11' 4Runner - Clunking/Creaking noise at low speed

Resolved! Adjust your rubber hood adjustment bumpers - unreal 10mo later!

2011 4R Premium 4WD w/142k mi
Intermittent “clunking” and/or "creaking" noise from drivers side front at low speed in parking lot/driveway driving straight, but much more noticeable when steering quick left/right…zero noise while driving on highway/freeway.

Thoughts?

**Replaced**
Complete UCA (L&R) 1A Auto
Complete LCA (L&R) Toyota factory replacements
Struts (L&R) Monroe QuickStrut
TRE Outer (L&R) Import Direct
SBE (L&R) Import Direct
CV-Axle (L) CarQuest
ECGS Diff Bearing (L)
Front Pads & Rotors (L&R) Wagner R, Akebono P
Tires (All four from 22’ Tundra)
Removed both front skid plates
Retorqued LCA bolts to 125lbs
Sway bar bushings Toyota Factory Replacements

 

First off: Great job troubleshooting a lot of things that people would have mentioned to check. You're pretty darn thorough. But you never mentioned anything you checked on the INTERIOR. It was all exterior. Have you checked the seat, the seat rails, motor (if it's powered), the steering wheel (column) to see if anything is loose/broken?

Also, did you check the engine bay? Something may have come loose or you have built up debris (leaves, small rocks) rolling around? I've had that happen when a rock got under the cowl right in front of the wind shield. It drove me bonkers for WEEKS until I saw a small rock rolling around.

 

Appreciate it - I haven't checked Interior as noise source seems to be several feet in front of me on left front. Not heard/feeling anything in steering column.

I've checked engine for rocks or debris - nothing.

Sounds almost like LF Strut/Spring making the noise, but both LF and RF Struts/Springs are brand new Monroe Quick Struts.

 

Is everything oriented correctly and seated well?

 

Was all the listed work done in an effort to solve this problem? Or was some of this maintainance work before the problem popped up?

 

This ^


I feel for ya, interested to see what you nail it down to be. I have a clunking on fsr's and another metal on metal/grinding/or rubbing noise when I turn sharp up an incline too. Both are drivin me nuts trying to pin point, also means more damn money lol

Cuz that's a heck of a lot of replacements done, makes me wonder which component of yours up there maybe needs an adjustment.

Also, have you had someone else drive and you listen specifically from outside vehicle?

 

Stick a go pro in the wheel well for a few passes, pointing it up/down/left/right. That should help find it by the sound intensity and, if you’re lucky you might see it.

 

I would normally pin it down to CV joint, control arms bushings and/or ball joints , but you have all that covered. The strut mounts?

Sometimes new pads and rotors make noise. Does the sound go away after driving a few miles or when the car becomes warm?

Check your fender liners. Some times the plastic clips break and it rubs against the fender or other suspension parts and makes a noise that travels.
If it's similar to plastic tap sound , the plastic covers at the edge of the windshield on either ends are known to make a tapping sound. The tweeter cover sometime also rubs against the A pillar and makes a sound. Idea is to check out as many boxes as possible.

Have someone drive it slowly while you walk along side it. That would help you pin point the location.

 

I know this sounds stupid, but check your spare tire isn't loose/rocking around

 

Is your spare tire tight against the back. I put 350 lbs in mine to keep rear pads wearing as fast and I got squeaks from it. Also if I have to much air pressure in tires, I get low speed Xteas feedback through the drivers side sounds like a pop bottle in the kick panel. Lowered air pressure 3 psi and went away. I thought something was falling out and my 2013 has 193k. I would not throw aftermarket parts at a 4runner myself. It's usually much more simple. I have seen technicians look to far into a simple thing. Might be a skid plate bolt loose and squeaking or rubbing. Just throwing it out there man. Been there

 

Mine sounded like bottle in drivers kick panel and it was to much air pressure. Only thing I had changed and only by 3 psi but it went away
Just did it low speed feedback on a rough road. Xreas feedback I believe. Sounded like a strut top from a 97 Camry going out.

 

I just realized your sounds match the sound of what my hood latch does when it needs grease. Before doing anything else, clean and regrease the hood latch and mechanism. The sound comes from metal on metal rubbing between the u shaped latch and where it rides in the striker. The sound seems to get amplified by the hood structure, and sounds exactly like you would think a squeaky suspension would sound.

 

Might need adjustment and lube the rubber bumper hood rides on. Mine quit after adjusting air pressure. It was only thing I had changed when it started. It sounded like a pop bottle in kick panel and a strut top was bad. It was only low speed rougher road feedback from Xreas. Polyurethane bushings speak if I don't grease them also. I used to drill and install alemites so they could be greased.

 

@Greg D and @McSpazatron, I could literally kiss both you guys right now! lol

I've had this issue for ~10mo, spent countless hours and money (~$3500, not counting labor costs) and the issue had NOTHING to do with SUSPENSION. Unreal.

McSpazatron got me thinking just pull the hood release and see if noise goes away - sure as shii it did!

Greg D got me thinking try adjusting the hood rubber bumper adjustments to see that's the issue - Rubber Bumpers WERE THE ISSUE!


Sincerely appreciate the time out of your day to help someone! Thank you!!!!

 

Awesome news @jbo502 !!! The hood/latch striker noise and hood bumpers really oughta be a sticky thread. Knowing this trick could save some heartache and headaches lol. Real glad you have it sorted out. By the way, Tacomas can suffer from the same noise. I suggested this to a wheeling buddy who had a “suspension” noise after a lift on his 3rd gen Tacoma. Re-lubed it, and the noise went away.

I never adjusted my hood bumpers up to pre-load tension onto the hood on the latch, because I adjusted those bumpers on my previous vehicle (2006 Sienna). Turns out I adjusted them too high, which led to the weatherstripping not having a good seal, which led to salt spray ingress when driving on the interstate in winter salty/slushy conditions. The salt attacked all the aluminum and brackets in the engine bay and I ended upwith a nasty looking corroded engine bay from one season to another.

To avoid that possibility on my beloved 4runner, I just re-lube the latch more frequently.

 

Agreed! Would’ve saved me thousands!

A-lot to think about McSpazatron - I’m still blown away that the hood latch/bumpers sounded exactly like a LF suspension issue.

 

Always look for the simplest first. It's cheapest. Think outside the box a little and don't get to deep and start replacing parts unless independently wealthy. At least I did so right