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86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

annoying rattle in front end???

Old Apr 7, 2009 | 09:04 AM
  #1  
justgoharder's Avatar
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Unhappy annoying rattle in front end???

'93 4runner 238,XXX miles, 3.0 5 speed. Every time i hit even a small bump in the road i get a horrible rattle in the front end. sounds like it is coming from the drivers side but i could be wrong.

I've got no clue what it is - in the past 12 months i've put new wheel bearings in, replaced the idler arm, the upper and lower ball joints, the tie rod ends. I have looked and looked under the car and can't find anything obviously loose...

the crazy thing is my friend has a '94 automatic that makes the same damn sound.

my car seems to drive totally fine (at least to me me? who knows maybe i'm just used to whatever is wrong)

any ideas???? THANKS!!!
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 09:32 AM
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From: Temecula Valley, CA
do you mean like a metallic rattle and not a thump?
Any have you checked...
...sway bar end links or bushings? front valance loose? loose disc brake shield?
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 02:49 PM
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From: Concord, CA
The same thing has been happening to mine for about the last year ('92, 217k)

redoing the brakes & throwing new halfshafts in next week hopefully, & i'll be poking around to try and figure out what that sound is

if i find anything of interest i'll report back
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 07:59 PM
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From: New Brunswick, Canada
i have it too...i've just deemed it normal lol..
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 08:05 PM
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From: nanaimo British Columbia Canada
my truck made an annoying clunk turning right. today i found out that the sway bar bushings were worn out and the sway bar moved like 3 inches up and down. i tried to take out the sway bar and broke the end link, three bolts that hold the sway bar to the frame. the sound is finally gone yay. +2 on the front valance. my valance rattles when im stopping and driving at very low speeds but that is because i have mudders and its held on by zip ties

Last edited by gary96360; Apr 7, 2009 at 08:09 PM.
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 08:09 PM
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Originally Posted by gary96360
my truck made an annoying clunk turning right. today i found out that the sway bar bushings were worn out and the sway bar moved like 3 inches up and down. i tried to take out the sway bar and broke the end link, three bolts that hold the sway bar to the frame. the sound is finally gone yay.

Mine made a horrible squeaky sound Removed that sucker awhile back.


Check your front end over. Jack up each side and check for excess movement in the wheel bearings. Check the needle bearings aswell. (grab the cv joint and try to move it in and out, and back and forth...
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 08:19 PM
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mines (140k) 87 pickup has the same problem but the truck starts shaking unless i turn the wheel a little.
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 08:24 PM
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Originally Posted by 87TwentyTwoR
mines (140k) 87 pickup has the same problem but the truck starts shaking unless i turn the wheel a little.
Thats a no goood...

My truck is super stable
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 08:26 PM
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From: N. Texas
Mine does the same "rattle" on small bumps. Mine is the half shafts rattling slighly in the hub. You can reach under and grab it with your hand and shake them and duplicate the sound. Everything is tight, so I don't understand why they do this.
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Old Apr 7, 2009 | 08:28 PM
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From: NC
I have that exact random rattle in small bumps and stuff. i thought it might be my front axles clicking but i'm not sure. Theres no valance.... all brake parts are there an tight.... bearings are good... all the bushings seemed good but blah it doesen't do it all the time for me only on thoose old raggedy suberban roads and stuff....
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Old Apr 8, 2009 | 08:03 AM
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It's not the swaybar or swaybar bushings. i installed all new bushing as the end of last summer. checked the break covers they aren't loose. I'll check the valence, but it definitely sounds more like something metal that is rattling...
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Old Apr 8, 2009 | 08:17 AM
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From: San Francisco East Bay
Could it be a loose nut behind the wheel?

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Old Apr 8, 2009 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by scope103
Could it be a loose nut behind the wheel?

any idea on a specific one? I just spent a bunch of time under the car pulling on things and can't find anything that appears to be obviously loose.
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Old Apr 8, 2009 | 08:53 PM
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From: fort mohave AZ
Originally Posted by justgoharder
any idea on a specific one? I just spent a bunch of time under the car pulling on things and can't find anything that appears to be obviously loose.
u serious??? have u checked body parts, maybe your fender bolts or loose, or the hood is out of adjustment u can adjust it with the threaded rubber stops. try simulating the noise by kicking the tire. ive been able to pinpoint alot of noises by doing that. just an idea though
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