint. Just something to think about

 

Wheel bearings

 

your joints in your knees when you get old??

 

26k on a 8yo truck If say grease the front end and go drive the truck… Truck obviously doesnt fet used to much (Not a bad thing but also not w good thing) all your joints are like a bunch of old people trying to walk… And/ or your bushings are probably harder then a rock and will likely need replaced

 

I had a popping sound on my ‘14 which I eventually narrowed down to front brake pad clank. There was evidence of metal on metal contact between the brake calipers and the top/bottom edges of the brake pad assemblies.

Initially I thought the clank was CV joint related due to reversing out of a tight parking spot, then going forward. It would pop/clank once after driving forward the first couple feet. Later I tried it while only going straight. Reverse hard, stop, forward a few feet, clank, stop. Forward hard, stop, reverse a few feet, clank, stop. It was very repeatable. I would have never believed it could be the brake pads, but after replacing with new OEM pads the pop/clank went away. I might have been able to resolve the issue by just cleaning the grime from the brake calipers and greasing the area where the brake pad assembly made metal to metal contact with the brake calipers, but decided to just replace the old pads with new ones. At that time the brake pads were only about half worn down.

 

This sounds like the most accurate description so far. What exactly should I check at the brake pads and calipers to see if i can confirm this?

 

You're totally right. March of '21 I bought a 2010 with 29k on it. Lots of old people symptoms in mine., I've got pops with parking lot maneuvers, had to replace belt tensioner and both front wheel bearings. I knew things like that would happen with the age and low mileage. Main thing of course is that the frame and drivetrain is still great!

 

There are a couple photos here of what to look for.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-have-you-done-to-your-2nd-gen-tacoma-today.6499/page-11717#post-27693370

If you search, you should find some other posts on the 2nd gen forum regarding brake pad clanks. I came across a few when I was trying to get ideas where the noise could be coming from.

 

I say lower control arm bolts need to be tightened.

With the weight on the front tires crank the lower bolts as tight as you can get them.

 

Every tacoma with a well maintained front brake system will do this. Brake pads shifting, totally normal.