Popping clicking sound in front drivers side?

Hey guys I have a 09 tacoma 4x4 trd offroad. Few months ago it started making this loud popping noise when I turn or hit bumps.. at first I thought it was the cv's or maybe front ball joints. I have checked them boots all ok there isnt any signs of leakage or play .. seems to be getting worse. Rattles when driving straight now.. almost sounds like its binding up when turning out of my driveway... in stationary position turning the wheel it wont make the noise so I cant even figure out where its coming from.. it has 3 inch spacer in the front that is the only modification. Any ideas? Im about to buck up and take in to a shop

 

CVs can still go bad if the boot is good

 

Thats what I was thinking.. probably better to replace them both who knows what side is actually making the noise! Damn time vampire!

 

Yea, clicking or popping while turning is a solid sign one of your CVs is going out, although I would confirm that before just replacing them... Im replacing CVs at the moment as well, and everything I have read points to the fact that oem is the only good option, all other aftermarket or rebuilt CVs have a very high rate of failure soon after installing.

 

Are you still running a sway bar? Popping when turning sounds like what I had going on with my sway bar when it was loose. Check the end links

 

Multiple pops or just single?

Thanks to Big O Tires not properly torquing my LCA cam bolts... Yes, all 4, i have a single clunk when the suspension is being torqued off-road, doesn't happen on the road.

Hoping it's just the bushing or cam bolts (which are already likely seized in the arm). Hoping their stupidity didn't wallow out the mount that's welded on the frame.

 

Its 1-2 loud popping sound defiantly metal to metal like a loud crack sound when turning from a stop. Then a nice rattle when driving and hitting small bumps.. haven't taken it off road since this started so who knows how much worse it would be ... guess I better go get a diagnosis!

 

Has anything been done to it lately?

You could get under there and make sure everything is tight... Especially if something was touched recently, double check what they could've not torqued properly.

 

How long ago did you put the spacers in? I had a popping coming from my drivers side front end also and it ended up being the spring was binding up when going over bumps or turning into driveways due to the spring not seating properly after installing my 5100's. I rotated the spring and realigned stock spacer and it went away. Some may say that wasn't the issue but that is all I did and the popping went away.

 

Some easy things you can do to figure out where the noise is coming from:

Just don't crawl under the truck unless it is supported from jack stands, but you should be able to check these safely from the outside of the vehicle without crawling under it supported by just a jack

On the ground, have someone turn the steering wheel left and right and see if there is anything moving/making noises that's not supposed to
Jack the front end up with the tires off the ground and spin the the side that's making the noise
With the front end jacked up with the tires off the ground, have a helper turn the steering wheel again and check for movement/noises
With the front end jacked up grab the tire and and check for play at the with your hands at the 3 - 9 o'clock position and the 6 - 12 o'clock position
Look for loose bolts and torque check everything

 

Fixed it!! Cv on drivers side was binding up and the lower control arm bolt was loose!! Woohoo! Thanks for all your info! Only a matter of time before something else acts up! Seems to be one thing after another with this truck!!

 

Did you recently get an alignment done? This seems to be maddeningly common lately; alignment techs not properly torquing down the bolts after their done and people are experiencing the clunking/popping like what you describe. Glad you got it figured out!

 

I just had the same issue, lca bolts where easily 20 foot pounds or less. My frame was replaced under recall along with LCAs. Makes me wonder what else they forgot tighten.