I've noticed that when rocking the rear tire side to side to side there was a sound as if something was hitting something else, and a 'rubber' sound.

Turned out it was coming from the panhard mount on the rear axle side. The bolt that goes through the center (see picture) is slightly smaller, so rocking it side to side made the bolt wobble inside.

Now the question is: is this normal?

If no, does the bolt have to be tight enough (lb/ft?) so that the bracket where the panhard rod rests holds does not allow the metal piece that is around the bolt not more at all?

 

The bolt should just slide into the sleeve so it doesnt rattle around. The bolt is either worn or the sleeve. Those parts should be replaceable.

 

Zedex is right.
When you replace it make sure to add a little bearing grease to keep it moving freely.

 

The bolt is replaceable, but the sleeve isn't. I've looked real close at both parts and they are not worn at all. They can't be in 1999 that has mostly seen highway.

I've tightened the bolt enough so that the sleeve does not move now and it feels as it should. The concern I have is the twisting motion. Is the rubber piece supposed to take the twisting? It seems like it would be no more than 5 degrees in the worst scenario.

 

Ive never actually looked at a runner panhard bar but. If you tighten it so the sleeve is tight in the metal brackets. The up/down movement of the panhard bar will tear away the sleeve that is encased in rubber.The sleeve is supposed to pivot around the stationary bolt. By the way. A 99 is 5 years old last time i checked. Every bump you take the panhard is moving a tiny bit. The bigger the bump, the more the suspension moves, the more the panhard moves.Magnify that by 5 years and you have wear.

 

But they are definitly not worn. I had both parts about 6" away from my eyes. Anybody have the exact factory specs?

The reason I'm asking all of this is I put in airbags about a month ago, where the panhard had to be disconnected. It wasn't loose before I messed with it, and it was ok after I assembled everything. I didn't pay attention much attention to how it was before or after, as it was just a bolt, but only as of few days ago it started to wobble and I’m trying to figure out what the real cause is.

 

Where are all the gurus with 5 millions posts?

 

LOL

I have 95 runner. I've taken that thing apart many times now. Each time I just tighten it down real good. Never had a problem.

 

Don't really know what you've got going on back there, but the sleeve is supposed to rotate on the bolt. Torque spec is 64 ft-lbs for both panhard nuts according to the FSM.

After 68K miles and two years of airbags inside the coils, my panhard ends have no play. This is such a low wear item I expect to never have play. Had 190K miles on my 87 and every suspension rubber was still tight.

 

Measured the bolt and it's 10.8mm and the inside diameter of the sleeve is 12.6mm.

Unhappy, I must of not had it tight enough after putting the bags in, and not even enough when I thought I locked the sleeve to the bracket.

With the right torque of 64lb-ft there is no play, and if it's official then the sleeve must be moving