New Member/Popping End Links

Hello all,
I recently found myself behind the wheel of a 98 SR5 Tacoma. For years I had my baby, a minty 95 pickup that was recently totaled by an old man;( so I guess you could say I'm new to the "Tacoma World." The truck is pretty solid so far although she has her quirks. It definitely has its fair share of cosmetic character due to the chassis having 350k! The PO supposedly swapped a "lower mile" 3rz into the truck after blowing the original. When purchased, the truck had no power steering (still doesn't), a snapped sway bar end link, and overall tired blown out suspension. It had come with a Rough Country 6" with the IFS drop and all the other supporting modifications that would come in the kit. When replacing the suspension I decided to get rough country's 6" strut to replace the oem strut and spacer combo and replaced both the end links at the same time. I also got the 6" to match in the rear. I did the basic oil change, air filter, spark plug and wire tune up and she runs pretty solid! Still has some vacuum leaks which cause a rough/high idle due to the homemade intake from the PO. I'm convinced once I can get everything sealed she'll be running like a top.

Due to coming from the noisy, tappity, 22re, the 3rz runs much quieter and smoother as well as it has a few more hp. Due to this though, I feel every noise I hear coming from the engine/valvetrain is bad and something detrimental is happening to the motor. What's your guys' experience with this? Do your 3rz make their fair share of noises? I would say it's mainly just valve noise under load but wanting some input before I rip the valve cover off the check clearances.

Also after replacing my end links, I've noticed a distinct "popping" sound coming from the front end. Happens when accelerating, braking and turning. I've isolated the end links because I can feel and see it "pop" when compressing and decompressing the front suspension by hand. I've tightened them to spec, overtightened, and under tightened but can't seem to figure it out. Have you guys had experience with this? Could they just be too loose/tight?


Thank you all

 

I've replaced the end links on my truck a few times. Both left and right ones. I've also experimented with Energy Suspension's hard-as-a-rock polysum'thin-or another and also the Toyota stock cushions. The links have always broken where the threads stop. Never found the cause, but I'm sure it happens while off-road in some pretty gnarly situations. I've also torqued them to spec and tried both over- and under-torquing.

I've driven on some pretty tough roads in southwest Utah and north-central Nevada for example, the "road" (4-Mile east from White Pine 37) that dead-ends at a trail leading to Mt. Moriah and the "road" (HT59469 from White Pine 37 east to NF581) that connects Spring Valley to Gandy, Utah, to name a few.

Results? I've resolved myself to the fact that they are poorly designed and not strong enough for real off-road use, and I just replace them when they break, which doesn't happen now that I've gotten my fill of those roads and don't take my truck on them anymore.