i started noticing a clanking noise from the drivers rear end, i got under it and noticed (please forgive me as i do not know the correct terms) that the bolt that connects the upper track arm bar to the frame, was missing and knocking on the fuel tank, i went straight to lowes and picked up a grade 8 nut bolt and lock washer, i tightend it up and, it quit making noise, then i started articulating the truck and the noise is back, have any of you had any of these problems? should i replace all of the hardware? any advice is appreciated.

 

My uppers/lowers (not sure which) make considerable noise when flexing. It could be a bushing problem. I have been thinking about just lubing them some day. It might help.

 

i guess after ten years the bushings could be bad, i did'nt even think about that, i guess its time for urethane.

 

does anyone know where i can get, some after market urethane bushings for a 96 4runner, primarily for the rear? i have looked at 4wheelparts but no luck, and has anyone ever experimented with heim joints in the rear?

 

I dont think there are any replacement bushings for the rear links... I'm not sure on it, just haven't heard of any before. You might have to buy from Toyota, and even that might be hard... The bushings look as if they are pre-inserted there from the manufacturer.

I believe heims are more towards a dedicated offroad rig, i've heard that they are a little "problematic" for a daily driver. Once again, I have had no experience with them. I am just regurgatating information

 

ok i have isolated the noise down to the pan hard bar, where it is mounted to the frame on the upper right hand side, i believe the bushing is old and shrivled and allowing the bar to shimmy back and forth, does anyone know where i can find a new bushing and wether it needs to be pressed in?

 

Did you try tightening the nut?

 

yeah it seems to be as tight as i can get it, i had a buddy shake the truck side to side and it started making the noise, i can feel the bolt moving when it makes the sound, so i know its that, i just think its the bushing thats old and shrivled up and not insulating the contacts. i will try to get some pics tonight after i get off of work. thanks

 

I thought I read about this pretty recently and the consensus was you could not get new bushings for the panhard.

 

I had the same problem with my panhard bar, I just smashed some weather stripping inbetween the bushing an where it connects. Noise free for 2 months. *knock on wood*

 

does anyone know if the sonoran steel drop pan hard bar comes with new bushings? i will probably just go that route if they are new bushings

 

this is the bar i am asking about:

 

when I installed that bar, that's when I got the clunk in the back. My original bar was clunk free.

I think the bushings are used, because he has to detach the ends off of old panhard bars to make the new ones. I think...

 

was the bushing broken on yours? i am not sure what is acctually wrong with it because i have not taken it off. where exactly did you have to put the wheather stripping? thanks

 

i'll get a picture and post what i did for you tomorrow. But, i have to warn you that it's a cheap and dirty solution, but it works.. lol.

edit.. the bushing wasn't broken it just didn't fit snuggly in the mount. The millimeter of play made a big clunk on lateral movement.

 

thanks, i think that is all that is wrong with mine. i appreciate your time. i will do this as a quick fix to save my sanity, untill i can find a perminate solution.

 

Sorry the pics are crappy it was raining and these are from a camera phone... I just jammed the stripping in there to make sure there wasn't any metal to metal contact and the clunks went away. hope it works for you.

 

Sorry to bring back an old topic but I'm having this issue for some time now and am wondering how the "weather stripping" is holding up. And if it is - did you pull the bolt to push the stripping in or just jam the stripping in with the bolt in place? Your pix above are now red x's.

Thanks
John