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Metallic "knock" from up front.

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by bigmooze, Mar 21, 2011.

  1. Mar 21, 2011 at 5:02 PM
    #1
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Recently (within the last 300 km or so) I have noticed the above ANNOYING sound.

    It normally occurs whenever I am reversing from the street (which has a fairly decent crown in the road) into the driveway (which slopes up toward the garage). I believe the key here is that the suspension is flexing somewhat. During this manouever, the wheels are turned to the left. The knocking sound is a single metallic knock, heard on the driver's side.

    One time, I was reversing onto a down-ward sloping driveway with wheels turned to the right, and the same sound happened on the passenger side.

    The wheels are not at full lock when the noise happens. I am in 2WD.

    Everything seems to be tight. No recent mods to the front end. No fluids leaking from what I can tell. No play in the wheels about the hub (up-down or side-side). Wheels spin in free air without grinding.

    No issues when turning in forward or reverse on flat ground.

    The worst part is, I can't reliably replicate the sound. Has anyone else experienced this?
     
  2. Mar 22, 2011 at 3:57 PM
    #2
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Bump. I have about 93,000 km on the truck, front Bilstein 5100's have been on since about 80,000 km. No issues until recently.

    Any ideas?
     
  3. Mar 26, 2011 at 2:10 PM
    #3
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Took the truck in on Thursday and the tech ended up greasing the steering stops. I thought these only came into play when turning at full lock, but anyway. I haven't heard the knocking since.

    When I was talking to him, he also told me that he has seen sway bar links with dry spots on the joints. He suggested hitting them with some white lithium grease if my noise re-appears.

    While it was there I had the transmisison fluid flushed. Nice to know that the fluid is fresh... next up is an oil change, spark plugs and Ride-Rite install, but I'll wait for the weather to warm up a bit.
     
  4. Mar 26, 2011 at 2:13 PM
    #4
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    Good info .

    Thanks
     
  5. Mar 31, 2011 at 5:55 PM
    #5
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Even with the steering stops greased I get a knock.

    Jacked up the front end and inspected everything last night, and everything was torqued properly.

    Attempted to remove the sway bar but decided that I would have to diconnect the tie rod ends so I could maneuver it out, so I quit - didn't feel like doing that. Rubber sway bar bushings and sway bar links were in good order.

    Nothing stands out as being broken, no leaks from the shocks or steering components from what I can tell.

    It definitely happens when turning while the suspension flexes, especially when bumping up or down the small curb at the end od the driveway, but it's not consistent/repeatable.

    I'll continue to keep an eye/ear on things and hope that something non-dangerous shows signs of breakage for repair under warranty (at about 93,000 km now, with extended warranty coverage up to 160,000 km).
     
  6. Mar 31, 2011 at 6:39 PM
    #6
    malander

    malander Well-Known Member

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    You're sway bar may look fine but I suspect it's the part making all the noise. Mine is the same way except that the threads are all jacked up so when it gets warm I'll be cutting that pita out.
     
  7. Mar 31, 2011 at 11:49 PM
    #7
    FixedTRD

    FixedTRD Well-Known Member

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    Does it sound like some kind of grinding noise when going up a driveway at low speed and at high speed you don't feel or hear it? If so I have the same problem I notice that after my Lt kit but once I got the truck align it went away until I took it offroad and now it's back need to bring it in again to align and see what is loose. You might have the same issue I have. Try getting it align.
     
  8. Apr 1, 2011 at 6:51 AM
    #8
    pAP

    pAP ==========

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    Just an idea...It could be the brake pads. There are pins that hold them in place but still have a bit of room to float. The pads are in a forward position on the pin after parked from going forward. When you go to back up, the pads move back, hit and make a clunk noise. Very common in the toyota trucks, 4-runner and Fj's. Does it only happen after going say forward then backing up? or vise versa. Worth trying to see if thats it.

    Pap
     
  9. Apr 1, 2011 at 11:06 AM
    #9
    bayou_fennec

    bayou_fennec blah blah blah

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    Had the same problem in my '05 double cab for about 3 months. finally found a post on here (somewhere) that suggested tightening the LCA bolts. that was it. the passenger side lca bolt was loose. apparently, when i had an alignment done, they didn't torque it back to specs. no problem since.
     
  10. Apr 1, 2011 at 1:41 PM
    #10
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I'll try this. Is there any harm in tightening them? Could I move the cams by just tightening the LCA bolts? Obviously I want to avoid that.

    I had an alignment done a while ago but I'll check anyway.
     
  11. Apr 1, 2011 at 1:45 PM
    #11
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Not a grinding, no. Just a solid clunk sound. I think it's metal-on-metal. Only seems to occur with the wheels turned, not necessairly at full-lock.

    I've experienced that problem before. The current sound is more solid, not the "clack" that the pads were making when they were sticking. I'm going to check the tightness of the caliper bolts though, just to remove them from the equation.
     
  12. Apr 2, 2011 at 9:09 AM
    #12
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    All four of my LCA bolts were loose! Tightened them up to 100 ft-lb and will drive it around to see if the problem has been solved.
     
  13. Apr 2, 2011 at 10:38 AM
    #13
    elwood

    elwood "Really, how hard can it be?" Jeremy Clarkson

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    i was going to suggest the spare tire loose? that one got me once and took forever to find it, hope you have it figured out.
    cheers
     
  14. Apr 2, 2011 at 11:44 AM
    #14
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the suggestion. The spare tire is definitely secure.

    Where abouts in ON are you?
     
  15. Apr 2, 2011 at 11:49 AM
    #15
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    Did tightening your LCA bolts eliminate your noise ?
     
  16. Apr 2, 2011 at 11:51 AM
    #16
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I drove for about an hour between various stores, backing up and bumping up into driveways. So far, so good. No noise when I reverse into the driveway either. Hoping that was the problem...
     
  17. Apr 2, 2011 at 11:53 AM
    #17
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    That would be cool . I've read on here it is fairly common for the LCA bolts to be seized on , so I found it suprising that your were loose .
     
  18. Apr 2, 2011 at 11:57 AM
    #18
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah it would end the frustration of not knowing the source of the noise.

    No seizing which was nice, I only had an alignment done at 81,210 km (just passed 93,000 these week). The tech (not a dealership guy) likely didn't crank the bolts down to spec.
     
  19. Apr 3, 2011 at 8:47 AM
    #19
    elwood

    elwood "Really, how hard can it be?" Jeremy Clarkson

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    just north of guelph area in a small town called Alma.
     
  20. Apr 10, 2011 at 6:14 AM
    #20
    bigmooze

    bigmooze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well it's been a few days with mixed highway/parking lot/side treet driving and the knocking sound has not come back.

    So, I think tighteneing the loose LCA bolts worked like a charm.

    Thanks bayou_fennec (and others) for posting your suggestions.
     

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