Problem resolved: steering clunk. (not from loose steering shaft)

I've had this intermittent steering clunk that occurs under the front end of the truck only while driving. It does not happen while parked. When driving under speeds of 20, turning sharply through areas like a parking lot, there is a single clunk or knocking sound. It occurs when I turn the steering wheel 3/4 revolution left and then turn the steering wheel right slightly PAST center (straight wheel). As the wheel turns slightly past center the knock happens.

Steering rack bushings have just been replaced. Outer tie rods and ball joints have been inspected. Inner tie rods will be inspected soon. Are there any other areas I should be checking? I'll try to get some kind of bad quality recording up soon, lol.

PROBLEM RESOLVED:
Mechanic said i should replace my sway bar bushings and lower passenger ball joint. only the sway bar bushings were available at the time. They were replaced and now my clunk is gone. Pictures and part number for bushings in attachments

 

I believe I had this same exact problem. An alignment made the sound go away afterwards.

 

Can you duplicate the problem by jacking front of truck up with both wheels off ground? Your uca's good? Have you checked motor mounts? Does it happen in reverse also?

 

Heres a stupid question, can I use the front skid plate as a mounting point for my jack? Ill have to look into reverse and motor mounts. What am I looking af for the ucas? The bushings or joint?

 

You can use the stock skid. It could also be steering rack bushings or tie rods

 

good luck ive been battling the same thing for a few months.. a good radio solves the problem

 

Bushings were just replaced. Outer tie rods are still in good shape. Have to check inner ones

 

Here's a quick video. Clunk is near the end. Try to ignore keys rattling.

*edit* this road surface is uneven, but it clunks on even roads as well. Also it does NOT happen in reverse.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcOFm3wjjKs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

Update. I lifted up the front end and turned the steering wheel. No clunk. I also tried jiggling the tires in pretty much every direction. No play, no wobble, no jiggle.

I included some pictures in case something really is wrong and I'm just not seeing it. UCA bushings seem okay. I also turn the tires theres a grinding sounds. Bad bearings? Can bad bearings cause a clunk?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QQfy9W2iEI&feature=youtu.be

 

Ill try again when I get a chance. Its a single deep clunk right as the video reaches 8 seconds.

 

I had a clunk when turning hard left sometimes and replaced my LBJ's, inner and outer tie rods and it's completely gone. How many miles are on your truck? Since I replaced them I haven't had it happen once, so I bet that is going on. Visually my suspension looked fine, but at higher miles the LBJ's should really be replaced to avoid any issues and the ITRE are pretty loose.

 

Theres 101k miles on it. And what do you mean by the ITRE is pretty loose?

 

So the ITRE are a ball in socket that connect to the OTRE. When stock the ball/shaft can stay horizontal when at rest, even with a OTRE attached. This helps keep the steering tight. Over time though it becomes loose as to where the ball/shaft will drop to it's lowest point without any weight and loose. This can cause the steering to create some slop in it, which can cause the clunk or loose steering. It can also effect vibrations while at higher speeds.

101k isn't that much, but the parts are already 10+ years old and do wear out. If you're lifted it does accelerate the wear on them. I have 140k on my 4runner (same suspension up front) and my ITRE were definitely loose and my LBJ's were starting to weep grease.

 

Oh oh. Inner tie rod end. Not used to seeing that abbreviation. Sorry. So your saying my inner tie rod ends look loose? Or just that they can get loose?

 

They can get loose. Only way I know how to tell is by disconnecting the OTRE and feeling how loose it is. I just know that after replacing all of those it cured my clunk, but I don't know what one particularly cured it.

 

with the truck stopped, steer back and forth about 25* quickly, like a sawing motion. If it doesn't clunk every time you change directions it's probably not the tie rods.

And honestly that sounds way worse than a tie rod problem. I'm not sure what else it could be though.

 

Yes! This is what I thought too. I tried that and it DOESNT CLUNK. Im just afraid ill have to replace my whole steering rack and it end up being a big expense.

 

Reminds me of bad ball joint watching that. You checked both properly?. If not ,leaning toward rack.

 

Gotta be honest, I dont really know what im looking for. Im seeing if something just looks out of the ordinary. And there wasnt any jiggling in any direction when i jacked the front end. I still need to look at lower ball joint.

I vaugely remember reading someone talking about the front diff banging against the skid plate. Dont really see how it could but, Ill try to take that off and see if theres a mark tomorrow.

 

I would just change out the lower ball joints for peace of mind (the tire takes out the fender and destroys the CV axle when that fails, I've seen it multiple times on this site alone).

If that's not it, its probably the rack.

Try steering rack end to rack end with the truck stopped a couple times, if the clunk happens doing that in the SAME spot in the stroke (IE around center) then you probably have a broken tooth on the rack bar. I'd try replacing the lower ball joints though, it's super easy.