Popping Noise When Turning Sharply and Accelerating

I noticed a popping noise coming from my front left wheel last night will pulling into a parking spot. I was able to recreate it a couple of times by coming to a stop, turning my steering wheel all the way to the right, and then accelerating normally. There is a loud popping noise that almost sounds like I am running over something, but after that there are no other sounds. Truck seems to handle fine.

I've done some research online and most of it suggests a bad CV joint/axle. I've already had my truck in the shop three times since Oct. 2024 and spent several thousand bucks, so I figured I would ask here to get people's thoughts before I decide to take it to be looked at or not. If it is a CV joint, what is a reasonable amount to expect for a repair?

 

Your profile shows 2wd (pre runner). Is that correct?

 

Your profile says 2wd.

2wd trucks don't have CV axles.

 

I do have the 2wd, V6 prerunner. It's a 2012 with 173k miles on it.

Guess I should have looked for the CV joints first before assuming that was even a part for 2wd's. Any other ideas on what this might be? I replaced my lower control arms last October, but besides that the rest of my suspension parts are OEM as far as I know.

 

Upper ball joint

Jack the truck up so the front tires are off the ground.
On each tire, put your hands at 12 and 6, give it a good shake. Does it move?
Do the same with your hands at 9 and 3. Does it move?

 

Mine is doing this, but I’m 4wd so I’ve replaced both axles. In my case it’s the sway bar links on the way out. You could check those for play also

 

Is your truck lifted? I had an issue with a popping noise that turned out to be the steering stop on the lower arm binding and then slipping off of the steering stop on the knuckle. When it slid off, it made a loud metallic popping sound. Only occurred at full lock, mainly when I was parking. It never occurred at stock heights, but when I lifted the truck it misaligned the two stops, causing the issue.

It's a long shot, but it's possible this is your issue.

 

Sounds EXACTLY what drove me nuts on my Sienna. Dealer thought it was the lower arm bushings/LBJ's. NO ONE could find issue. Fly by night shop put in both complete new lower arms. Improved slightly but got worse again. Lived with it for 2 years. Found a real shop for a few other repairs and he found a lower arm bolt loose. Tightened it... walla!

 

@Naveronski I tried this last night and there was not wiggle or play with the front tire.

@hoffengineering I have the SR5 package but no additional lift kits on there besides that stock height. I'm curious if I'm having the same issue you had though - I didn't hear this popping noise until after my lower control arms got swapped out last fall.

 

Oh! That's helpful info. Yes, check that all of your bolts are torqued appropriately.

 

Wiggle by hand may not be enough. Actually put a wrench to the misc. bolts. Mine happened under pressure. Usually when backing up, turning lock yo lock and then brakes applied. Somethimes "creeked" sometimes "popped" but always (in hindsight) took the arm being under a stressful load.

 

And that would be in compression, not droop.

Consider breaking all the mounting bolts loose then re torque in compression.