KDSS noise (1 Viewer)

[blackdog2022]

About a year ago I noticed a sharp metallic noise coming from the front of my 05 GX Sport. It sounds like someone banging a pot in a kitchen sink. It’s gotten worse...way worse. If I drive on a rough road it’s embarrassing.

So far I’ve done the following:

Eibach pro truck 2.5” lift kit (springs/shocks)
White line LCA bushings
New UCA’s
New CV shafts (one had completely separated)
Moog KDSS specific lower sway bar bushings

And.....the noise is still there

Even with most of the suspension disconnected, it makes the sound. It seems to be coming from the KDSS ram.

Anyone with around 200k have this issue?

 

[Abductee]

About a year ago I noticed a sharp metallic noise coming from the front of my 05 GX Sport. It sounds like someone banging a pot in a kitchen sink. It’s gotten worse...way worse. If I drive on a rough road it’s embarrassing.

So far I’ve done the following:

Eibach pro truck 2.5” lift kit (springs/shocks)
White line LCA bushings
New UCA’s
New CV shafts (one had completely separated)
Moog KDSS specific lower sway bar bushings

And.....the noise is still there

Even with most of the suspension disconnected, it makes the sound. It seems to be coming from the KDSS ram.

Anyone with around 200k have this issue?

Have you checked for play on both the static and dynamic kdss mounting points? There should be a bushing where they mount up top to allow for movement in the system. Quite possibly there or check for play in your lower ball joints. Jack front of vehicle up from engine xmember. Lower till wheels just start to touch ground and suspension just starts to compress. Use pry bar between lower control arm and spindle to look for play. Allowable play is 0.000 inches. More than zero and replace ball joints.
Best of luck to you

 

[blackdog2022]

Have you checked for play on both the static and dynamic kdss mounting points? There should be a bushing where they mount up top to allow for movement in the system. Quite possibly there or check for play in your lower ball joints. Jack front of vehicle up from engine xmember. Lower till wheels just start to touch ground and suspension just starts to compress. Use pry bar between lower control arm and spindle to look for play. Allowable play is 0.000 inches. More than zero and replace ball joints.
Best of luck to you

It made the sound with both ball joints disconnected so I’ll check to see if I can find a bushing on top of the ram.

 

[Abductee]

It made the sound with both ball joints disconnected so I’ll check to see if I can find a bushing on top of the ram.

This is your lower ball joint. I would highly suggest not driving with these disconnected

 

[blackdog2022]

I’m aware. If you read the first post I had everything disconnected to replace all the parts listed

 

[Abductee]

I’m aware. If you read the first post I had everything disconnected to replace all the parts listed

Doh! My bad. Sorry about that.

 

[blackdog2022]

Doh! My bad. Sorry about that.

No problem. I just greased what I could access as far as the Ram mount and the static mount and no change. This is frustrating as hell. It’s not a clunk, it’s sharp metallic noise. Front diff fluid is good. Motor mounts appear to be ok.

 

[Abductee]

No problem. I just greased what I could access as far as the Ram mount and the static mount and no change. This is frustrating as hell. It’s not a clunk, it’s sharp metallic noise. Front diff fluid is good. Motor mounts appear to be ok.

Can you feel it through your seat or feet?
Spring isolator bushing? Heat shield on exhaust somewhere?

Everybody else- Stay stock> stay happy
Me- No

 

[blackdog2022]

Can you feel it through your seat or feet?
Spring isolator bushing? Heat shield on exhaust somewhere?

Everybody else- Stay stock> stay happy
Me- No

No, you can’t really hear it with the windows closed. Spring top mounts are good, I looked at them when I installed the Eibachs.

 

[Abductee]

No, you can’t really hear it with the windows closed. Spring top mounts are good, I looked at them when I installed the Eibachs.

Have you just tried turning the radio up?
Hehe
I'm only 2849 miles from you. If you were willing to bring me the vehicle, I will diagnose and fix whatever the issue is.

I had a small weld splatter bead on the coil spring seat of a 12 bolt gm right where the end coil terminates and it sounded like an entire army of iron clawed demons fighting inside a .750 plate steel box.

 

[Abductee]

No problem. I just greased what I could access as far as the Ram mount and the static mount and no change. This is frustrating as hell. It’s not a clunk, it’s sharp metallic noise. Front diff fluid is good. Motor mounts appear to be ok.

You know not all bushings receive lubrication. These would not either. They will get beat up in one plane while moving slightly at a complementary angle, but not a whole lot of movement overall.

 

[Jstawgn]

Diagnosting noise thru forum description would be really hard. I suggest you get some cheap action camera and try to upload the video somewhere. Otherwise we are shooting in the dark and most likely just going to add confusion.

 

[blackdog2022]

Your right. I’ve been trying to remember my YouTube password. I’ll reset it and post something.

 

[blackdog2022]

Alright here it is. It seems to be the worst when I jack up the front suspension from underneath the sway bar itself. Not like I normally do that but I wanted to capture the sounds.

 

[Jstawgn]

Alright here it is. It seems to be the worst when I jack up the front suspension from underneath the sway bar itself. Not like I normally do that but I wanted to capture the sounds.

Did not see any movement but the fixed side are pretty cheap to replace. I got one from rockauto for $5 on clearance a few months ago if you just want to test if that is the culprit or not.

 

[blackdog2022]

This has to be something obvious that I’m missing. It’s some sort of severe binding. Before I throw any more parts at it, I want a few people to listen and give their 2 cents. Hopefully some Toyota Lexus techs. I used to work for Toyota and the techs could usually tell what the problem was before it even got on the lift.

 

[Abductee]

When you did the upper control arms, you make sure your 2 end washers were facing the right way correct? --]---------[--
If that makes any sense. Cupped rim to the outside

 

[blackdog2022]

When you did the upper control arms, you make sure your 2 end washers were facing the right way correct? --]---------[--
If that makes any sense. Cupped rim to the outside

Yes, but like I said. There was absolutely no change in the noise after doing all the suspension work. The noise is independent of all of it.

 

[Abductee]

Have you tried removing the sway bar to isolate the kdss and cycling things again? Idea here is to eliminate variables and work with absolutes. Change one thing, check, record results, then change the next thing etc etc.

 

[blackdog2022]

Still trying to figure this out. Tried detaching as much as I could of the front KDSS bar but noise persists. Lubricated the rear driveshaft also. Still there. Checked the torque on the LCA’s. Still there...