Weird clicking sound on deceleration

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Last weekend, I swapped out the front wheel studs on my 99 4runner for longer ones so I could run a small (1/2") wheel spacer and some Pro-Comp Rock crawler wheels. Truck drove fine all day Saturday and did great wheeling at Rowher Flats on Sunday. Monday, while I was driving, I noticed a clicking sound coming from the front passenger side wheel when I decelerate or turn into my driveway. Everything was torqued to spec when I reinstalled it. When I jacked it up yesterday, it made the clicking sound again, with each pump of the jack. Is there anything specific I should be looking for since this sound appeared suddenly. I'm going to grease the UCA bushings tonight. It sounds kinda like the "groaning" that happens under full droop and seems to be coming from the A arm/ spindle area.

Thank you.
 
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Sounds like the rig is disappointed it is running spacers and not sending at full throttle constantly.

On a serious note. Are studs pulled all the way through? Are you running hub centric spacers on your rig? Can you pull the wheel and replicate the click on jacking spindle up? Those are where I'd start...
 

Slim-Whitey

Canadian hoser, Eh?
Know it all snowfake
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Deceleration as in while braking, or just off throttle?

Clicking and popping while turning is most commonly a CV axle joint.
And feedback through the steering wheel while it's making noise?
 
Joined
Feb 21, 2022
Messages
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Sounds like the rig is disappointed it is running spacers and not sending at full throttle constantly.

On a serious note. Are studs pulled all the way through? Are you running hub centric spacers on your rig? Can you pull the wheel and replicate the click on jacking spindle up? Those are where I'd start...
These are the spacers I'm using (Sorry for the huge pic). Not hub centric. I just needed them to clear the caliper. The same sound occurs when I jack up the spindle.

Wheel spacers(2).jpg


I will take a look at this when I get home. Thank you.
Deceleration as in while braking, or just off throttle?

Clicking and popping while turning is most commonly a CV axle joint.
And feedback through the steering wheel while it's making noise?
Deceleration off the throttle. No braking. The popping does not happen when turning, only when driving straight. No feedback through the steering wheel.
 
Last edited:

Dezert4Runner

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I recently had to run a 1/4” spacer like the ones you posted sonI could clear new wheels from contacting the 231mm Tundra brake calipers. I have my lug nuts torqued to 85 ft lbs. Haven’t noticed any new sounds since installing. Of coarse that doesn’t rule out yours by any means. Since the sound happened after wheeling it could be almost anything in the front end, really. How old are your tie rods? How about LCA and UCA bushings?
 
Joined
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I recently had to run a 1/4” spacer like the ones you posted sonI could clear new wheels from contacting the 231mm Tundra brake calipers. I have my lug nuts torqued to 85 ft lbs. Haven’t noticed any new sounds since installing. Of coarse that doesn’t rule out yours by any means. Since the sound happened after wheeling it could be almost anything in the front end, really. How old are your tie rods? How about LCA and UCA bushings?
I don't know how old they are. I bought the truck, used, in February so I don't know when they were last changed.
 
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1/4" isn't huge for a spacer. 3rd gen 4runners use hub centric wheels. It could be a possibility but I'd doubt it. Pull the wheel and spacer. Jack the spindle up and if you still hear it then its not a hub spacer/wheel issue. Try to identify where (what area) the sound comes from when you're doing this.
 
Joined
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1/4" isn't huge for a spacer. 3rd gen 4runners use hub centric wheels. It could be a possibility but I'd doubt it. Pull the wheel and spacer. Jack the spindle up and if you still hear it then its not a hub spacer/wheel issue. Try to identify where (what area) the sound comes from when you're doing this.
I did this and it sounds like its coming from the lower control arm. I put my hand on the LCA as I was lifting and felt ticking when I hear the sound. I lubed the UCA (Camburg) bushings, swaybar links, and shock mounts.

I'm also thinking it may be the body bushing from all the twisting last weekend. Could that be a possibility?
 
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Sure could. Could be worn bushings anywhere...lca's, body mounts, sways, etc. So if you feel ticking in the lca while jacking it up id guess cam bolts vs lca bushing vs sway link. Those are all connected at the lca.
 

Dukestaco

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The only time I had clicking on my Tacoma it was coming from the UCA bolt. Torqued it to spec and that took care of it.
 
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