Popping noise when turning with a bump?

[firewalker]

Howdy Folks,

I've got a popping noise thats not new on the 80. It has been the same since I purchased the vehicle without getting worse. I've decided I'll address it over the Christmas break and thought ya'll might save me some time.

When the 80 is turning onto the roadway from a elevation or if there is big change in pavement grade or a bump while turning from a complete stop or low speed - I hear a pop sound. Its not like a stearing stop on a 80's Toyota 4runner or pickup. Its a deeper pop. No vibration or anything other than the one sound of a worn part. Its not a clicking birfield. Also, the vehicle drives like a dream at any speed.

Worn tie rod ends?

Anyone else have a suggestion? Thanks in advance.

 

[akarilo]

I've noticed a funky sound like that on occasion. I'm thinking it's coming from coil spring movement/ re-seating. Mine only really occurs off road though. It's a thought.

 

[phxtlc]

Check your sway bar bushings, bolts on your knuckle arm, and knuckle bearings. When the vehicle is jacked up check the up and down play in the wheel.

 

[Sanchez]

Mine is doing the same thing when I turn in to a driveway or when I go offroading. Mine started after I did the frontend service. Also, the noise is coming from the driver side on my truck. It's pretty loud when is happens. To me it sounds more like a "tick" than a click or a pop.

-Juan

 

[agomez]

shock mounts top and bottom

 

[jlg32281]

bushing do go out eventually. a complete bushing set isn't that expensive and should solve your problem.

 

[Ebag333]

Is it any better/worse with the CDL locked? Does the truck handle/feel different if you lock the CDL and drive around?

If your VC is siezed it will be just like if your CDL is locked. That has been known to cause popping noises when driving around (and especially turning hard, like into a parking lot from off the road).

 

[hawaiicruz]

shock mounts top and bottom

x2 try the easy stuff first

 

[BrotherRob]

Check the sway bar mounts on the axle. The right one usually goes first. It'll make noise mostly when turning left.

 

[Tools R Us]

Check the sway bar mounts on the axle. The right one usually goes first. It'll make noise mostly when turning left.

X2. Also check the torque on all suspension bolts. They have pretty high torques and can look/feel tight with a small wrench and still be loose enough to allow movement/noise.

 

[nuclearlemon]

my popping noise, was hideously loud and turned out to be the rear sway bar.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

Exact same noise here as Sanchez's. New shocks, New birfields, new trunion bearings, wheel bearings/front axles serviced then I put new tie rod ends and still the same. Mine happens when dropping the drivers front while turning left. Still haven't figured it out. (92 FJ80 with 299K)

 

[BrotherRob]

Exact same noise here as Sanchez's. New shocks, New birfields, new trunion bearings, wheel bearings/front axles serviced then I put new tie rod ends and still the same. Mine happens when dropping the drivers front while turning left. Still haven't figured it out. (92 FJ80 with 299K)

Turning left stresses the right side of the swaybar. Check the mount on the axle. They're pretty wimpy, if it's failing, remove the swaybar until you can get it welded.

 

[nuclearlemon]

Turning left stresses the right side of the swaybar. Check the mount on the axle. They're pretty wimpy, if it's failing, remove the swaybar until you can get it welded.

before it takes out your brakes on the top of kingston peak in a blizzard....

 

[BrotherRob]

before it takes out your brakes on the top of kingston peak in a blizzard....

Exactly

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

BrotherRob, Thanks for the suggestions. Just took a close look at the sway bar mounts, everything looks good. It only happens when the front drivers tire drops down on a very slow left turn. Wife said it sounds like a clank. I thought it was a loud click.

 

[tominator]

Help!

Damn...am I glad to see this thread! I'm having the exact same problem with a kind of grinding noise added to the popping noise. Usually going over a bump as well. It's very irritating and I've been very tempted numerous times to drive it off a cliff because of it. I have tightened everything I can find including shocks, rebuilt it twice (once since discovering the noise) and I can't get rid of it. Starting to think it's inside the axle. It has about 150K on this set of axles. I even swapped sides on the Birfields to see if the sound followed and it still seems like it's coming from the left front. Maybe it's the brass bushings or just wore out birf's...or both...I haven't a clue at this point? It was quieter when I first bought it with blown axle seals and soupy gear oil in the birfields.
:smiley holding up "help" sign:

 

[ncduckman]

Exact same noise here as Sanchez's. New shocks, New birfields, new trunion bearings, wheel bearings/front axles serviced then I put new tie rod ends and still the same. Mine happens when dropping the drivers front while turning left. Still haven't figured it out. (92 FJ80 with 299K)

Me too, just after a front end rebuild with new wheel bearings.

 

[The Proton]

I've been having the same problem with this popping noise for some time, at it has gotten very annoying. I was able to park on a strange angle in my driveway, and could reproduce the noise by turning the wheel left to right.

I had the sit in the car and turn the wheel back and forth. What I found was that my Hanna Sliders were making contact with the front suspension arm bracket (the big arm that goes back along the frame, rearmost bracket). The contact point was the front of the Cat protector on the slider. As the wheels were turned at low speed it causes a slight movement in the suspension arm bracket. The slider was touching this bracket, and as the bracket slightly deforms, the slider will stop it from moving, until it releases with a pop.

I noticed a lot of the responders on this thread have sliders as well. To check hold the slider when the noise is made, you will feel the vibration, then see if the slider is in contact with the bracket. Now to either cut a small bit off the slider, or loosen and move it back a bit.

I'll try to attach pics later tonight.

 

[desmocruiser]

Had a very similar sound and mine turned out to be the sway bar.

It had gotten torqued in the bushings and the corner would catch on the rib of the control arm. When I loosened the sway bar bushings it srang back with a loud twang.

If it has been doing it for a while it will have some scuffs on the corner of the sway bar and control arm.