Suspension clunk

Took the 4runner off road for the first time today and it coincided with putting an Eibach Pro Truck lift on it. The point being I have no pre lift off road comparison so I don't know if what I am experiencing is "normal".
The rig handles beautifully with this lift, very planted and smooth. I also put on SPC UCAs to take full advantage of droop and dialing it in better with the alignment.
What I noticed, especially when cruising down the sand roads at Sand Hollow, was when the suspension would fully uncompress it would clunk.
So as I'm hitting a sand bump we would compress silently then as we were coming over the bump the suspension would naturally uncompress and clunk. My thought is I am hitting the bottom extension limit of the shock. The question... is this normal?

 

Could be a front sway bar issue.

Some people that have experienced this have solved the issue with sway bar spacers.

https://www.dobinsonsdirect.com/products/dobinsons-sway-bar-relocation-kitse59-525k

 

Is it the Eibach 2.0 adjustable kit? If so, then you'll probably need to lower the adjusting collar Down 2-3 turns (take a little of lift out of it)

 

Could be you are reaching the extension limit/max droop on the shocks… depending on lift height, you may not have very much extension left. Generally speaking , Every inch you lift, is one less inch of down travel. The only way around this is massive amounts of money lol. The IFS cant give you more travel without a bunch of other changes.

Also, you should verify that the UCAs are not touching the coils on full extension. That could be the sound.

@nimby mentioned the swaybar, which Im curiuos about. I have a 2.5in lift using dobinsin IMS struts. How would I know when a swaybar relocation kit is needed? What is it that actually clunks on the swaybars that the kit fixes?

 

Hmmm... in the Jeep world we need sway bar spacers for the rear when we do lifts so I am wondering if that is the case here since it is a solid axle as well. Will look into that more. I'm really hoping it's not the front since the ride height is close to perfect, I do need to lower it a smidge but nothing serious. I hope it's not the shocks reaching their limit. As noted I did use SPC UCAs which allows me to gain the little bit of droop I pick up with the lift.

 

If the UCAs give more droop, you should visually verify that it does not touch the coils.

How much lift in front?

 

Good point. I forgot to take measurements I'm guessing around 2.75"

 

This^,

When I had a 3/2 lift, I would experience horrific clunk from the rear when driving over rocks or street curbs. Long story short, the rear shocks were topping out (fully extended) when driving over obstacles. When I checked the front, the UCA was contacting the coil springs at full droop.

I fixed the problem by having the lift removed. Now my suspension is bone stock and I no longer experience loud bangs and clunks when off road.

 

The strut (either the spring itself or the lower spring perch) can come in contact with the sway bar at full extension.

The sway bar relocation kit moves the sway bar forward and down about half an inch to avoid this contact.

I've been looking into this because I have a clunk at full extension on my passenger side too.

I'm curious if this is more of an issue for people running lifts with higher caster numbers?

 

ok thanks for explaining. Makes sense. I dont think mine is touching (at least Im pretty sure with as much time I spend underneath it lol). But I will look specifically there next time Im under.

i sometimes think I may have a swaybar clunk, but it’s just on roads over sharp bumps and stuff. Not always, and not super loud or anything. But it does sound like you would expect with worn swaybar bushings. Mine are still new, but they get used a fair amount in off road situations. Doubt their worn, but maybe they are “supple” lol from the use.

 

It doesn't make sense for Eibach to sell a coilover kit that is maxed out as soon as you install it, though...wouldn't they include shocks that extend through the limit of the travel?

 

The thing is, the shocks are the components that are actually responsible for doing the limiting. They have to be. Otherwise, the next things in line that actually limit travel are either the UCA ball joint at max angles (really bad if they break), or the CVs (really expensive if they break).

If the OP has UCAs that allow more ball joint angle, there is the possibility that they hit the shock coil if the shock doesnt limit it first.

On our (or any) IFS system, lift is a compromise…. Lift too high, and you’ll top them out easier. No matter which aftermarket kit you use. Some maybdo better controlling rebound in the top few inches and make for gentler topping out, but you’ll still top out.

 

I had the Eibach 2.0 setup on my 4Runner and had the clunk going kinda quick over speed bumps (rebound) -haven't taken it off road yet , when I lowered the front 3-4 turns down, clunk went away. Not saying you have the same issue or what I did will resolve your issue, but won't cost you anything but time to try and rule out.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/eibach-pro-truck-coilover-2-0-stage-2.673107/page-47

 

Interesting. Sounds like Eibach has some issues with this kit.

 

Did yours sound like what Tacoma owners are describing in the link in post #14?

 

Post #14 he was asking where to get the coilovers from

 

Eibach shocks are not extended travel. The eibach rears are just as long(extended) as the oem shocks. The fronts eibach shocks are longer then the oem shocks but not by much. So when you start to added 2.5" of lift that added travel is gone.


From comparing eibach shock measurements to other manufacturers. The eibachs are perfect for 1.5" front lift and 0" rear lift.

The new 4runner eibach rear shocks with resi. Have only 8.25" of travel

 

I wasn't referring to post #14 in the Tacomaworld thread. I was referring to your post of the TW thread link in post #14 of this thread. Did your clunking issue sound like what is being described later on in that TW thread?

 

I got ya, yes it sounds just like what OP is describing in this thread as well as the tacomaworld thread about the thud/clunk on the rebound of the front coilovers

 

Has there been any resolution from Eibach?

Sure sounds like what the OP is experiencing.

 

Not that I'm aware of. I just loosened mine up roughly 3-4 turns down(took some lift out) and the thud/clunk went away.