Bad rattle from front left suspension
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Bad rattle from front left suspension
I installed bj spacers 10k miles ago and also have aisin manual hubs. I've gone through 2 cv axles since the bj spacer install (one prior to that). I've retorqued everything and anything that was loose got thread-lock blue. I put the truck on the lift last week to rotate my tires and all the ball joints looked good.
I could not budge the tire shaking from the 6 and 12 o'clock position but when I try at 3 and 9 o'clock.... I can see the whole steering linkage moving. It's slight but it looks like the steering stabilizer is moving? Oh, and this is with the steering wheel locked.
I've also tried to budge the cv axle on either side and it doesen't move so I think my spindle bearing is good.
My wheels move good and I don't hear any noise unless I go over bumps. So I think that eliminates the wheel bearings.
The noise started soon after the bj spacer install when I got the alignment done which required me to replace the tie rods which were frozen. I used Moog parts (maybe a mistake?). The rattle has gotten much worse and now I can hear it over every bump. It sounds like clunk-clunk.
I've checked the a-arms for worn bushings but I can't see anything there.
I've also beat on everything I could reach with a rubber mallet and nothing seems to move.
I've tried turning the steering wheel while watching my tire and it moves as soon as I turn the steering wheel.
I've thought it could be the steering wheel and I've tried to jerk the wheel left and right but it doesen't seem to cause any additional noise and none when I'm driving straight with no bumps.
The noise is there in 4wd or not with hubs locked or not. Offroad now it seems an almost constant rattle over every bump, even the smallest. Currently I'm planning on taking it to the alignment shop to see what they can tell me. Any other ideas?
I could not budge the tire shaking from the 6 and 12 o'clock position but when I try at 3 and 9 o'clock.... I can see the whole steering linkage moving. It's slight but it looks like the steering stabilizer is moving? Oh, and this is with the steering wheel locked.
I've also tried to budge the cv axle on either side and it doesen't move so I think my spindle bearing is good.
My wheels move good and I don't hear any noise unless I go over bumps. So I think that eliminates the wheel bearings.
The noise started soon after the bj spacer install when I got the alignment done which required me to replace the tie rods which were frozen. I used Moog parts (maybe a mistake?). The rattle has gotten much worse and now I can hear it over every bump. It sounds like clunk-clunk.
I've checked the a-arms for worn bushings but I can't see anything there.
I've also beat on everything I could reach with a rubber mallet and nothing seems to move.
I've tried turning the steering wheel while watching my tire and it moves as soon as I turn the steering wheel.
I've thought it could be the steering wheel and I've tried to jerk the wheel left and right but it doesen't seem to cause any additional noise and none when I'm driving straight with no bumps.
The noise is there in 4wd or not with hubs locked or not. Offroad now it seems an almost constant rattle over every bump, even the smallest. Currently I'm planning on taking it to the alignment shop to see what they can tell me. Any other ideas?
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fthertime666, how would I check to see if it was that bearing?
Here are some pictures of my steering linkages (the one that moves when I shake the front wheels):
head-on view of suspension:
passenger side:
driver's side:
close-up view of driver's side:
When I beat on the blue bar, it rattles. Is it supposed to have daylight at the yellow and red arrows? That seems strange to me...
Here are some pictures of my steering linkages (the one that moves when I shake the front wheels):
head-on view of suspension:
passenger side:
driver's side:
close-up view of driver's side:
When I beat on the blue bar, it rattles. Is it supposed to have daylight at the yellow and red arrows? That seems strange to me...
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Well, I can't say whether or not yours, or mine for that matter, is normal, but here's a pic of the same parts on my truck and they look just like yours...
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its probably your idler arm, the bushings inside have probably worn out and you are hearing it rattle. mine is being torn off to be repaired, the rebuild kit is available from the dealer at a pretty good price. my kit was less than 10$cdn iirc.
hope this helps.
lee
hope this helps.
lee
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Ovrrdrive, I don't think it's the brake pads as I can still hear the noise when I'm braking. Thanks for the picture of your truck, though. It's good to know that it isn't those parts.
Will rebuilding my idler arm be a waste of my time if it isn't the source of the rattle? When I was beating on it with the mallet it sounded a lot like the rattle I hear offroad (and now onroad if I hit even the smallest bump).
Will rebuilding my idler arm be a waste of my time if it isn't the source of the rattle? When I was beating on it with the mallet it sounded a lot like the rattle I hear offroad (and now onroad if I hit even the smallest bump).
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Ovrrdrive, I don't think it's the brake pads as I can still hear the noise when I'm braking. Thanks for the picture of your truck, though. It's good to know that it isn't those parts.
Will rebuilding my idler arm be a waste of my time if it isn't the source of the rattle? When I was beating on it with the mallet it sounded a lot like the rattle I hear offroad (and now onroad if I hit even the smallest bump).
Will rebuilding my idler arm be a waste of my time if it isn't the source of the rattle? When I was beating on it with the mallet it sounded a lot like the rattle I hear offroad (and now onroad if I hit even the smallest bump).
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Do you by chance have a part number on this? I have a strange rattle also, for a decent price may as well try it.
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Well, I got someone to move the steering wheel while I watched the idler arm and I couldn't see any play before movement occured. I'll probably still go ahead with the replacement as it has to be pretty beat up.
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Here's a dumb question. I'm pretty sure the rattle is from the driver's side where the pitman arm is. That rebuild is different from the idler arm rebuild, correct?
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This may sound pretty stupid, but have you checked your shocks? When my '88 was still IFS it would eat lower shock bushings every 6 months or so. The shocks would then rattle around A LOT, and make a ton of noise.
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these are the pt #'s for the rebuild kit i purchased:
90304-31012 dust seal, 1
94184-61400 nut, 1
45497-28010 cap, brkt, 1
90386-19005 bushing, 2
these are for a 93 runner 4x4 v6 auto and should work on most runners and trucks.
lee
90304-31012 dust seal, 1
94184-61400 nut, 1
45497-28010 cap, brkt, 1
90386-19005 bushing, 2
these are for a 93 runner 4x4 v6 auto and should work on most runners and trucks.
lee
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So I found my rattle and he didn't charge me for a thing. The name of the shop is Joe's Alignment in West Ashley (part of Charleston). He does awesome work on suspensions and isn't afraid to work on lifted trucks like most places around here... I've been thoroughly impressed with his work and he even let me get in the bay when he was messing with my suspension to show me the rattle.
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