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Clunk up front: FIXED -Check Skids!!

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by SVigg236, Feb 26, 2023.

  1. Apr 19, 2024 at 11:48 AM
    #61
    Casey66

    Casey66 New Member

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    My 2017 Limited has always made this clunking sound in the same driving situations. I just thought it was what the thing was supposed to sound like but will check it out. Thanks for the thread.
     
  2. Apr 19, 2024 at 7:55 PM
    #62
    M85

    M85 Well-Known Member

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    Mine was missing the front two bolts for the factory (tin can) skid. I guess the oil change place was too lazy to put them back. It just hangs by two little hooks in the front without the bolts, so that will probably make some noise.
     
  3. Apr 27, 2024 at 12:52 AM
    #63
    guest_707

    guest_707 Well-Known Member

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    I've been getting clunking sounds ever since I installed the TRD Skid and Talon's Garage Skid/Cat shield combo. I took both off a few months ago and there were no clunking sounds. Typically, I hear it when I turn the steering wheel and go over bumps/speed bumps/pulling in and out of the driveway like everyone else. Once I put the plates back on, the clunking came back. I don't even know if this is something worth dealing with. I figured it's just another taco thing, lmao.
     
    chris5887, Road Bull and TacoTime55 like this.
  4. Apr 27, 2024 at 6:47 AM
    #64
    TacoTime55

    TacoTime55 TT59

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    I have the same set-up, TRD Skid/Talon CAT plate.

    It's noticeably clunky like you said, when parking in driveway going over the curby bump entrance...but otherwise, no noises on the road.

    Its the Talon CAT causing the noise...but I have not removed any of the skids.
     
  5. Apr 27, 2024 at 9:46 AM
    #65
    chuymoreno

    chuymoreno Well-Known Member

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    I have a very similar noise, I was able to pinpoint the source of the noise to the LCA on the passenger side. I first tried removing the skid plate and the noise went away or at least that’s what I thought. Turns out that the skid plate was only amplifying the noise, my guess is that the first time I removed the skid plate the LCA bushings were not that bad yet but with time and after a few thousand miles the noise was still there even when I removed the skid plate. The noise is still reduced significantly w/o the skid plate but if I have someone put the truck on D or R, press the brakes and turn the steering wheel side to side, you can definitely feel and hear the noise coming from the LCA’s bushing.
     
  6. Aug 7, 2024 at 6:32 PM
    #66
    Brety

    Brety New Member

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    Had a similar noise on the front end of my 2020 trd sport. When turning at low speeds there would be a popping sound and over bumps there would be a clunk. The noise would go away periodically when the skid was removed so I thought that was the problem and added spacers. The noise would always come back and finally got it looked at by a mechanic. He diagnosed it as a steering rack issue so booked it in with Toyota and had it diagnosed and replaced under warranty in less than a week. Turns out the skid plate amplified the noise. Hope this might help as this was bothering me for months.
     
    WhiteTaco20 likes this.
  7. Aug 10, 2024 at 6:03 AM
    #67
    KBraden79

    KBraden79 Active Member

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    I have a 2012 trd sport Tacoma. I have a problem of when I back up and turn my wheel to the left it pops really loud. I replaced my wheel bearing because they were shot and it’s still popping. I do have TRQ lower ball joints that are 3 year old almost 4.
     
  8. Mar 28, 2025 at 1:02 AM
    #68
    m shark

    m shark Well-Known Member

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    Wow, what a coincidence! I just happened to fix my clunking noise a week ago when the front end flexes and it was indeed my skid plates. I have the RCI skids with the RCI catalytic converter shield. For a while I could not locate where the sound was coming from, then out of the blue I was able to replicate the sound when I jump up and down on my sliders so I thought my sliders needed to be tightened. So I tightened that but the sound was still there, so I loosened up all my skids and retightened them and now the sound is gone.
     
