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Rear Clunking Noise - Any Ideas?

Discussion in '3rd Gen 4Runners (1996-2002)' started by RyanM144, May 15, 2021.

  1. May 15, 2021 at 4:56 PM
    #1
    RyanM144

    RyanM144 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2021
    Member:
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    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    1999 Silver 4Runner
    So I've been having this issue for a month or two, but it just got quite a bit worse. It's a sort of clanking noise that comes from the back of the car, towards the right. It had been fairly quiet in the past, and was barely noticeable, but today it was much louder.

    The most telling thing I've noticed is that it only happens when I drive faster than around 60mph. If I'm driving 50mph over a road with lots of cracks or potholes, it doesn't happen. When it does, the clanks happen every second or two.

    Any ideas what might be causing this? I've seen things like a loose sway bar on other posts with similar issues.
     
  2. May 16, 2021 at 4:19 AM
    #2
    Toy4X4

    Toy4X4 New Member

    Joined:
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    First Name:
    Jeff
    Vehicle:
    2020 Offroad Prem. 4-runner
    RevTek 3" front- 2" rear leveling, JBA uca's, LED interior lights, Cooper 275-70-17 AT3 LT
    Welcome from Wisconsin! I would start by checking all the bushings in the rear suspension. Just a starting point.
     
  3. May 17, 2021 at 4:21 PM
    #3
    Ahdofu

    Ahdofu New Member

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    Matt
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    1997 4Runner SR5, V6, Auto, 4WD
    Put the rear up on jacks and with the vehicle in 2WD, put it in gear and listen for the noise
     
  4. May 17, 2021 at 4:26 PM
    #4
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

    Joined:
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    TEXAS
    Vehicle:
    16 Trail Premium
    ICON custom stage 6 3"; 33's; gobi rack; SSO bumper; SSO high clearance; Rigid lights; 10k X2o winch; AFe intake; brola cat back; tint; aftermarket sound; opor sliders; pedal commander, viper smart start mobile tracker, Canvasback Liner; Rago rear window molles; victory 4x4 center console molle; cbi front skid steel; cbi aluminum tran skid; rci fuel aluminum skid; rci dif skid; rago rear shock skids; rci lower link skids; tenton workshop shift knob; yoga shop grenade trans knob;alpha rex headlights; USR blacked out tails; USR turns to turns; blacked out sequential mirror turn
    Rear shocks
     
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  5. May 18, 2021 at 9:01 AM
    #5
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2020
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    Gender:
    Male
    South FL
    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    Put it in 4Hi and see if it goes away or not. Go to a parking lot and go forward slowly and turn hard right and left, see if it changes turning one way versus the other. Put the rear on jacks on the axle and see if you can wiggle the wheel. Then move the jacks to the frame to let the axle fully extend, see if you can wiggle anything. Check brake caliper mounting bolts. Check sway bar end links. Check final spider joint bolts. Check spring seat. Check panhard bar bolts. Check rear upper and lower trailing arm bolts...Tons of things to look at.

    Best to start with is get it in the air and get under there to look around. Take pics if you want and post them. Crawl around and smack everything with a deadblow hammer and see if it moves when it shouldn't. Help us help you. :)
     

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