Clunking noise up front when hitting bump?

Hey, I've noticed a clunking noise somewhere up front when I hit a bump sometimes. Doesn't seems to matter whether i hit a pothole on the driver's or passenger side, haven't found a scenario that will replicate the sound every time, seems to be fairly random. Not the same sound as the brake pads, and it's usually when I'm coasting or maintaining speed rather than on the brakes. I know it's kind of vague, anyone have any ideas on where to start? I have an '11 TRD OR DCSB with 97k on it. Doesn't appear to have been wheeled in the past, stock suspension. Thanks guys!

 

U say its not the brakes, and then u say its when ur coasting or maintaining speed.....

So if u drag the brakes and it stops.... its the brakes right?
Ive had it for years...

 

Theres a tsb or recall grease and springs iirc.

I run ebc stage 5 kit so not sure if the springs will help me.

 

I mean it’s not the sound from the pads seating. Typically my pads clunk the dirt time I hit them after I start moving, then don’t make any more noise. I’m saying this noise is only sometimes when I hit a bump, not from engaging the brakes. Dunno if that clears it up at all.

 

Check your swaybar endlinks, especially where they attach to the spindle. They may look tight but one turn loose and they start bumping around.

 

Not rlly to me..

The shifting of the pads from forward to reverse and such is 1 thing.

But if your driving along and hit bumps, potholes, and such with ur foot off the brake and u get a rattle sound.... then go across the same road slightly dragging your brakes and staying on the gas (small distance), then its..... the brake pads.

They dont need to engage to slap around.

 

Lmao, this too.... i thought my swaybar was hitting my coils.... the bolts were tight, so i took it off... sound persisted. Rode my brakes.... sound was gone.

Never put swaybar back on, rides much smoother.

Brake pads still clank over rough bumps and potholes.

 

When i have new pads, it doesnt happen.... few thousand miles and it reappears.


Have u done any work to the suspension recently?

 

Might have a rock stuck somewhere. I had a 4Runner that ran into that issue after I went wheeling. Would clunk from time to time somewhere by my left tire when I went over bumps and it sounded like something was hitting the frame or other heavy components. Might wanna get under your truck and look in tight spaces from where it’s originating from.

 

Slap the catalytic converter shields around to see if thats a source.

 

When these threads pop up, My money is always on the LCA hardware seizing in the bushings. Slather them with some Lucas Red and Tacky grease.

 

Yeah the swaybar is first goto for me, though I usually run without. This truck has softer coils up front though so I wanted to put it back on. Maybe dust shields? I'm so ocd I'd be under there with it jacked up tugging on everything lol.
Properly jacked up safely of course.

 

If you feel it in the steering wheel it is probably the rag joint in the column.

Look up zip tie fix.

 

Maybe it's time for some front shocks

 

I’ll try finding a bump that produces the sound, then drag the brakes over it.

 

Ok, did some driving over tracks dragging the brakes. Apparently it is the pads. My bad, guess it’s better than having to replace parts.

 

Just glad it wasnt something more involved.

 

check top hat shock bolt/bushing and if your lca cam tabs are flared