    Road Bull likes this.
  9. Apr 19, 2025 at 8:53 AM
    #69
    TRDPro75

    TRDPro75 Well-Known Member

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    So I'm have something that sounds the same only coming from both front wheels and seemed to trace it to the LCA bushings. Sooo I replaced the LCAs and it helped eliminate the noise for 2 days and then it all came back! (The truck did felt tighter abd more stable after replacement. ) I checked my torque specs on the front suspension fasteners to make sure nothing was loose. I replaced my UCAs a few years ago with JBAs and my truck has about a 2 inch lift on it. The popping is amplified when in Drive and the front brakes depressed but doesn't really make any noise if the E Brake is on. I would think thats bc there's less stress on the front I suspension. Did you get your issue resolved? I'm thinking to check the CV Joints on the axles next. Has anyone with lifted Tacos experienced premature CV joint wear? I do use my truck OR but not excessively.

    I see somrone said steering rack issue....is there more to contribute about what exactly failed on the rack? This noise is driving me crazy.

    Does anyone have any more input?
     
  10. May 5, 2025 at 9:01 PM
    #70
    axxkicker

    axxkicker Well-Known Member

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    My TRDOR has been creaking, popping and generally groaning anytime the front suspension flexes- pulling out of the driveway, slight hills off road, parking lots- its' quite loud and markedly embarrassing. My truck sounds like a '72 Buick that has fallen on hard times.

    I also have the Talon Catalytic converter shield and the TRD skidplate.

    My sounds didn't happen the moment I completed the two installs, but they've been going on long enough for me to have replaced my LCAs unnecessarily, it turns out. With my skidplate off, the truck is silent. Installed normally, the creaks, pops and groans are back.

    I'll loosen everything, apply rubber washers and retorque. It'd be nice to drive a quiet truck again.
     
  11. May 5, 2025 at 10:09 PM
    #71
    Willy Lump Lump

    Willy Lump Lump Well-Known Member

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    This and that
    I have the same skid and talon, in aluminum. I’ve had everything in my truck squeak and tick and be found and a new ones rises. My skid wasn’t the problem, but the hardware talon uses is. I replaced all that shit they sent me and have had it torqued, and no rubber washer. I think my new squeak is coming from my bumper.
     
  12. May 6, 2025 at 6:26 AM
    #72
    TacoTime55

    TacoTime55 TT59

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    Interesting stories.

    My truck has Talon CAT plate mated to TRD skid and have what seems like joint noises. lol

    I had TRD suspension lift and the noise is not as loud but still there.

    At some point, I’ll get the security bolt I over torqued off…but right now, it’s not a priority.
     
  13. May 6, 2025 at 6:38 AM
    #73
    Willy Lump Lump

    Willy Lump Lump Well-Known Member

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    This and that
    I’m sure everytime the truck goes up with a jack, the trd skid get nervous and loosens up after.
     
  14. May 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
    #74
    RoostrC0gburn

    RoostrC0gburn Well-Known Member

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    for those of you that have used rubber washers to fix the problem, which washers are you using and did you do a washer between the frame or between the skid plate and the bolt head or both?
     
    BattleKat likes this.
  15. May 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
    #75
    GawainXR

    GawainXR Well-Known Member

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    Also wondering this
     
    BattleKat likes this.
  16. May 14, 2025 at 10:36 AM
    #76
    baboltin

    baboltin New to the 3rd gen world!

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    I as well was wondering this
     
    BattleKat likes this.
  17. May 14, 2025 at 10:47 AM
    #77
    Clymber

    Clymber Well-Known Member

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    I will be honest and say I didnt read the 4 pages of replies

    Have you jacked up the front and see if there was any play in the wheels. Push on bottom and pull on top. I had clunking noise when my ball joints went bad.
     
  18. May 19, 2025 at 11:34 AM
    #78
    BattleKat

    BattleKat Well-Known Member

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    I posted a few pages back that my issue was fixed with some spacers, but it came back a short time later. Note, I also have the TRD Skid Plate (knockoff version) and the talon Cat Shield. Looks like a lot of us have that combo. At some point I am going to try rubber or nylon washers where the skid plate a talon shield come together.
     
  19. May 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
    #79
    TRDPro75

    TRDPro75 Well-Known Member

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    This is such an interesting situation for us all. I noted on a previous post that any time I've done a repair or taken things off the front end and replaced them the noise always goes away for about 2 days and then comes back. It seems I replaced my LCAs unnecessarily. The pops make sense that it could be the skids (I have a Pro mated to full RCI skids)but the clunk/knock/bump noise and reverberation is just odd. I've pulled on so many things and I'm left still wonduring if the steering rack is the issue but it doesn't display the typical symptoms of a failing rack.
     

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