DILEMMA: Popping noise over bumps after lift

*Before you bust my balls about using the search button please understand I have been searching for three weeks and have not found a solution to this specific issue*

Three weeks and about 900 miles ago I installed Fox 2.5 NON-RESI extended travel coilovers (set to 1.5 and 1.75 from top of threads to top of adjustment ring) and TC UCA's. Since then I am noticing a popping noise when going down the backside of a speedbump, hitting a pothole going down the road, or driving off-road. I have read thread after thread, checked that all bolts are tight, ensured the bottom of the coils are facing the front of the truck, jacked the truck up and tried to wiggle the wheels to see if it is a bad lower balljoint, and even had the wife drive it over some rough spots while I stood outside trying to locate the issue. It is only heard inside the cab and only on the downside of a bump as if the coils are bottoming out. The cv angles are decent. Also know that I ran a 2.5" spacer lift for a year and a half before upgrading to this.

I assume it is not the balljoints (although have a suspicion) since there is no play, not the cab mounts because it is only isolated to the downside of a bump, and not the LCA bushings as I do not notice it any other time like many have pulling out of of a parking spot or turning corners.

Your thoughts or experience would be great!

 

No thoughts after 33 views?

 

Maybe the uca is hitting the coils?

 

Did you tighten the UCA bolt while the truck was on the lift, or at rest?

Your hypothesis that it's the extended length suspension topping out sounds like a decent one to me.

 

No the brakes were just done a few months back and I haven't noticed this until the lift was installed

Maybe? I looked but cannot find any scuffs on the UCA or the coils. I did notice though that the driver side UCA is closer to the coil than the passenger. I can stick my whole hand down along the coil between the UCA on the passenger but not on the driver side. My knuckles hit...

I originally tightened the UCA bolt when on the lift and most recently checked while at rest. The hypothesis would make more sense if I hit a huge rut in the road but not going over a speed bump at 5 mph. I just find it hard to believe this Fox set up would bottom out with only a few inches of drop?

 

Check your UCA bolt, mine made a little bumping noise after some hard wheeling and it had come a little loose.

 

So, how much total lift did you get?

And how much droop do you get when lifting the front with a jack from at rest to wheels off the ground?

 

sub

 

Most likely its your sway bar bushings. They crack pretty easily and especially if your running an extended travel coilover. Unbolt it and let it rest on the skid plate and drive around the neighborhood being careful not to get to crazy with it resting there. If you don't hear the noise, proceed by removing the skid plate in order to pull it out and enjoy the extra travel your not getting by having it on. Suspension will feel WAY smoother and you'll prob jiz at first!

 

Come on, its not that bad! The stiffer coilovers do help compared to stock though. Who the F would swerve at hwy speeds in a lifted truck anyways? Slowing down first and turning to one side only is the best option!

 

Totally understandable......I've had to make a manuever on the hwy and handled it well although it was crazy. I have quite a bit of pre-load and think that does change the oversteer characterists of the truck. When it was cranked dwn it was alot softer. I can however understand that's its sketchy and takes getting used to and not the best option for some! Be safe man!

 

Removing the sway bar as a diagnosis step is fine.

Whether it otta be left off or not is a religious war off topic to the OPs problem.

 

spindle hitting coil maybe?

 

have had run this set-up my thoughts are:

the upper arm is hitting the coil on droop because you mentioned noise happens on its way down
characteristics of running no bushings/rubber between the shock mounts and vehicle
loose suspension components
sway bar bushings

 

Having run a spacer lift for the past year and a half which I did not install myself I am not sure what my exact numbers are. When jacking the truck up I do not get a ton of droop. If you are leaning toward the coils being cranked too high I only cranked them a 1/2" driver and 3/4" pass.

Yanked the sway bar a while back thanks to your advice I really didn't notice much and now that the Fox coils are installed it really stiffened her up. I call BS on the safety issue of it...just my $.02

Maybe but I cannot find any markings, scuffs, or scratches on either the coil or the UCA

This was my first thought... it is tight but I can stick my hand down alongside the coil and the UCA at full droop. It really does sound like a bad ball joint or almost like the top mount of the coil is sliding around in the bracket but I have triple checked everything is tight.

 

Id had this problem after my 5100's install. And it was the swaybar. The nuts have to tightened using an allen key to prevent it from turning. Get under truck, grab sway bar and shake. If you hear it pop or it moves then theres your answer.

 

Don't have the sway anymore...

 

Doesn't really matter what you've cranked them to, right? If there's very little droop left, you might be topping out over speed bumps.

And you can measure from the center of the hub to the bottom of the front fender, as a point of comparison against other lifted tacomas, even if you can't compare to your own old original "stock" measurement.

Since you bought a fox factory coilover assembly, that tends to rule out improper reassembly of the shock and spring as would be a possibility if you were running bilsteins and eibachs, or some other shock/spring set you assembled yourself.

I'm afraid I'm out of smart or stupid things to suggest. Good luck.

 

Ya, what are your measurements? In your pics they don't look to cranked up??