Sound like Ball Joint or CV axle?

[Skrillah]

Hey guys,

I'm having a real hard time diagnosing a terribly annoying rattle. Its not just a rattle though, its something wrong in the front end somewhere. The sound can only be heard when you're driving and sounds like a big half-dollar coin in a coffee can. It comes from only the driver side.

I've taken off the front bumper, grill, skid plates, disconnected the sway bar (well actually broke it off cause of rusty bolts..ugh), and I just can't figure it out. I've check all bolts and other connections but can't figure it out.

I've come down to thinking its the CV axle or the lower ball joint. Last fall I had the axles replaced by a reputable shop with brand new ones from Autozone. I didn't want to screw with the rusted bolts and crap so I paid them to deal with it. I'm wondering if a there was a missing snap ring or something like that if it'd cause this problem?

The only reason I think it might be the balljoint is because the boot on the joint is torn but I checked the wheels and there is very,very little play if any. So...I'm not sure.

I'm leaning towards the axle but...I don't know. I would love suggestions or help you guys might have. Now that I'm able to roll the windows down with the nicer weather...I just can't handle the sound any more!!!

Thanks guys!

[Lee]

sounds a lot like a cv to me... dont drive on a busted cv though... pull everything out and check it.

[Skrillah]

I've been driving on it since well I guess Fall'07 sometime, the CV itself looks fine though, its just the inner spindle I'm not sure about. It doesn't exactly feel loose or look damaged, nor does it click or anything like that. Something just seems to rattle around.

I apologize if this question is kind of noobie oriented but I'm about to throw up over this thing, I'm so sick of it!

[Seanz0rz]

check to see if you have bushings on both sides of the top plate for the strut assembly. i was missing lower bushings inside the coils and i got a sound like that.

[Skrillah]

check to see if you have bushings on both sides of the top plate for the strut assembly. i was missing lower bushings inside the coils and i got a sound like that.


Interesting...I'll check into that...I should mention around the time I had the sound develop. I installed 1 inch spacers up front too, but I did the work on that myself...I don't think I left anything out but maybe that bushing...

[MTL_4runner]

I assume no oil is dripping out because sometimes the CV axles can pop out of the diff if they were too short and may cause a rattle. If you can figure out which side it is coming from then I use a rubber mallet to simulate road vibration and you can sometimes tell where the issue lies. Same thing with the ball joint, bear hug the tire and try to move it in the yaw (see below pic for how to rotate tire) direction......however I will say ball joints usually sound most prominently while turning.

http://www.tpub.com/content/construction/14273/img/14273_306_2.jpg

[Lee]

i doubt its the cv then :laugh: if you were able to drive this long then it pretty much cant be bc youd either have lost your diff fluid or it wouldve exploded on ya.

strut bushings is a good call, i forgot until that was suggested that i had that issue too

[slosurfer]

I know that I have a 2nd gen, but I have a similar rattle and it is the inner cv joint. Something is busted inside the actual joint, so the joint has a ton of play in it and rattles like a mofo. I was able to tell what it was by grabbing the middle of the axle and moving it. I don't know if one of the balls broke or the part of the cage, but it definately is loose and makes a mean rattle. Anyways, just another spot for you to look. :hillbill:

[Skrillah]

Jamie, thanks for the write-up there. There is nothing leaking anywhere, from the diff or CV. Its most definitely coming from the drivers side, my passengers nor myself can hear anything from that side. I followed a similar check diagram for the ball joints and I agree, not only did I not get any play, it just doesn't sound like its a symptom of a bad ball joint. Nothing going on when I turn, just when driving in general.

Lee, I'm going to check that strut this afternoon. Maybe I forgot it when reassembling it, although, I don't remember seeing any extra parts after I put it back together. I'll get under there and look this afternoon and report back. Maybe even try and snap some photos if I can't find anything definite and maybe you guys can spot something I'm missing.

Chris, thanks for the info. I haven't been able to find any play in the joint or axle itself. That was the first thing I checked for. I wish it would have been that simple because then I wouldn't have spent so much damn time trying to figure it out!

With your guy's help, I'm leaning towards something with the strut assembly as well. I have used a rubber mallet while its jacked up and just sitting normally, and pounded on everything. It seems to be something that only occurs when the wheel itself gets hit, and there is pressure on the front assembly. The reason I ruled out the strut prior to asking you guys is because I can travel highway speeds or just drive over a casual dip in the road and there is no noise. The shock itself seems to be absorbing impacts that occur with the road ups and downs, but anything that actually impacts the front end like a crack in the road or ripple, you hear it. Basically you can't drive the 4runner without hearing it, it occurs that often.

I'll check back with you guys this afternoon after I check out the strut assembly. Thanks so much for the ideas!

[MTL_4runner]

With your guy's help, I'm leaning towards something with the strut assembly as well. I have used a rubber mallet while its jacked up and just sitting normally, and pounded on everything. It seems to be something that only occurs when the wheel itself gets hit, and there is pressure on the front assembly. The reason I ruled out the strut prior to asking you guys is because I can travel highway speeds or just drive over a casual dip in the road and there is no noise. The shock itself seems to be absorbing impacts that occur with the road ups and downs, but anything that actually impacts the front end like a crack in the road or ripple, you hear it. Basically you can't drive the 4runner without hearing it, it occurs that often.

Given that little piece of info, I can pretty much guarantee that it will be a loose strut stud nut, strut bushings or a bad strut mount.
Let us know what you find out when you dive into it today.

[Skrillah]

Quick question, is there something I can verify just by looking at it or do I need to take the whole thing apart? I guess it depends on what it is...

Its raining out today so it may have to wait until tomorrow.

[GOLDS]

In my experience a balljoint fails very quickly once the boot is ripped. Might not be the problem, but check it carefully.

[Skrillah]

Thanks guys...I thought I should update. I returned the drivers side to stock and sure enough it was the strut assembly. So I need to rebuild it and hopefully get it to the right specs so it doesn't do that.

[4Runner202020]

the balljoit is more of a squeek than a rattle...

[Skrillah]

the balljoit is more of a squeek than a rattle...


That was my thoughts too but I was stumped and trying to weigh out all the options. The balljoint, because of the ripped boot will need to be replaced soon but for now its good. I'm going to try and get ahold of a spring compressor again and get it up to spec...ugh