Front suspension clunk when braking or decelerating at slow speeds

[Bob98SR5]

Gents,

This one is stumping me: whenever I am slowing down, there is a noticeable clunk sound from the front right suspension area. i've narrowed it down as a clunk that is generated by the shift of momentum and force from back (accelerating) to front (decelerating). i can duplicate this sound when, at a stop light, i somewhat strongly accelerate and then let go of the gas. the shift in momentum, weight, force, etc will cause that sound, so its definitely something that is consistent (thank goodness).

Any guesses? And yes, i am 100% sure that the noise is not from the driveshaft but from the front passenger area.

I've changed out my sway bar bushings and steering rod bushings. could those be culprits?

thanks,
bob

[BruceTS]

check for a loose suspension link, front and back

[Cebby]

Have your ball joints or TRE's ever been changed?

[Bob98SR5]

bruce,

any specific one that comes to mind?

mike: ball joints = no. tie rod ends = no

ill check the tighteness hopefully tonite

bob

[BruceTS]

the clunk could come from any of the 4 rear links or a loose adjuster bolt on the front lower A-Arms. The bolt on the front A-Arms is 22mm, I usually double wrench them and tighten them as tight as I can pull. Also check the top nut on the rear shocks.....

[MTL_4runner]

Bob, have you tried getting under and hit the suspect items with a dead blow mallet? Often something that is loose enough to "clunk" will make a similar sound when hit. You'll have all sorts of possibilities like ball joints, tie rods, sway bar links, strut mounts/top bolt, A-arm bushings, etc. It's very hard to pinpoint without getting under having a look in person.

[Bob98SR5]

mmm...the misses made a killer ribeye + potataaaas!

getting ready to see if i can find the sound. moving it into the garage now.

[ecchamberlin]

Bob
what kind of coils do you have in front? My Saw's rotate forward when coming to a stop to the point that it clunks and has indented the lower shock body.

Just an idea since I don't know what you are running up front.

[slosurfer]

Bob, just get under there and hit everything with a frozen churro. You'll find it!

[Bob98SR5]

Bob
what kind of coils do you have in front? My Saw's rotate forward when coming to a stop to the point that it clunks and has indented the lower shock body.

Just an idea since I don't know what you are running up front.

eric, et al:

just finished. i tightened everything that could be tightened. all seemed very tight to begin with. eric, i have PP coils. do your coils do that on both sides? it would seem odd if it just happened on one side. the only thing up front looked abnormal was that one of the mount bushings that hold the front axle to the cross member (whatever thats called) is torn. ill call evan at northridge toyota for a replacement

the other thing that i saw that was unusual was that i freakin' broke my wheel stud off >:| yeah, i broke it, i saw it!

Bob, just get under there and hit everything with a frozen churro. You'll find it!

hardy har har