Odd noise in front end...

Trying to diagnose a noise in the front end passenger side (side is probably irrelevant). Best way to describe it is a slight 'clunk' steering and over bumps. It is not too terribly loud (yet?), in fact I needed radio off and windows up while trying to figure it out. That said, jerking the steering wheel side to side at slows speeds and over bumps at low speed it seems very noticeable. Not so much at high speed. However, that could be due to road noise drowning it out a bit... I have been under it looking around for anything glaring but nothing is jumping out at me. It goes in for front brakes end of next week so I am hoping to narrow it down a bit based on some feedback here to help my guy figure it out as well.

In the event it is helpful:
2018 SR5 Premium
Spacer lift ~2 front and ~1 rear, ~2 years old
Stock size Falken Wildpeaks
Method MR316

My hope is it is maybe a strut or spacer lift is the issue and we can pull that all out and upgrade struts/shocks/springs...

Thanks.

 

Since you can replicate it at slow speeds by jerking the wheel back and forth, hopefully it will be easy to track down. Sounds like it could be a loose component related to the spacer install, or maybe a worn ball joint, tie rod, bearing, bushing etc.

Are you able to get the front wheels off the ground and pull/push on the top of the tire? That might give you some clues…

 

Yeah, I will have it looked at this week when we do brakes. I am guessing its something like you said, I was just kind of hoping it may be strut or spacer lift related so I can just pull the trigger and swap it out. Doesn't seem likely it is spacer related as it has been in for close to ~2 years with no issues, but who knows, maybe they wear out funny etc.

I posted wondering if it was something someone would chime right in and say "oh yeah, check the xyz"...

Thank you for the input!

 

Hey OP @NEguy I have virtually the same clunking noise when going over holes and bumps like fsr's this summer, not as much noticed turning left and right. Interested to see your diagnosis, I'm leaning towards UCA bushings or UCA balljoint myself (but my SPC's have lasted 3yrs already, and oddly there's no play when pushing and pulling on wheel).
I also have a different noise when turning sharp up left and right up immediate inclines, this sounds like metal on metal grinding (failing ball joint in socket?), or the sound could also be front tire rubbing actually (it's not the body mounts or pinch welds which I've chopped). Some even say perhaps add aftermarket bump stops after a lift maybe that's an answer to some rubbing or bottom struts out too, cuz judging from dirt on my bump stops there's no sign they're even making contact

Definitely hitting "Watch Thread"
Goodluck!

 

In the event you or anyone else is interested, I picked up my truck last night and everything feels so much tighter and extremely quiet... The noise was the sway bar link, the passenger side was bad, had a lot of slop/play. The drivers side was not as bad but definitely headed in the same direction, changed them both. The good news is it was a an easy/inexpensive fix and he said everything else in the front end looks really good.

• Rear Brakes (early summer)
• Lube driveshafts etc. (early summer)
• New Wildpeaks (~1,100 miles on them)
• Front brakes
• Oil change
• Sway bar links

Should be good to go for a while and another NH/New England winter...