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Seen a lot of discussion about this but I doesnt seem to fit the bill for my scenario.
I have a 95 4Runner with 250,000 miles and on rough roads such as washboard dirt roads or potholes at low speeds (under 30 mph) I can hear a rattling sound that seems to come from the left and right front wheels.
My initial though was ball joints or CV axles and since noticig this I have now replaced rhe following
Idler arm
Inner and outter tie rod ends both sides
ball joints upper and lower both sides
cv axle both sides
sway bar links both sides
Shocks both sides
I have looked at the lower control arm bushings and they seem fine and there is no motion front to back in them. Additionally with the front suspended I have slight play in the wheel at 12 and 6 position. Pulled the wheel and still felt it in the rotor. My guess is wheel bearings but would they really make a clunking and rattling noise? They occassionally make a grinding noise when turning but not every time.
Could be the steering knuckle bushings. The ends of the axles slapping around in the bushings as you hit rough roads. Does it do it in 4 wheel drive? I use to get a noise from mine then eventually went the needle bearing route and have not heard a peep out of them since.
cheers
you aren't likely to hear a rattle from the wheel bearings. the play still needs to be addressed though.
One thing to check is your catalytic converter, I have seen people confuse where the sound is coming from. when your truck is cold try banging on it with your fist or a rubber mallet and see if it rattles.
you could also check your motor mounts but that is also not a likelihood. Without being there are using my assometer I can only say it sounds like you eliminated a ton of possibilities.
Try hitting the bumps while you are litely riding the brakes and see if it changes or goes away, try 4x4 and 2wd.
Maybe check your body mounts?
Ok I drove around, noise is still there when brakes are applied however when I shift into 4wd it goes away. What could that be?
Originally Posted by Andy A
Could be the steering knuckle bushings. The ends of the axles slapping around in the bushings as you hit rough roads. Does it do it in 4 wheel drive? I use to get a noise from mine then eventually went the needle bearing route and have not heard a peep out of them sense.
cheers
What Andy is referring to is the spindle bushings, and that could be your rattle. grab the outer end of the cv on the back side of the steering knuckle and see if you can move it up and down.
If you don't find anything else to point your finger at check out the needle bearings he is referring to.
Ok, CV moves up and down, just a hair but enough to make an annoying noise even with my hand. so forgive my ignorance but what is the spindle bushing?
The spindle bushings are surprise... bushings inside the spindle. the spindle is what your front wheel bearings ride on and it is attached to the steering knuckle with the CV shaft running through it. So the spindle bushings support the outer end of your CV shaft
These should be what your stock ones look like. Small one is the outer & large one is the inner. If using needle bearing (not pictured) a shorter inner bushing (not pictured) is used and is the part # listed in above post. https://www.toyotaparts.metro-toyota...T-DL94-001.pdf
ok, I replaced the wheel bearings and the spindle bushing. Prior to this there was also a rotating grinding noise i suspected was the wheel bearing and initially after the wheel bearing job this went away but now 20miles or so later it’s back! No play in front wheels (unless i putt all my weight into moving it) and this noise onky happens between 10-20mph and only from right side (seems to get better in 4WD) the CV look fine and only noise from them is a squeek from the rubber boot when rotating it while jacked up.
Apr 4, 2018 | 03:52 PM
