ADH8796

I have had this popping noise for way to long now and it's time to figure this out. I have a 98 4runner 3.4 L bla bla bla and I know the noise isn't coming from the front or the rear 3rd members because I have had this noise for a while and I just changed my 3rd members and the noise is still there. Usually happens when I put the runner into reverse just one loud pop and that's it. It won't pop again unless I drive forward a little and then put it into reverse again. I don't think it's my U-joints either. Maybe my T-case but I hope not. Any other idea's or things I can do to figure it out other than take it to the shop.

By the way this is a really loud pop which makes me think it's not the U-joints

naksukow

Engine mount?

bflooks

ujoint?

ADH8796

Good suggestion but it's coming from under the car near the T-case/drivshaft/rear axle ext.

TStango

I'm getting a similiar noise with mine. See if there is slop in the bushing where your track bar mounts to the rear axle. Next time you get a chance, crouch down next to the driverside rear corner and push the corner of the truck back and forth laterally while looking at that bushing. The bushing/ bolt on mine has some play in it and I'm wondering if yours does too. Another theory I had was that the control arm bushings were not greased enough when I put it all back together after my elocker axle swap and I see that you did an elocker swap too.
Mine produces the popping noise if it the gas really hard from a stop, come to an abrupt stop, or if I corner hard at a low speed. Also while offroading, it pops often.

ADH8796

your problem and mine are identical when I offroad, gas it really hard from a stop or come to an abrupt stop, or turn a corner at low speed I'll check that bushing out when I get home and see what I think.

ADH8796

Mine doesn't really move at least not much I really don't think that's it. At least no on my rig.

TStango

Alright, cool. Thanks for checking that. I was about 95% sure that wasn't it but I just wanted to rule it out because it is always in the back of my mind as a possible contributing factor.
Ok so, back to the control arm bushings. Here's what my experience has been so far. Shortly after I did the axle swap, the bolt and nut from the driver side upper link where it attaches to the axle disappeared. It must have loosened and fell off on the road. I replaced it with a new Toyota nut and bolt and tightened the ˟˟˟˟˟ out of it. That's when the popping began. I pulled out onto a main road and as I hit the gas and turned, there it was.
A month or so later I removed that bolt and greased where it slides into the bushing. I didn't tighten it as much this time and the noise seemed to have gone away. Now it's back but it rarely happens.
So I think it may be a possibility that you have a similiar problem with one of your bushings where maybe a bolt is too tight and thinks are binding up.

Maybe someone with a service manual can chime in with the torque specs on all those bolts. It might be one of those things where they aren't supposed to be really tight and locktight should be used on the nuts.

ADH8796

Yeah I just don't know I had the loud popping noise before the Rear axle swap and now it's still there after the swap. I'm about fed up with it. I might take it to the shop as much as I don't want to but keep me posted on weather greasing the controll arm bushings does anything for you.

ADH8796

Just a little update on this for anyone who is having a similar problem. Last night I put my new OME 891 coils in and when I was playing around with the rear axle I took one of the lower controll arms off and found out that was were my noise was coming from the bushing was shot. And my trac bar was a little loos so that may have been part of it.

TStango

Did you end up buying any new bushings? If so about how much did they cost?