My ‘07, which I’ve only had for about 8 months now, has started making an awful metal-on-metal clanking sound, which appears to be from the driver’s side in front. The behavior was much like that PF worn out swaybar end links or bushings, so I threw in some new end links, figuring I can either get lucky and address this clanking noise, or at least I can rule that out and replace some aging parts at the same time.

Well, as you might have imagined, still clanking. I have poked my head under there with a flashlight with the Rover jacked up enough for that whee to be free, and don’t see anything amiss. The brake wear sensor popped off and was loose, but I tied that off.

any ideas? I’m sure some audio would help, I’m just not sure I can capture it with my phone. I can try…yeah that didn’t work.

 

Upper ball joint? Lower steering shaft? CV joint? Does it do it more into turns in one direction?

 

Lower control arm bushings?
What scenario produces the noise?

 

Turning does not seem to impact it. It doesn’t feel or sound like LCA bushings. I did time old brake stomp check and no “clunk.” It’s more like a “clank” and it can happen on really small bumps. It seems to be coming from under my seat, so I was focused on the front driver side suspension components.

it can be high frequency low amplitude too…like rapid fire “clank clank clank.” Sounds eerily similar to when your upper control arm makes contact with the shock casing, if you’ve gone through that nightmare, but I checked both shocks and they look fine.

It is more of a sound like something is loose and ratting than something is binding, if that helps.

 

If you can't pinpoint it, you could try attaching multi channel noise detector sensors (ebay has options under $100). I have a set but I found my mystery noise at low speeds (worn driveshaft center bearing) before I needed to resort to the noise detector.

 

…I will try riding along with the passenger window down and see if it then sounds like it’s coming from the passenger side. It could be the prop shaft bearing, but it definitely seems to happen when I hit bumps with the front driver side tire. Oh, and the brake wear sensor got ripped out and was dangling. Another reason I suspect something in that area.

 

Loose skid plate? I replaced all 4 shocks on a 4Runner once for a friend of mine that insisted that was the problem. When that didn't fix it, I found a couple of bolts missing on his metal skid plate. It would slap and clank over bumps like you're describing. That fixed it!

 

Long shot here, but take a look at the inner tie rod. Mine only made noise while on the gravel roads. Did not clunk when turning but did rattle when going slow on gravel.

Jeff

 

@P-Bod I've looked at the skid plates....they seem okay. Thanks!

@Rufflyer I did see some moisture near the boot of the inner tie rod. What sort of noise was yours making? Did it sounds like metal-on-metal?

I appreciate y'all's comments/suggestions!

 

Yes it was a metal sound