Front End "clunk Noise" when transitioning into driveway

Returning from my last trip to the desert in February, Tacoma now makes a single "pop" or "clunk" noise in the front when transitioning from flat street through a gutter into a driveway or shopping Center parking lot while steering to the left or right. Noise is subtle. It is heard inside the cab not outside. No "pop or clunk" driving on street, turning corners on road...just going down through a gutters. Transitioning through a gentle "swail" one street to perpendicular street produces no noise.

The problem has been checked by both my mechanic and the local dealers warranty service department. They hear the sound too, however have not located the source. Nothing seems to be broken or out of place.

Dealer got rid of me and the problem by stating that I need to remove the Eagle camper, remove the non-stock rear spring set, returning the vehicle back to stock... at least $ 1,500 process I am not willing to undertake.

I know the Tacoma does not have a boxed frame. The camper is bolted down to the frame. My fabricator drilled 9/16" diameter holes in the bed mat and composite bed floor then welded two 1/4 inch thick angle iron plates in front. 9/16"s to allow for frame flex. 3/8" diameter "elevator" bolts .... bolt camper down. After 31,000 miles (600 miles bad wash-board road) = NO loose nuts or broken bolts.

In rear he found 2 existing empty frame holes to secure the angle iron plates. I wonder if the camper attachment is preventing the frame from incremental "twisting", stressing the frame? Although going straight at angle on some trails produces no noise. I have never read any problems with the 2nd gen Tacoma's. Searching this Forum = no results.

As an aside: Welding to the frame does not void the warranty. However drilling into it does. I checked with Toyota before purchasing it.

Anyone out there have any ideas of where to look next?

 

I'd love to know what you come up with on the cause of the "clunk". My 2013 Acc cab is doing the exact same thing. (3" lift, no camper)
I've checked over everything I can think of in my front end, and have found nothing.

 

I'm suffering the same thing in my first gen, trying to replicate it is very difficult. It is in and out of driveways and if I turn the wheel with the truck stopped. I have disconnected sway bar, replaced UBJ, I am now on to the LCA bushings, it is very strange. Next up is the steering rack....

 

I'd recommend lifting the front end and moving the tires left and right to replicate the clunk. I had something similar on my old truck and it turned out to be loose spindle connecting to the control arm, iirc. Subd for outcome.

 

I had a pop like that. Mine is gone after tightening the bed bolts, the torx closest to passenger door was loose. Also check body mount bolts and transmission crossmember to frame bolts. I got them all to turn a bit some more than others.

 

I've recently developed the front end clunk as well on my 2013. It happens when transitioning from driveway to street. My first thought was the shock was bottoming out similar to people who have the clunk w Nitro shocks by OME. Search " goes clunk over speed bump". I've been reading this thread which seems to have found a solution?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/found-it-post-lift-clunking-and-knocking.407165/

 

check ball joints, look at boots for tears. grab the tire at 9&3 and move it, listen and feel for slight clunks. they'll be a lot more subtle when you're doing it with your hands and not the whole truck.

then put a torque wrench on every bolt in the suspension parts up front and make sure you're all dialed

 

I had a clunk from my sway bar hitting my springs after i put my 5100s. Adding the toytec sway bar relocation bracket seems to have fixed it.

 

For sure not the sway bar on mine, it hasn't clunked on anything since I threw it away.

 

Thanks all you have great ideas. Since I am age 72 + with a damaged back I will pass your suggestions on to my mechanic

 

YAAAAAAAAAASSSSSS!
Mine turned out to be my skid plates. I have bud-built, the crossmember is bolted in on one side and then rests on some bolts on the other side. When I would turn the wheel or hit a small bump with one wheel, the frame would twist just enough (expected) to make a knock against the frame. It was an AWFUL sound. But it put in some riv-nuts and it seems to be gone now.

 

One more thing guys, check the bolts that hold your brake calipers on. I had one come loose, that was an awful sound too when going from forward to reverse and when going over speed bumps.
I am so paranoid that I even carry spare ones now since they are a unique thread size. You can buy the right ones but they appear no where else on Tacomas that I can find.

 

I have the same pop and clunk.... after a month of searching I gave up and said it ain't broke don't fix it.... mostly only happens when wheeling anyways

 

You'll find it when it breaks

 

Same thing here. It may be the steering stop coming contacting and popping out. still trying to sort mine out fully, Toyota had no luck and won't return calls or emails.

 

Probably... honestly I'll probably snap a control arm before anything

 

Mu local dealer - REFUSED- to put my mechanics suggestion on the work order at Toyota Carlsbad, Calif, so that suggestion was never checked. My mechanic found the source of problem in "TacoPhils" link. Since the dealer won't honor the 60 month, 60,000 mile power train warranty, I advised him to fix it. I plan to contact the regional office and see if they will reimburse me. If that doesn't work I may contact my local CBS station and see if they are interested in my experience enough to put it on the air.

 

Sway bar links worn.

 

I had a front end clunk on my 15 When going over large bumps, curbs, etc. I wasn't able to find anything definitive and kind of forgot about it. Lately it seems to have gone away but the only thing I did was remove/install skid plates to change gear oil. Maybe they were loose?

 

I used to have a clunk when turning into a raised parking lot. If I was going slow and came up on a raised pavement with the steering wheel turned, it would almost always clunk.

I just figured it wasn't anything worth looking at since it always did it, but was otherwise fine