Front End Bump noises

Hello All,
I have 1st Gen 4x4 SR5, 200K miles and it seems I'm going down the path of Squeaks and ringing (loose hardware) noises as I'm driving this pickup daily. I need to get complete bushing kit for this front end as its driving me crazy. Its defiantly the front end as the noise is heard as same time.

I replace coil over shocks and bushings
Checked all exhaust heat shields
removed the skid plate (for noise testing)
Original Arms and bushings
Replaced upper and lower ball joints (original parts)

Thank you for any help and part numbers

Ted Littleton,CO

 

Welcome Ted! There's a lot of places that can make noise. Can you hear it from any particular spot? And any specific noises?

 

Thanks for the reply, the noise is only when front axle hits road bumps. This is a 4X4 and Its almost like a ring sound. Tonight I'm going to remove the Sway bar hardware and drive. thanks Ted

 

Sway bar links would be a good start; I've experienced noises when they're loose.

 

Hello , today I removed the sway bar and links. Checked for ball joint play, pulled and tugged. I don’t see one loose bolt , had friend take a movie when I hit a bump with front suspension.

https://youtube.com/shorts/NCT_SrxZNdQ?feature=share

 

Had a recent alignment done? Lower control arm Cam bolts loose? Upper control arm thru bolts loose? Have you tried soaking stuff down with lubricant to see if the noise goes away?

That’s all i can think of now off the top of my head

 

Thanks for reply. No alignment and control arms are original, cam bolts are tight. Great idea to shoot lubricant 1 place at a time. Checked all front end frame welds and frame to body bushings.
Parts replaced: up/low ball joints, struts

1 thing important. I don’t hear front end noise when braking

 

Check your brakes then. Pads could be missing the springs that hold tension on them. Loose caliper or dust shield bolt.

 

That's a pretty good knocking sound.

If all the bushings are ok and you have new ball joints...

Are the shocks new? Swap sides and see if one is bad internally. Also check to see if the coil is flexing and touching the shock body or chassis (typically caused by incorrect top hat position).

 

Sounds like what a loose brake backing plate or exhaust heat shield noise would make....not saying necessarily either, simply loose thin sheet of aluminum or steel.

 

Bad cv axle that only makes noise when pivoting?

 

Thanks for the great suggestions, Both cv axles don't have slop when I pull/push up down and when I turn hardover to each side, no strange sounds. I agree and about thin metal and I did find a heat shield clamp broken, replaced but still noises. Im going to take dust shield off on this right side, check both Pads for broken holder or caliper issues. Both Shocks/struts are new.
As I stated earlier- Driving 20mph no brakes applied hear jingle sound when tires hit pothole. Light brakes applied with gas still on don't hear noise when pothole.

I have been thinking, with Brakes applied I bet the control arms have force which also might be important . Pickup has 200k and these are stock Control arm bushings.

Thanks Ted

 

Did you have 13WE pads in 13WL calipers?

 

Akebono pads. Yes they Fit the calipers correct

 

Any play or leaks in the shock rods (shafts)?

 

No they are brand new. Been slowly diagnose the sound. It’s on front right with no brakes on. Took the caliper off and dust shield off. Nothing odd. Im thinking of replacing upper and lower control arm bushings next , no play up or down or side to side. Thanks for replying

 

And you removed the skid and the anti sway. No chance it’s actually in the engine bay on that side? I really doubt it, but it just found a rattle in my dash that has plagued me forever. I thought it was around the driver, turns out it was the AC control under the stereo

 

Thanks to all who replied, yesterday took the complete front end apart. After removing sway bar and struts Found the lower control arm on passenger side had no rubber on rear, and the control arm was jiggling up/down or metal to metal when suspension hit the rubber Bumpstops. Will get all new control arm bushings this week and hopefully not a clunk on a bump! . 200K 21 years young and still going! thanks Ted

 

I am going through this now on my '03 AC. When braking, bumps or any turn. Squeaks in the front.

 

Aftermarket upper control arms?

 

Don't think so. I never installed any. The PO never did a thing to this truck.

 

This sounds a lot like lower control arm bushings.

 

So many things that can make noises up there. Once I let someone else change my oil and they didn't torque the skid plate. Start by checking all your bolt torques, including shocks.

 

and this!

 

Good idea. Will do

 

What they described was exactly the symptoms I experienced when mine were bad. But yes, a lot of things up there that can make noise!

For the bushings you should be able to crawl underneath and see if the rubber is worn away like the OP @tgroves506 did, or if they're cracked. My guess they are if they're original and the truck is in a dry environment.