Driver side, front end suspension clunk when turning - Video attached.

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danmm7

10 Year
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
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11
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Hi all!
Car info: 2005 Gx470, 128k miles, very well maintained. Stock suspension. No leaks. No visually worn or broken suspension items. Runs very smooth with no vibrations or weird shaking, at any speed.

As the title says, i have a front end clunk, coming from driver side, when i am turning the steering wheels to the right (towards the passenger) at very slow speeds.
It does not happen all the time, but i would say, it happens at least 80% of the time. It's pretty loud and obvious, especially if i have the windows rolled down.
Every time i am slowly backing out of my driveway and i happen to turn my steering wheels to the right, the clunk happens. If i am doing just a partial turn(less than 1/2), there is NO clunk. It happens only when i am doing a FULL or almost full turn.

Here are a couple of videos i captured with my phone so you can get a better idea. Clunk is very obvious around 0:12 on the first video:



https://youtu.be/EYIrhmKRsRQ



I did replace the sway bar end links about 500miles ago and it did NOT make any difference. Clunk is still there.
The rest of the suspension is stock and the only thing replaced was one of the adjustable shocks, at around 60k miles. Everything looks tight and healthy.

Where can this clunk be coming from? I am aware that at close to 130k miles, there could be worn out bushings, links and who knows what else, but i don't want to just start swapping parts until i find the worn out one.


Thanks in advance!
 
Does not sound like a CV joint. CVs usually "click" and it does it continuously as the car is moving. This clunk i have is only one time event, very quick, clunk/knock ... only when i am turning the steering full right. Once it clunks once, then i can drive in a circle with the steering wheel at full right and there is no more noise. A bad CV joint will continue to click.

It almost sounds as if something slips/knocks when the steering is turned to full right. Something loose? Something broken? I am not sure.
When i return the steering back to neutral position or if i turn it all the way to the left, it does NOT make any noises/clunks/etc. Only full right triggers it.
 
Probably ball joints but could be strut bearing if these rigs have them. New to 120's.
 
GXO said:
Ball joints
Click to expand...

OK. I can start there. Is there any additional diagnostics i can do to determine with 100% certainty that it's a bad ball joint(s) on the driver side?
It could be either the upper or lower, i assume. Should i just replace both, or it's unnecessary? Truck is stock but has 130k miles.

Are these tricky to replace on the GX for an average DIY car repair guy? I've replaced many struts, shocks, calipers and similar suspension parts in the past, but never a ball joint.

Thanks!
 
Check the torque of the lower control arm bolts, they should be torqued to 100 ft lbs. If they aren't, the lower control arm will bind and "pop" from the play... However minute that play may be. I just had this issue with my wife's 04'. Hers was the passenger side but as soon as you throw the torque wrench on the bolts you'll know.

Edit: I just listened to your videos..... I'd start with those bolts... Same as my wife's.
 
Last edited:
You can jack up each front wheel, remove the tire (or leave it on and have someone else move it) then 9 and 3 wiggle it and see where the play is. If you see the steering (tie rod) move (make sure steering wheel is locked) you have a tie rod problem. If you have play at the hub, the bearing is dead. If the whole thing moves and makes noise, your ball joint is a problem. Checking the bottom arm connection bolts is also a good idea. Should be pretty obvious if you do this one wheel at a time. Taking the tire off makes it easier if you don't have help.
 
taco47001 said:
Check the torque of the lower control arm bolts, they should be torqued to 100 ft lbs. If they aren't, the lower control arm will bind and "pop" from the play... However minute that play may be. I just had this issue with my wife's 04'. Hers was the passenger side but as soon as you throw the torque wrench on the bolts you'll know.

Edit: I just listened to your videos..... I'd start with those bolts... Same as my wife's.
Click to expand...

I agree my Tundra did the same thing. Found out it was a loose lower control arm bolt. Always popped one time when backing at full clock to the right. After tightening it up never heard it again.
 
taco47001 said:
Check the torque of the lower control arm bolts, they should be torqued to 100 ft lbs. If they aren't, the lower control arm will bind and "pop" from the play... However minute that play may be. I just had this issue with my wife's 04'. Hers was the passenger side but as soon as you throw the torque wrench on the bolts you'll know.

Edit: I just listened to your videos..... I'd start with those bolts... Same as my wife's.
Click to expand...

taco47001, you are THE MAN!!

I lifted the truck, grabbed my torque wrench, adjusted to 103 ft/lbs and went after the lower control arm bolts. On the driver side, the rear facing bolt was not tight enough. It took good 3-4 rounds with the wrench to get it to click. The front facing bolt was almost perfect. A bit adjustment.
Did the same thing on the passenger side. One of the bolts was not tight enough.

Test drove the truck - no more clunk!! Gone! Everything is quiet and smooth, like new. Lets hope this clunk does not return again. It's been bothering me for months.

Thank you!!
 
danmm7 said:
taco47001, you are THE MAN!!

I lifted the truck, grabbed my torque wrench, adjusted to 103 ft/lbs and went after the lower control arm bolts. On the driver side, the rear facing bolt was not tight enough. It took good 3-4 rounds with the wrench to get it to click. The front facing bolt was almost perfect. A bit adjustment.
Did the same thing on the passenger side. One of the bolts was not tight enough.

Test drove the truck - no more clunk!! Gone! Everything is quiet and smooth, like new. Lets hope this clunk does not return again. It's been bothering me for months.

Thank you!!
Click to expand...
Glad you got it figured out
 
Not joking. If those bolts come loose, you tend to look like this (not mine, just illustrative). Imagine this at highway speed:

20130430_164219.jpg
 
Yeah. That won't be pleasant.
Luckily, they were not that loose. Not even close to coming off or anything. Only 2 of the 4 bolts/nuts were just not tight at 100 ft/lbs torque.
 
co4wheel said:
Don't those bolts set the alignment in place? Doesn't he need a new alignment?
Click to expand...

I don't think the bolts that hold the lower control arms to the frame have anything to do with the alignment, but i'll let the experts here chime in.
 
While they dont have anything to do with adjustment...having loose bolts WILL have an impact on driveability and holding alignment.
 
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