Slight front end clunking noise when slightly turning steering wheel left or right

2024 Limited TRD OR
Build date 07/24
I just noticed this sound yesterday while parking. 9900 miles. Old Man daily. I just barely turn the wheel left or right about an 8th of a turn, dead stopped or low speed, like backing into my driveway. Any ideas?

 

I've heard something like that on my '23, since new, only when backing up onto the parking pad in my driveway in the mornings (backing up with hard lock left, haven't heard it with hard lock right). No issues have arisen in 34k miles I've put on it. I figured it is the front passenger's cv joint, first thing in the morning. Service Dept. determination was "could not replicate", of course.

 

For what it's worth. Suggestion. In cases like these when a problem is intermittent See if you can get someone to record it on your phone so you can show the tech. Had to do this with the well known brake noise as it did not occur all the time. Recorded along with Date , time , mileage and vin. This saved me Driving 50 miles to the dealership and "hoping" that the sound would be there for the service department.
If it's possible to upload a short recording here it might help others to figure out your problem.

 

I’ve had a similar noise - less than a clunk but more than a click from the steering column at low speeds or stopped.

Mine is exceptionally problematic since it’s temperature dependent, the colder it is the louder it is.

My dealership has replaced the clock spring without luck. They even just replaced the whole steering column, still does it.

It’s been quieter now due to the heat of summer but I’ll probably pick this back up with them in fall.

Sorry to hear it’s happening to you too and I hope someone else will be able to chime in with a solution.

 

I'll try to get a video. Almost sounds like something slightly binding. Did it right now when I started it up and was turning the wheel slightly left and right. I appreciate the feedback. Just made an appointment to have it looked at tomorrow. Definitely need to record it.

 

Hey No Radar. Just a thought. I too have a TRD OR with the TRD skid Plate. On mine if the skid plate is tighten too much on one bolt I will get a little pop when turning the wheel or backing out of the driveway and turning the wheel. Had this happen a couple of times after they did an oil change. Finally figured it out and crawled under the truck. loosened the bolts and re-snugged them down and pop was gone. My best guess in my case was that the TRD skid plate was in a little bind and when I would back out of the driveway and turn the wheel it would pop due to the bind and slight flex of the frame.

 

I had same clunk noise when backing and turning or going up curb at end of driveway. Dealer couldn’t duplicate. Turns out it was TRD skid plate just like @Observer said. Adjust bolts and noise is gone. It usually happens after an oil change when they remove the plate.

 

Dealer just did this and problem solved. I had video and they told me "I" was spot on. I told them it was a forum response and the guy said "sometimes the forum guys are right. Lol. Thanks everybody for your input. I'm 70 so I appreciate it. Thanks again PERRY1060!

 

Welcome. I have learned so much from this community. Also get a good laugh every now and then. For me it’s therapy.

 

Forgot to thank you. Spot on Bro.

 

Hey No Radar glad it worked out! Kudos to your dealership giving credit to the forum. As Perry 1060 stated, I too have learned so much by following this forum.
Gets me sometimes when your discussing a problem, solution or observation with the dealership and you mention it being addressed on the forums and you get that look like your practicing witchcraft.
While I admit there are times you see wild speculation there are also many times you find sound solutions or workarounds to a problem from people on here that's not addressed in their technical manuals.

 

Had same pop/creak occasionally on our Sequoia with TRD skid plate. I took it off & noise went away.
I installed the skid plate on our Tundra, and before installing could see where the stock Sequoia sway bar had made contact. The Tundra had a 3” lift and the skid plate needed to be modified to fit around the sway bar mounts, and exactly where the bar can make contact. It’s thick aluminum, but a trim might solve your problem. I’ve posted these pics before, but it shows where to trim if you want to try it.

 

It's your front skid plate. Add a poly or rubber spacer between your skid plate and frame it should quiet up.