I was going to the grocery store just now and my suspension (i suspect) on the front left side, IFS, makes a kinda.. knocking sound when i hit some bumps in the road. It sounds like something is loose or some kind of joint is worn and knocking around metal to metal on something. Its like someone is down there with a small sledge hitting something. Its just a dull thump kinda noise.

Anyone got any suggestions? I didn't jack up the front end to see if the tire is loose or something is obviously loose. I'm trying that tomorrow. Anyone got any suggestions?

 

Failed or broken shock maybe.

 

Thanks paul,
is there a way to check the shock to see if its failed?

 

yea i hade the same prob it was the shock. i grabed it and shook it and the bushing wasent there .

 

I'm guessing inner spindle bushings. When mine wore out, the cv would rattle inside the spindle. You can grab your cv and give 'er a good shaking. If it has a lot of play, the spindle bushings are worn out.

 

mine does that too recently, I know completely different year, but thanks for idea of shock... haven't had time to go down under, but i will check that when i do

 

I know what the Spindle bushing sounds like. Thats more of a grinding/rubbing sound. This is nothing like that. I thought it sounded like a bushing or some kind of moving joint that had worn out and was letting metal thump metal. I'll check the shock tomorrow.

Oh yeah and the spindle bushing makes noise because its dry. It needs to be lubed if it's making noise.

 

My worn bushing never made a grinding sound. Just obnoxious rattling.

 

I'm not totally sure what bushing or bearings you guys are talking about, but what about the turning bump stop that a lot of yotas have a problem with? Mine makes a grinding noise when I'm fullly turned and the suspension is moved by a bump in the road.

 

Smear some grease on those steering stops (4 of 'em) and they won't make a peep for a few months.

 

grease helped but it allways makes noise for me so dose my buddys 87 but not nearly as bad as mine

 

Mine (88) makes all those noises and then some. I've notice a couple of the castelated nuts are no longer tight enough to prevent movement. I'm leavin' it like that , afraid to screw-up the wheel alighnment I struggle to maintain. An' I po.

 

Is it sort of intermittent jangling, or more of a thudding? Does it SOUND like coming from the running board even though there is not really a way that it could be? Can you feel it inside or only hear it? I have lots of ideas what it could be.

 

No it sounds like its coming from the suspension, front left side. Can mostly just hear it, a thunk kinda noise. like a metal on metal thump. It happens when the front left tire hits a bump, or small dent in the road.

 

My 95 is doing the same thing on passenger side. The CV has a little side to side play(maybe 1/8" or so). But the bumping sounds like something is extremely loose. Sounds like a shock bump but they are tight. Gotta figure out what it is soon. Gonna try again tomorrow.

 

Allen do you have automatic hubs on your vehicle or do you have the manual hubs? If your CV has play in it, and your hubs are locked (or automatic) and it makes a rubbing rattling kinda noise that occurs for 1 to 20 seconds or more at a time, thats a spindle bushing problem, just to help you out some.

 

I had a noise once that took me forever to find. It was the bolt at the base on the front shock had actually worn an oval shape out of the bolt hole and was jingling around inside the oval. Weird stuff these machines.

 

I do have automatic hubs and I checked again today, I can rattle the inner cv joint side to side(maybe 1/8 to 1/4" of play) thats the only thing on the entire front suspension that I can move. Thing is whatever is bumping is just bumping(like a loose shock or busted bushing). No rubbing or grinding. No more in 4wheel drive than in 2wheel drive. Gonna take the tires off tomorrow and look some more. Next question: should I change the CV or wait until it gets worse. Thanks__Allen

 

Spent a little time under the 4runner trying to figure out what is bumping (and what I am doing) under there. Everything is tighter under there than I have seen on a car. Its kinda scary. I can't get anything to rattle or even move but the one cv that I was talking about earlier. The movement is not in the cv itself. The entire cv will move side to side(or up/down) inside whatever it is in the diff. I assume that this is a bushing or bearing of some sort. I am an oldtime Jeep dog(don't hold that againt me) and straight axles are all I know so what's up with this thing?

 

sounds like you need to drop the diff assembly and pull the shaft out. Their is a bearing in their that has a snap ring. Sounds like one or both of these has failed. I believe it is a sealed bearing pressed on to the shaft.