Clicking Sound Front End (video)

***Problem was solved
See post #25

Hi Guys,

Please help me identify the issue. I think it comes from passenger side. Refer to the video.
2009 Tacoma






Clicking was before and still present after replacement of the following parts
new:
Upper Control Arms (w/ball joint)
Lower Control Arms (w/bal joint)
Cam Bolts (torqued to 130 ft-lb)
Coilovers
Sway Bar Links
Sway Bar Bushings
Brake Rotors and Pads
Lower Intermediate Steering Shaft
Steering Rack End Cap Slide Bearing (passenger side)

Front Body Mounts (update 11 Apr 2025)

CV axels were serviced, fresh grease, and boots.
Everything was torqued to specs.

Tie rods have not been replaced, but checked and they are solid.
Skid plate is removed on the video.

 

Front cab bushings by the radiator? They fail, they were on shot my 2014, and can cause clunking when the frame flexes. Everyone on here swears by poly but I'd replace with new OEM rubber.

Also, there's a 10mm nut up there in the front of your fender, ties in brackets that hold the front bumper under the headlight, mine were slightly loose.

 

Oh, are your rear leaf springs stock? No poly bushings?

I could have sworn the noise I was chasing down was coming from the front of the truck, but ultimately it was coming from my Dakar leaf springs and more likely the poly bushings.

 

I have the same clicking/popping noise problem going over bumps and breaking traced it back to the front cab mounts and I saw that people are going poly but, I think I would rather do OEM. I have been struggling to find the part numbers for the OEM bushings and was wondering if you know them?

 

No poly on leaf springs. The clicking defenetly from the front.

 

I will check them. Never did before.

 

These are what my front cab bushings look like at 145,000 mi. These are the ones all the way forward by the radiator

 

I finally got the OEM part numbers gonna order them soon at some point but from my local dealer they are $17 a piece online. If you are curious for the bushings part numbers
Upper - 52201-04040 Lower - 52202-04030

 

Thanks for the part numbers.

I checked the cab mounts using pry bar, was able to reach through wheel well, moved the cab up and down a bit, no sound at all. I checked both sides.
Then I was jumping many times on running board, to rock the truck, both sides, no clicking at all.
I am thinking it is related to steering rack.

I am curious if you can record your clicking/popping sound.

 

I recorded more

 

Out camping dont have the truck but I will get a video when I get back I tried the pry bar method and It never worked for me could not get the right angle to pry at it.

 

Got the video. Sorry about the delay. I have the same problem, I tried with a pry bar and a flat head today because I got a little bit of time no luck on the noise. Heres my video of it but you can hear it clearly its super loud and when I have no music its just really apparent.
https://youtube.com/shorts/pXMqK-f9czk?feature=share

 

Thanks for the video.

Just an update. I replaced both front body mounts, they were shot. Got them from Amazon,

$26 Dorman 924-267 Front Body Mount Compatible with Select Toyota Models

Dorman 924-267.
It is still clicking, but seems a bit less.
I am assuming it is either tie rods or steering rack now.
I wil keep you posted.

 

Interesting how it was not the solution. Wonder if when I replace mine it will be the same story hoping not because steering rack and tie rods dont sound like they are fun to change.

 

If you can, tighten the preload on the rack first before changing it, it is difficult on this truck to do, put match marks on both parts with a punch prior to moving it so you know where it was originally.

With the truck off and the driver's window open move the steering wheel side to side with someone else, does the input to the rack move but the tie rods don't?

 

With the truck on a hoist there is no play in the steering column neither steering rack. No clicking if I rotate tires all the way left or right with tires on/off the ground.
I thought about the preload.
I do not see any play in the tie rods when truck on the hoist.
I will continue with the investigation.

 

This sounds too tinny to be anything on the frame or chassis. It sounds like a heat shield or something aluminum. Possibly even exhaust. Maybe check the bolts on the front bumper too. That's made of aluminum, including the crush cans which bolt to the frame.

I could be 100% wrong obviously, just basing this on the audio in the video. But I've also chased a popping sound on mine twice. Once turned out to be the coilover and the other the UCA's. This is a different sound. You aren't getting that resonance through the frame like you would with anything bolted directly to it.

Try tapping a screwdriver on different parts while underneath to see if you can find something that makes the same sound. Might even need someone else to do it while you sit in the cab and listen.

 

Thank you for the advise.
I did check the exhaust before.
I was thinking it's an aluminum sound as well. Didn't think of the bumper, but thought about the radiator.
I will be changing AC condenser next week, will check both.

 

Update I did the cab mounts and replaced them with the OEM bushings and it did not fix the problem. Really thought it was gonna be the fix. Back to the drawing board and now I am thinking like you said steering rack or tie rods.

 

It is good to check for loose parts on a lift. But the amount of play in the steering rack gear needs to be checked on the ground with the car off and the wheel strait(where the most wear on the gear is). About 1 inch of steering wheel side to side is normal.