New Tacoma. Weird front end clunk. Only happens on cold start while recovering from full lock turn.

I just switched from a 2010 Tundra with 220k miles to a 22 Tundra SR and it’s awesome. Drives like a dream.

I picked this up about 3 days and 2,000 miles ago, so i think it’s broken in by now. The entire time, it has has this strange clunk. After a cold start, if I make a full lock turn, there’s an audible front end clunk while recovering from the turn (starting to turn the steering wheel back straight). It only happens once, and after that initial clunk, I can’t reproduce it unless I stop the vehicle for a few minutes and fire it up again.

Any ideas what this might be? I already tried to tighten the front end bolts (except the ones with cotter pins — ball joints and tie rod ends). None of them would budge. Granted I only used a hand wrench, but that shows nothing is grossly under torqued at least.

Oh, here’s the new rig. Sold the Tundra and converted camper for the Taco. Gas mileage is a LOT better.

 

Throw some grease on the steering bump stops first. If you are turning at full lock and there is any suspension movement at the same time you can get a clunk.

One reason I never make full lock turns. I go to full lock and then back it off a hair.

 

I think I figured out what it was. It might be the ABS system self testing whenever I reach 5 mph. I only hear it when turning though because that’s when my foot is off the gas, otherwise engine noise masks it. I started listening for it when accelerating without turning and indeed it is still there.
I’ll make another post to see if everyone else’s tacomas do this.