Bumped off curb while backing out - crunch sound - now left front is squeaky - something serious?

Two weeks ago I was backing out of a tight driveway and the left front rolled off the curb while cranked right.

There was a metallic screech on the bump.

Now left front is squeaky when I go over small bumps. If I stand on the side step and bounce the suspension by springing it, it squeaks a bit. The squeaking has been getting lighter and less frequent over the past two weeks though. There is no tugging or pull to the side if I drive hands off the wheel. And 4wd 4H mode engages and disengages smoothly, again no pulling to a side.

But tonight a new sound ... a light clank or clunk when I start out from a stop. Sounds like something is loose and slipping against a stop.

Should I be really worried?

What can get bent or broken in the suspension or steering if the suspension compresses while the wheel is cranked?

Can I get by with driving it during the weekend for work? ... until I can get to a mechanic that I trust?

Earliest available dealership appointment is Monday, but I don't trust them. They've tried to rip me off a couple times now. (1. loan guy tried to sneak an extra couple thousand into the financing when I bought the car, and 2. fake "you need your alignment adjusted" while I was checking in for warranty maintenance - it didn't actually need it.)

I'll put it up on jacks in the morning and try to check it for loose parts. But I don't have much understanding of the suspension, so I'm not entirely sure what I should be looking for. Any recommendations of what I should look for? Specific parts I should tug on to check for looseness, etc?

It amazes me that the 4wd Tacoma can injure itself like that just by rolling off a low bump with the wheel turned.

Thanks for your attention.

 

First off, noises are almost impossible to diagnose over the internet. The only real way to diagnose them is to lay one's hands on the suspension. That said, almost any noise from the front suspension is abnormal. The big question is how big of a problem it is.

With only 40,000 miles on your truck according to your signature, one can pretty much rule out something being worn out. That leaves something damaged or broken as the biggest suspects. I would not recommend driving a vehicle with a damaged front suspension unless you can verify that what's damaged is not serious.

As for your statement that a "4wd Tacoma can injure itself like that just by rolling off a low bump with the wheel turned," generally speaking, Tacomas are pretty tough trucks. I'd hold off on blaming the truck until you verify what's actually wrong and if the part(s) are original. As for where you need to take the truck to get it fixed, remember, a dealer is not the only place to take one. There are plenty of knowledgeable and honest private shops out there. I'm sure there is one near you if you look.

 

Actually 123k miles now... updated my profile.

Thanks.

 

Ah, that opens a whole lot more possibilities. Again, without being able to lay my hands on your truck, here's a few things to think about in no particular order of importance. First, the OEM wheel bearings - as good as they are - generally start to fail around 100,000 - 130,000 miles. Even if this isn't your problem, you might want to have a good shop check them and replace them with OEM. (Most aftermarket bearings are cheaper, but many are junk.) Second, lower control arms - when the truck is used in areas where they use road salt - can have issues with ball joints wearing out and / or the camber bolts freezing up. (Did you have an alignment recently?) Third, tie rod ends can fail at this age.

Again, I'd have a competent shop put the truck up on a lift and poke around.

 

I would put the LCA’s on the bottom of your list
Not likely them at 123K

 

I would agree.

 

Get under there and have someone bounce on the side step until you pinpoint the sound. I'd guess ball joints as these are normal culprits to go bad on Tacomas. But it's anyone's guess at this point.

 

At 100k, my money says worn bushing and/or loose lower bumper.

 

Anyone know what parts and labor is like on wheel bearings job for a Taco?

 

Honestly- cross that bridge when you're at it.

Everyone here is wildly speculating with very little information to go on. Don't get worked up just yet if TacomaWorld thinks your dry cough is esophageal cancer.

Step one: get it properly diagnosed, then start pricing repairs.

 

Mechanic diagnosed this as the problem. He said that the bushings on the shocks on both sides were decayed and the shocks were moveable by about a half inch and both assemblies needed replacement.

Shock can't be replaced by itself. Full shock/spring assembly on 4x4 was ~$300 each. Total job about $1100.

Ugh, this hurts.

 

Glad to hear you found the problem, but I disagree with the recommended fix. You can indeed just replace the front shock / strut by swapping the springs over to the new units. As for price. I just bought all four shocks and springs - removed at 200 miles - from a 2022 4Runner (same suspension as a Tacoma) for my 4Runner for just $300. Somebody is trying to take advantage of you.

 

He said for the 4WD model the assemblies were different than the TRD / 2WD models.

Quick check at NAPA for 4wd shows some assemblies at $150ea and some at $280ea. I'm not sure what the difference is between the $150's and the $280's.

Rock Auto has KYB assemblies for 4wd at $145ea.

For the individual parts, Toyota dealership is quoting me a total price of $545 for one side.

Can you point me to the parts you're talking about?

 

find some 3rd gen takeoffs....where you at?

 

Central Ohio. Second and Third gen are compatible?

 

yep, they are. Something like this will work, if you want a slight lift in the front, use Off Road ones, yellow and blue. Drive up to Northern Michigan, Ill help you change them!!

 

What's the C-shaped part in your image? I was just pricing out the strut assembly (like: KYB SR4471) ... am I going to need that extra piece?

 

that is upper control arms with ball joints. You may not need them at all. but nice to have them at that price!

and your mechanic is incorrect, you CAN just change shocks..you just have to disassemble your coil overs.

 

It's faster to swap in pre-assembled shock/spring versus moving old spring to new shock on front. That's why shop would prefer to do it that way. Being able to move old spring to a new shock is the concept behind the Bilstein 5100 shocks that so many people use.

Not a tough job if some in here lives close to you and willing to show how or help do it with you.

 

So to wrap up this episode... Rock Auto shipped the strut assemblies (KYB SR4463 for TRD 4x4 Taco) 2 days early.

Mechanic did the job in 3 hours. Drives solid now, so far.

The rubber bushings around the ring-shaped mount end were decayed to the point of fraying. It's hard for me to understand how that leads to the squeak and the clank sounds I was hearing. But the damage to that little rubber part was significant, both left and right (original Bilstien shocks). The springs showed some rust and flaking and there was also rust and flaking around the shock bodies. Mechanic thought the weakening of the springs by corrosion made them more likely to fail.

• Rock Auto price: $145ea free delivery by ground which arrived in 2 days on Sunday (!)
• NAPA price: $280ea
• Mechanic's supplier: $329ea
• Dealership: $545ea (unassembled, including control arms I believe)

It amazes me that the entire mass of the truck effectively rides on those little rubber bushings. Shouldn't they be independently replaceable?

Anyway, thanks to everyone for insides and information.