Hey, what's shakin'?

"BJ" (benjamin-bignell) 06/20/2018 at 17:30 • Filed to: Shake shake shake your body

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Oppo, I need your help diagnosing a rattle on my 2005 Toyota 4Runner V8. [UPDATE INSIDE!!!]

Here is the situation:

- metal on metal rattle/clanging over bumps, even small ones, from about 10-15 km/h

- based on the sound, it’s a heavier metal piece, not some lightweight tin or aluminum

- based on the sound, it’s not the hood or another large panel

- sounds like it’s from the front half of the vehicle, and seems to be more obvious when the front wheels hit a bump

- only audible from the outside, or with the windows down, but not at all present in the cabin with the windows up

- no clunking or other suspension noise, it was present before the suspension was replaced this spring; the noise did not get better or worse

- doesn’t change based on how much dirt/rocks are in the skid plates; they’re clean now and the noise persists

I checked everything I could think to check. All the exhaust heat shields I can find appear to be rock solid (I fixed one loose spot), the skid plates are bolted on tight and I can’t get any noise or movement out of them manually.

The only loose part I can find is one corner of the plastic radiator grille, and when I shake it manually (hard) it makes hardly any sound at all. I secured it with some rubber bands so it barely moves - no change in the noise...

I guess the next step would be to drop all the skid plates and get up on a lift? I’ll make a video later when I take the truck out.

Any help/ideas would be appreciated!

——

Update: I’m glad I took the truck to a shop before my road trip. It’s the brakes! The front pads are loose because the retaining clips are toast. The pads are rattling around, and badly worn, so I’m getting new gear put in.

Which reminds me that I posted this some time ago...

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > BJ 06/17/2018 at 11:13

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LaTundra got 400 lb-ft of twerk

What exactly in the suspension was replaced?

sony1492 > BJ 06/17/2018 at 11:17

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Sounds like a sway bar endlinks or bushing.

HammerheadFistpunch > sony1492 06/17/2018 at 11:20

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My thoughts exactly.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > BJ 06/17/2018 at 11:23

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I know you said you’d done the suspension, but my first thought was sway bar links and bushings. I had a very similar noise which ended being the anti-roll bar/ sway bar links. The drivers side link was loose in its mounting and it would cause a seemingly random, metal and metal sound.

Barring that, anything that is clanging against the frame will sound really bad and be hard to track down.

HammerheadFistpunch > BJ 06/17/2018 at 11:34

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Im with the others here, check your end links.

BJ > HammerheadFistpunch 06/17/2018 at 12:02

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I tugged on them both and didn’t feel anything loose, but I will take a closer look. Thanks.

BJ > sony1492 06/17/2018 at 12:02

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I tugged on them both and didn’t feel anything loose, but I will take a closer look. Thanks.

sony1492 > BJ 06/17/2018 at 12:07

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If that’s not it and you’ve ruled out balljoints(namely inner/outer tie rods) Than look closely at you front differential for bad bushings or spots of wear.

BJ > sony1492 06/17/2018 at 13:51

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The outer tie rod ends withstand a manual wiggle test (with the suspension loaded). I’ll put the truck up and retest these with the sway bar links.

BJ > sony1492 06/17/2018 at 13:54

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Also:

Michael > BJ 06/17/2018 at 15:43

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Roof rack cross bars tight?

BJ > Michael 06/17/2018 at 16:26

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I think so, yes, but I will double check!

BJ > sony1492 06/17/2018 at 16:31

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Shitty video of the rattle (sorry for the wind noise):

BJ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/17/2018 at 16:32

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Front struts and springs, lower control arm bushings, rear shocks and springs. No other suspension or steering components needed attention according to the mechanic.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > BJ 06/17/2018 at 18:36

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I think other suspension or steering components needed attention. What you’re describing sounds just like a suspension issue.

Check your sway bar mounts.

BJ > HammerheadFistpunch 06/17/2018 at 19:59

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Did you see the video I posted in reply to sony? I double-checked the links (with the truck still on the ground) and neither showed any looseness. The links did rotate a lot (the boots looked a bit torn/worn) but nothing that would indicate a rattle.

BJ > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 06/17/2018 at 20:01

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I’ve checked the sway bar links (see my other replies) and the tie rod ends, they seem solid, but maybe I’m not wiggling them the right way. Ball joints should be good, they were checked by the garage when the suspension was installed. I’m either missing something critical, or it’s hidden deeper inside the truck than what I’m able to see.

BJ > Michael 06/17/2018 at 20:01

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They’re tight. The sound is definitely coming from underneath.

HammerheadFistpunch > BJ 06/17/2018 at 20:14

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Is the loading and unloading where they rattle. Not saying it’s them for sure, but checking them under load is tough. Easiest to unbolt one link so you can test it without being in tension. Plus then you can feel for notchiness which means rust.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > BJ 06/20/2018 at 17:41

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Boop! Good catch! I also had this on my Discovery, except it was the actual caliper rattling around. The bottom retaining bolt fell out and so it was hinging on the top one. I finally put 2 and 2 together when I realized the noise went away when I stepped on the brakes. O_O

It was OK though, I was only 200 miles from the nearest road....

RPM esq. > BJ 06/20/2018 at 17:44

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Mine (same year, same engine) has a similar rattle and clank over bumps. It’s something in the steering gear, I think. Your post is reminding me to take it into the shop.

HammerheadFistpunch > BJ 06/20/2018 at 17:45

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good deal. Im finding out that the brakes on the J120 (front) can be a bt problematic. New pads and rotors in a year on my GX and I think the front caliper is still locking up.

vicali > BJ 06/20/2018 at 17:48

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There, all fixed, now what’s next?

Nibby > BJ 06/20/2018 at 20:02

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refill blinker fluid

BJ > vicali 06/20/2018 at 20:46

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Stop it! I still need to do the rear brakes (and I’ll do all 4 discs at the same time). But I’ll do it myself, and save some money.

Ok ok ok, I want a hidden winch mount w/winch of course, and bigger tires, and the speakers need replacing which means I should just get a new head unit at the same time, and then I need to do some rustproofing and relocate the CB and then...

Or, if I save my roubles I can get myself an LR3 or LR4 project in a year or two... or another toy... or just burn it all on skateboards and beer... or send the kids to private school.

Choices, man... it ain’t easy!

BJ > Nibby 06/20/2018 at 21:01

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I topped off all the liquids just to be on the safe side!

Long-Voyager > BJ 06/21/2018 at 06:52

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That gif always takes my mind straight to this: