Please help diagnosing a weird, intermittent noise (front axle)... CV joint? (1 Viewer)

[MissouriLC]

Recently, I've noticed a noise from the front axle that I am having a hard time identifying. It is coming from the passenger's side when accelerating through a right-hand turn. It is popping/clicking noise, but it is not rhythmic, it is somewhat random. Easing off the throttle or straightening the wheel makes it go away.

My initial thought (and what I still think is most likely) is a failing CV joint. In my past experience with bad CVs, making a full-lock turn in a parking lot with moderate throttle always revealed a rhythmic clicking. I can't replicate this sound doing that. It really only occurs when accelerating a 1/4 throttle or more through a conventional right hand turn (and going perhaps 20 mph or faster).

My rig is a 2000 with 235K on the clock, new to me in December 2018. The passenger side CV axle is an aftermarket replacement, which I believe is about 1-1/2 to 2 years old. It is not leaking grease. Tires are Toyo Open Country CTs, 285/75-16. Shocks are Monroe something-or-other (OEM replacement) that the P.O. had put on about 3 years ago. T-bars are cranked up about 1-inch to level the truck front to rear.

I also need to replace the hub flanges; I serviced the front wheel bearings about 2 months ago and noticed wear on the hub flange splines. (Could this make the noise I am hearing?)

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I'm still leaning on that aftermarket CV axle on the passenger side, but it just doesn't sound/act like I'm used to bad CV axles sounding... Thanks in advance!

UPDATE:
It was the front sway bar links. I bought replacements back in March, and only had time to install them last week. The right side bushing was completely deteriorated and ground away.

I also replaced the drive flanges with new since my original post, which was needed, but had nothing to do with the mystery noise.

 

[OSTATECRUISER]

I have this same issue. Mine is a 2000 w/229k. I know I probably need new CV axles since mine our originals, but the intermittent/randomness of it has me wondering if it may be something else as well.

 

[chogunn]

I posted a similar - maybe - issue a few days back and a few suggestions pointed to the sway bar link and sway bar. I did a quick visual inspection and noticed that the bushings seem pretty broken down, so I am going to replace sway bar links and bushings and see if that eliminates my issue - an intermittent pop/plink heard and felt through the pedal from drivers axle area when making and accelerating into a turn. Very hard to recreate, definitely is not my CV axle I have driven a CV axle into the ground and know what those sound like when failing.

 

[Ben S]

I’m in the same boat, albeit driver side like chogunn. Wheel bearings done about 3 weeks ago so I’m thinkIng it’s not that. Not ruling them out yet though. I did find a spent lower shock bushing probably contributing to some noises but I feel like something else be out of whack. I’m wondering if anyone has greased their spindle bearings or replaced them? That’s my next plan of action. My sway bar bushings don’t look too terrible and when I get under and mess around with it, I’m not feeling any looseness.

 

[Ben S]

By the way, ‘99 with 200k

 

[chogunn]

I’m not feeling any looseness.

I didn't see or feel any looseness either which kind've matches the sound like a ping/pop, under a load and a sudden slight shifting. Now I'm falling down an extended sway bar link vs normal length black hole and wondering if while replacing these I might go longer and find out if my lifted (1.5") suspension might feel a little looser. That way, if I replace with longer links and my ride feels a little better but the pop/ping sound persists I will not feel it was a complete waste of time.

 

[MissouriLC]

I posted a similar - maybe - issue a few days back and a few suggestions pointed to the sway bar link and sway bar. I did a quick visual inspection and noticed that the bushings seem pretty broken down, so I am going to replace sway bar links and bushings and see if that eliminates my issue - an intermittent pop/plink heard and felt through the pedal from drivers axle area when making and accelerating into a turn. Very hard to recreate, definitely is not my CV axle I have driven a CV axle into the ground and know what those sound like when failing.

I'll look into this on mine as well. I've replaced the front swaybar links on my '03 Sequoia, and I know that if there's any play in those rubber bushings, they make all kinds of weird noises and pops that you can feel through the floorpan.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Murckman]

Is it a single pop/ clunk when it happens?
Mine was like that and I could never recreate it, but the times it did happen mostly was in reverse backing down the driveway and chocking the wheel. Changed lower ball joints, sway arm links and bushings, checked drive flanges, checked front shock bushings and the noise still came back.
It drove me crazy for a year. I knew my upper control arms had some play in them, so finally changed those out. And just like that problem solved! No more clunks and the Total Chaos UCA’s look really nice behind my tires. And my truck now finally holds an alignment too.

