Clunking/knocking sound driver side not sure what it is!

Hello everyone, this morning as I was backing out of my driveway in 4wd I hit a pile icy snow near my mail box with my driver side front tire. It didn't seem like a big deal, just gave the truck a little gas and went right through it no problems.

I traveled about 15 miles going 65-70mph on the highway to work, no problems. When I got into to town to get to work i noticed this clunking/rattling/knocking sound and it sounded as though it was coming from not really the front driver side wheel well but kinda right up underneath my left foot from underneath the vehicle.

The truck seemed to drive fine, no pulling or vibration in the steering wheel, engine/transmission sound fine. I was wondering if i knocked something loose. I am at work so haven't had a chance to really crawl under but i did give things a good once over and didn't notice anything.

Thoughts????

 

when i driving on smooth roads, i don't hear it but when i hit some bumps i hear it and when I come to a stop i hear it a little. Sounds as though something is loose and swinging around. At first i thought maybe i got a piece/chunk of ice stuck somewhere and it was rattling around. Ran to run a few errands on my lunch hour and the sound is still there

 

Have a look underneath.

 

I will when i get home from work, just feeling pissed if i broke something...

 

Any dash lights on? Feel different on the road? From what you've said, it sounds like some ice got into something and is causing a noise. If it feels fine, it probably is. Tacomas aren't that fragile

 

This might seem 'odd' - but I had a clunk for the longest time....until I discovered my mud flap had split where it meets the body-line. The 'split' would rub on itself causing the clunk (sporadic and unpredictable).

If you grab the mud flap and pull it back and forward slightly.....look at where is comes up against the body, you might see where its split.

Good Luck!

 

Any luck figuring out the problem? I have been having the same clunking under my feet for the past 2 days. The top of the truck is covered in ice but the underside looks relatively clear. I was thinking that driving might melt out the problem. However, today it seemed to be getting progressively worse.

Cheers!

 

X2
That's where my clunking sound was coming from. After I found it, it didn't bother me nearly as much

 

Nope. Mudflaps are secure with no tears. Mainly feel it the worst when going over bumps. I can even feel it when I start the truck.

 

Was it a small snow pile or 6Ft snowbank?? Sorry- my guess would have been the mudflap. Mine snapped while backing up over something shortly after i got the truck. POS things!! Good luck

 

Maybe you got a piece of ice sitting on top if the frame and its hitting the floor. Had that happen with a rock on the driver side of mine it had a clunk/thud just under my feet.

 

That is exactly what it sounds like. A chunk of ice rattling around. Wish I had a garage to thaw it out!

 

No luck finding the problem yet, I will check out the mud flap later. I did look underneath the truck and did not notice anything wrong or broken . We did just have an ice storm up hear and my truck was covered with ice for a few days as is my driveway. And no, no lights on or anything and the truck drives fine.


Setter999, sounds like you are experiencing the same exact thing I am. I can actually feel the clunking near my feet and sometimes when I start the truck?? I hope it is just ice.


Oh and Merry Christmas everyone!!

 

Your truck is a 2012.... and probably still under bumper-to-bumper warranty - so make certain that you get it fixed FREE under warranty. If you can't find the problem....take it to the dealer. They'll probably scoff at it and claim its normal, but at least you'll have made an effort to get it looked at (and get it documented in their system) that you had it looked at (in case it gets worse).

Merry Christmas too you also! Good Luck!

 

Check your warranty ststus with a dealer first like he said.

What troubleshooting measures have you taken? I would start in an empty paorki lot and do a few turns lock to lock to try and rule out a suspension component that has worked itself loose. You said it bumps on start up so maybe check movemet around your motor and trans mounts. Easiest way is to jack up the truck and gently pull on your linkages with a pry bar if somethingis loose you'll see it move.

 

Mine was in the barn for a couple days, unheated and not run. Got in it today at around +1 F and after letting it warm up for a while, mine had the same clunking under it. After an hour or so of driving the noise is gone, and have no idea what caused it.

 

My plan tomorrow is too look at my mud flaps, then underneath the truck and jack up the front end take the driver's side tire off and really take a good look. If I don't find anything I will bring it in to the dealership. My truck still should be under warranty, it only has around 28,500 miles on it. Just hate the thought of wasting time at the dealership.

 

Seeing you hit a snow bank, I bet you have ice hidden somewhere knocking around.

Could try a spray car wash and clean out underneath

 

I took a look today, I couldn't jack up the front end like I wanted to because we got some more snow today, but I had a good look at things. I don't think it's my mudflap, I did remove some ice from around it though. I pulled on some of the suspension components to see if they were loose, they all seemed ok to me.


But I pulled on what I think is a component of the 4wd system (not sure what it's called, see picture attached with arrow) and gave it a shake and it had some play in it and clunked around a little. I checked the same thing on the passenger's side and it had no play in it and did not make a sound at all.


Oh and I really didn't hit a snow bank, I drove through/went over a mound of about 18" of snow near the end of my driveway with the driver's side front wheel as I was reversing out of the driveway in 4wd. I think I will take her into the dealer tomorrow to show them. Any thoughts??

 

I have been noticing a slight clunking/banging noise, not much louder than my exhuast at idle, coming from the front driver side on cold morning starts, usually if I haven't driven the truck in a day or so. No idea what it is, but as soon as the truck starts warming up it goes away.

I'm in FL, so no snow. It's been in the low 40s and 30s here, so I guess ice is possible but yeah...