Another front end noise question

I own a 2018 Tundra Platinum 4x4 with 56,000 miles, completely stock, purchased new. I’ve been experiencing an intermittent pop noise from the front end when driving at low speeds and turning, particularly in parking lot scenarios. The issue is noticeable only after the truck has warmed up, and I can feel it through the driver’s side floorboard.

This noise is distinct from the ABS self-check sound that occurs after startup. I’ve inspected the front-end components and confirmed that nothing is loose, including the brake calipers, sway bar, shocks, and other parts. To rule out potential causes, I also removed the TRD skid plate, but the issue persists.

I recently took the truck to a reputable local shop that specializes in performance modifications and custom fabrication for Toyota and Lexus trucks. However, they were unable to reproduce the problem or identify any obvious issues.

Based on my research, this seems to be a common issue without a clear fix.

What steps should I take next?

 

How loud and pronounced is this “pop”?

Does it sound sharp/metallic, or dull/muted?

sharp metallic typically indicates metal-to-metal like ball joints, CV joints, sway bar end links, etc.

Dull is typically a bushing/isolator.

Also, is the frequency regular.. I.e. tied to rotation of the driveline or intermittent?

 

The pop is definitely intermittent and can be very pronounced but other times less pronounced. When it's loudest, it does sound more sharp. I was able to reproduce it once when backing uphill into a parking spot with the wheel turned a quarter turn.

 

Just wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone else. I should have mentioned earlier that the noise only happened after the truck had been driven and warmed up — no issues when cold.

After some digging, I finally tracked it down: the driver’s side lower control arm (LCA) wasn’t properly torqued during a previous alignment. Once I torqued it to spec, the noise was completely gone.

Surprisingly, even a well-regarded shop couldn’t figure it out, but a little time under the truck with a torque wrench did the trick.

 

Some more food for thought. My shocks went on the front of the Tundra over last winter. Bilstein 4600s with a spacer lift. The tell tale sign was a pronounced metal to metal pop that felt like the floorboard on the passenger side was being hit by a 2lb sledge hammer (typically when going over larger bumps). The shock looked normal and had no leaking at all. Taking it out and compressing it by hand it was much easier than the new shock that replaced it. So it was bad for sure.

My second pop sound came about a month after. Only going over small bumps, more pronounced on a turned wheel. This was more of a pop sounds and not so much metal on metal. More of a something giving way pop (cork out of a bottle, etc). This ended up being sway bar bushings. I swapped them out for Polyurethane sway bar bushings sourced from Ebay. They are for the factory non-pro sway bar and work great. I put a thin coat of grease on them to keep them from squeaking as they are not the greaseable bushings unfortunately.

I live on a very rough road (10.4 miles to the property). This of course accelerates suspension replacement(s).