Amnesiac

I've been having issues with something in or around the suspension in the back end popping. I replaced the sway bar bushings and end links hoping that would fix it, but it didn't. The pop seems to happen when the weight of the 4runner shifts back and forth (when turning), especially when you hit a bump and the axle shifts. I jacked up the 4runner yesterday and everything seemed to be tight, and all the bushings look good.

I am wondering about a couple of things. First thing is U joints, does this sound like it could be a U joint? I know when they're bad, they typically make a noise when changing gears, which mine don't do...

Second thing I'm wondering is the sway bar makes contact with the elocker housing on the axle. About a year ago, I swapped my axle for one with an elocker. Are the sway bars that came with the elocked axles different than the sway bars that came on a regular axle? I'm wondering if when the axle shifts, the sway bar smacks the elocker housing, making the noise.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

BornChaos

You didn't say anything about the rear shocks... but if you did replace the rear shocks, or bushings for rear shocks, make sure everything is tightened down. This is a common problem when the rear shocks aren't tightened down properly at the top. Check your top shock mount bushings and make sure its all tightened down nice and snug. I had this same problem, with the loud popping noise coming from the rear.

The rear shock mounts at the top through a hole in a plate welded to the frame. The top of the shock is a threaded rod that slides through the hole. Therefore, the hole does not exactly fit the size of the threaded rod, so any looseness in the bushing or bolt holding the top of the shock in place allows the shock to wiggle around, and thats the popping you hear when you turn. Its the rod slamming against the sides of the holes. Its a stupid mounting system IMO, but something to check.

Evilmunkey

could be a u-joint, have you greased them lately (should have grease fittings), also check if the slip-yoke to the rear diff is greased properly, but yes I 2nd the checking of the bushings in the rear shocks