 

[jumptrader]

Is it a single pop/ clunk when it happens?
Mine was like that and I could never recreate it, but the times it did happen mostly was in reverse backing down the driveway and chocking the wheel. Changed lower ball joints, sway arm links and bushings, checked drive flanges, checked front shock bushings and the noise still came back.
It drove me crazy for a year. I knew my upper control arms had some play in them, so finally changed those out. And just like that problem solved! No more clunks and the Total Chaos UCA’s look really nice behind my tires. And my truck now finally holds an alignment too.

Was it your rear or front upper control arms?

 

[Murckman]

Was it your rear or front upper control arms?

Is that a joke?

 

[OSTATECRUISER]

Is it a single pop/ clunk when it happens?
Mine was like that and I could never recreate it, but the times it did happen mostly was in reverse backing down the driveway and chocking the wheel. Changed lower ball joints, sway arm links and bushings, checked drive flanges, checked front shock bushings and the noise still came back.
It drove me crazy for a year. I knew my upper control arms had some play in them, so finally changed those out. And just like that problem solved! No more clunks and the Total Chaos UCA’s look really nice behind my tires. And my truck now finally holds an alignment too.

The Upper control arms were my first thought as well because my ball joint was torn on both driver and passenger side. So I replaced with SPC's as well as tough dog shocks all the way around from Jason @trail-tailor and my popping persists.

 

[Murckman]

The Upper control arms were my first thought as well because my ball joint was torn on both driver and passenger side. So I replaced with SPC's as well as tough dog shocks all the way around from Jason @trail-tailor and my popping persists.

Did you look at your lower ball joints? I replaced mine but that wasn’t the issue, but they were definitely trashed when I replaced them so I’m glad I did it.

 

[OSTATECRUISER]

Did you look at your lower ball joints? I replaced mine but that wasn’t the issue, but they were definitely trashed when I replaced them so I’m glad I did it.

No I didn't. They don't look to be in great shape either, definitely original. I just can't find anyone who will press in new LBJ's. Everyone wants to replace the whole LCA and I don't have the dough for that or the time to DIY it right now.

 

[Murckman]

No I didn't. They don't look to be in great shape either, definitely original. I just can't find anyone who will press in new LBJ's. Everyone wants to replace the whole LCA and I don't have the dough for that or the time to DIY it right now.

There’s some pretty easy methods to test the lower ones using a pry bar and a jack.
I don’t remember how we pressed the old one out (it was about two years ago). I may have used a pickle fork. Getting the new ones in wasn’t too terribly difficult I think I remember using a jack. I think you can rent a press to make things easier too. Anyways, good luck tracking down your clunk.

 

[MissouriLC]

Is it a single pop/ clunk when it happens?
Mine was like that and I could never recreate it, but the times it did happen mostly was in reverse backing down the driveway and chocking the wheel. Changed lower ball joints, sway arm links and bushings, checked drive flanges, checked front shock bushings and the noise still came back.
It drove me crazy for a year. I knew my upper control arms had some play in them, so finally changed those out. And just like that problem solved! No more clunks and the Total Chaos UCA’s look really nice behind my tires. And my truck now finally holds an alignment too.

Mine is a series of pops/rattles--almost like marbles in an empty can.

 

[MissouriLC]

What's the consensus on aftermarket sway bar links? I know certain items (like CV axles) are a no-no... NAPA Chassis Parts Line (Dana) are $29.99 per side, vs my local Mr. T who wants like $47-something per side.

 

[Murckman]

If go OEM if you don’t want to worry about it again. I originally bought the Moog ones (they had dark blue bushings) and I was barely able to get the threads through to attach the top nut. And they were thinner and within a few months the bushings were unevenly squished down. I changed them out shortly afterwards.

 

[chogunn]

It seems like a part like the sway bar links & bushings are something that you may only replace once or twice total.. my LX is at 240k and I’m pretty sure I am about to replace them for the first time. I figure an extra $20 or so each is worth it over the next decade I hope to keep driving the truck. I ordered OEM links, link upper and bar bushings, retainers, etc.. from McGeorge Toyota online and with USPS priority the total was only $96.

Now, I’m going to chop the new links up when they show up and attempt to weld them into longer links... but that is a different story and thread

 

[Murckman]

It seems like a part like the sway bar links & bushings are something that you may only replace once or twice total.. my LX is at 240k and I’m pretty sure I am about to replace them for the first time. I figure an extra $20 or so each is worth it over the next decade I hope to keep driving the truck. I ordered OEM links, link upper and bar bushings, retainers, etc.. from McGeorge Toyota online and with USPS priority the total was only $96.

Now, I’m going to chop the new links up when they show up and attempt to weld them into longer links... but that is a different story and thread

Anyone running these?

 

[Ben S]

Murckman, I’ve read many posts where people claim those links are the s***. I’m not one, but for the price, I’ll give them a shot when I’m ready