Lower Control Arms

What are some symptoms of a bad LCA? ie; worn bushings? I get some front end noise like something is worn, loose or broken when going over bumps or driving on rough roads. I've checked pretty much all the components such as coilovers (just replaced), ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links, etc. Everything seems fine.
I have a 2010 DCSB TRD Sport with 122k on the odo.
TIA for any insight.

 

Jack up the truck. Take off the wheel. Grab stuff, don’t be gentle, does it move?

 

I just did that this past Friday. I put a set of 3rd Gen TRD Pro suspension components front and rear. While I worked on the truck, I was trying to chase the source of the noise. I came up empty. No resolution so far.

 

Retorque cam bushing bolts on the LCA to 100ft lbs and go for a test drive. Also check sway bar bushings and mounting brackets.

 

I'll try that. I have replaced the sway bar bushings already with the blue Moog bushings. But I'll try retorquing the cam bolts. Thanks

 

at 122k miles and 12 years i would say your LBJs are probably pretty worn, when i started redoing my front end LCAs and UCA's where smoked and that was at 94k miles and 9 years of driving. I'm not one for shot gunning parts, but might be time too freshen up the front end?

 

I think you may be correct. It's kind of the conclusion that I've come to but wanted to get other's opinions. As you stated, I don't want to just start shot gunning parts replacing. I did get a new frame about three years ago. I can't recall, but I don't believe LCA's were part of that recall. Could be wrong there? All my ball joints and such seem fine.
I have a buddy with a lift in his garage. Might be time to take a deep dive into this project. I don't think there's a major rush to resolve this. It's more of an annoyance than a catastrophic failure at this point.

 

I hear you if i hear a clunk, squeak or creak from my truck i will damn near tear every nut, bolt, washer and bushing off until i find it's source even if i'm the only one that can hear it. With a new frame it's worth investing into the trucks suspension too get it driving like new.

 

That's my line of thinking too. I had actually considered buying a new Tacoma. Not because of this noise, but just because. Problem is, I like this truck too much. It's been an amazing truck since day one when I brought her home brand new. It's still in incredible condition, so I decided against the new truck. That plus I'm paying my grandson's tuition being another factor.

 

Did you tighten the LCA bolts with the suspension drooped, or with the weight of the truck on the suspension?
The lower strut bolts should be tightened with the weight of the truck on them as well.
Mark the locations of your alignment cams, and with the truck sitting on ramps (so the weight of the truck is on the suspension and you have some room to work), loosen the LCA hardware and the lower strut mounts, then re-torque everything. The LCA hardware should be torqued to about 97 ft*lbs. I'm not sure on the lower strut bolts but those should be good and snug.

 

I did tighten the lower strut bolts with the truck on the ground. I tightened the LCAs while on the lift though. But this noise I'm hearing has been present for a couple years now almost. But I agree that it can't hurt to loosen everything and retorque.

 

You might try disconnecting the LBJ from the wheel attachment and see if the LBJ has play. I was able to push/pull mine up/down and here the noise. There shouldn't be any play. 190k miles.

 

To that point, check the uppers as well. There should be no play if you grab the top of the spindle and pull in/out

 

Upper and lower ball joints good.

UPDATE; We put it up on the lift today. Loosened the lower shock bolts and LCA cam bolts and put it back down on the floor. Tightened everything to torque specs. That solved 95% of the noise. There's still some slight noise every once in a while on extremely rough roads, but it's sooooo much better. My conclusion is when the Toyota dealer replaced the frame, the technician didn't follow that procedure because that's about the time I developed the noise.
Thanks for all the suggestions here. Much appreciated.

 

I developed a creaking noise coming from the driver's side after installing DK LCA's. I narrowed it down to the shock absorber (RC Vertex shocks) The noise sounded like the one in the video below. I've had them for a couple of years and they work excellent but it seems dirt got in between the coilover and the insulator bushings and was causing the noise. I contacted RC and spoke to Chad to see if they sold replacement bushings or maybe if there was a remedy and he sent me a whole new set of front vertex shocks($1300 value) with a return label for the old ones at no cost. Not to get off topic but alot of folks bash RC's products but their customer service is second to none.

https://youtube.com/shorts/7ri7ObFsCK0?feature=share

 

That's a pretty violent noise! Mine wasn't even close to that.