one of those random noise questions

probably not much sense in asking since ya can't exactly hear it on a forum post but looking for some insight.
my 2019 SR5 runner has about 56k on the odometer. lately, I've been hearing a subtle but definite knocking sound from somewhere on the front of the vehicle at very slow 'parking lot" speed, like when you're pretty much coasting. intermittent--I took it to our dealer and of course it didn't make a sound when the drove it, including with me driving the tech around the parking lot.
I've done the push-pull test for bearings,tried the ol pry bar under wheel test and gotten in there and grabbed every tie rod, control arm, stabilizer,steering shaft and most anything else I could grab under there and nothing appears to be wrong. and at normal around-town and highway driving,she handles as good as ever. Only thing I can figure is that the tires and brake pads, while not at minimums, have worn a good bit, so maybe I'm feeling the bumps in the parking lot/drive way more than before (?) so just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or had an idea?

 

Does the clunk speed up with vehicle speed before being drown out? Or is it consistent? Over bumps?

You may have already, but also check your sway bar end links and it could be CV axle maybe.

 

First rule of 4runner front end noises…check the rubber splash guard over the upper control arms. They are held in by push/pin type things. When those pins are loose, they make quite a racket. If they are loose, take the pins out and put some rtv on the holes, or even simpler, just zip tie them on.

Another thing to check for is the brake caliper sliders pins (actually, does the 4runner even have a sliding caliper?). Anyway, if it does have pins, take them out and see if any are dried out. My 06 sienna had a metallic clunk/rattle that sounded like a loose heatshield, but it was actually a completely dry sliding pin.

Good luck and report back!

 

Random noises - such a pita! Just a suggestion and admittedly its out there but maybe try rotating your tires just to see if the noise goes away or shifts positions?
If you do this, when you get the wheels off look closely at all the moving parts that are now revealed.

 

The End of Toyota Reliability - YouTube

 

Do you have a GoPro you can put under there with one of those magnet mounts see if you can move it around until you can see what's making the noise.

 

consistent. and not even too much over big bumps. we have a few parking lots in town that have rough surface, more noticable there compared to say, going over a speed bump

 

I've got the same exact thing. Probably one of the BJ's starting to wear. Mine tends to happen when there is slight difference over a bump between left and right wheels. I suspect an endlink, but haven't spend the time to diagnose yet.

 

This may not be it but I had something similar when mine was new. It took me forever to track it down but it was the hood latch making a noise. I put some grease on it and now it’s quiet. I normally just clean it up and put a little grease on it every oil change. Weird I know but it fixed the annoying clunk/bump sound

 

that begs a question....wonder what the expected life span on the ball joints is for these trucks? I had an old Blazer that went 170k before they started acting up but that was the good old days when they had zerks so you could grease them every 30 or so.

 

for those following....I jacked the slo runner up and pulled front wheels off. nothing weird noted on suspension, but the first thing I noticed when I pulled the wheel off and put it back on was how crazy noisy the dust guard is (compared to the dozen or so other vehicles I've messed with). so took the wheel back off and noted that the guard is really close to the brake rotor. took very little hand pressure to make it touch the rotor, so I reckon with full vehicle weight, certain movements could easily make it tap the rotor.
Probably wishful thinking that it's something this simple..and I would think that the shield would be more of a scraping sound than what I occasionally hear.....but I carefully bent the guard just a tiny bit to create more space. guess we'll see.