Clunking noise under front left side

My 2018 4 runner limited has a clunking noise that sounds and feels like it is right under drivers seat or left front side. I have greased and inspected all u joints , changed front and rear diff. fluid and transfer fluid. The fluids all looked good and even emptied the fluid in a clean container through a paint funnel strainer to look for any metal. Weird thing is, the noise isn't always there. I could drive it for weeks and it will never make any noise and other days it sounds like something is falling apart. I have to pull over and back up and most the time the noise stops. I do hear the needle bearing in the front diff. humming when its cold. Its sounds like a bad u joint but I took the front drive shaft off and the u joints all feel good. I also tried driving it without the front driveshaft and the car wont drive because it is all wheel drive. Has anybody else had this issue?

 

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

welcome

 

What's your mileage?

Last clunk like this I had ended up being by upper control arm upper ball joint. Felt like it was directly under my seat... Every time I turned right I'd get a severe clunk. Jacked up the rig and was able to move the wheel quite a bit more than normal. Then saw excessive play in that UBJ.

That said, these were aftermarket joints (SPC) and I wouldn't anticipate the stock ones failing for at least 80,000 miles unless they went through some hard use.

 

When does the noise happen? Under what circumstances?

BTW, the Limited do not have the needle bearing noise issue, as that noise only happens when the axle is being turned but not driven. The Limited axles are always driven.

 

That's good to know.

 

Thanks. It only has 61,000 miles. It makes noise when the car is in motion even it I put in neutral and coast down a hill. Sometimes it feels and sounds like the transfer case and other times the left front wheel.

 

One thing to check is your LCA bolts. My buddies was clunking the other day. Just needed to be retorqued a voila

 

Thanks I will check them, but it seems like it is something that is turning like axle, transfer case or drive shaft. Which I don't feel or see anything wrong with u joints. Also the noise is't always there but when it is there it sounds and feels like something is falling apart.

 

Does this clunking happen in a constant cyclical-drumming pattern?

Does the noise happen on smooth roads or only when going over bumps.