Front End Pops Diagnosis and Confounding Leaks.

So my buddy, who needs to get an account here, has an 02 4x4 V8... 175k on it. He's been playing catch up on some maintenance and we just did Bilsteins up front with OEM springs at factory ride and LBJs. These sounds and pops existed before we did that work.

Anyways, he's had a creaking or popping sound that is happening when he is moving at slow speeds...

After going on some test rides with him, the sounds is most repeatable when you are stopped or almost stopped and crank the wheel lock to lock.

I jacked up the front end and unweighted the front tires and the sound goes away. It comes back when the truck has basically full weight back on the tires.

We can see the steering rack moving in the passenger side bushing, and keeping a hand on outer tie rods... It doesn't seem to be those. I'm open to being convinced tho...

Confounding factor... He's got two leaky valve cover gaskets, which appear to be dripping and wetting the rack, as the fluid on the rack doesn't smell like PS fluid.

Regardless of what fluid it is... Would it behoove him to fix the leaks before replacing the bushings, as oil / PS fluid could alter the properties of the bushings and ruin them again?

Open to other ideas on the creaking/popping too. Photos below cause y'all love em.

The truck


Wetness on rack, there is much wetness above and out the valve covers which is confounding.

 

How do all the control arm bushings look?

 

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I'm not nearly as knowledgeable as some, but that was my first thought. My Tacoma had weird front end creaking noises when I'd slow down to a stop. Turned out to be lower control arm bushings.

I like that camper!

 

My valve cover gaskets leak- and drip onto the same spots where the steering rack is wet in your photos. If your friend isn't losing PS fluid, then I'd assume it's engine oil. I don't think that the leaking oil could have a very immediate effect on the rubber bushings. Sure, it might soak into the rubber after a long time, but it didn't look like those leaks were very severe.

Also, I'd recommend poly bushings for the steering rack. I have them on my truck, and they work great. I also think that the poly bushings might be less susceptible to soaking up oil than traditional rubber bushings.

For the squeaking noise- check the upper ball joints. I had mine replaced shortly after getting my truck, and it stopped lots of clunking. I didn't experience any squeaking though.

 

Honestly? Hard to see, lol. We'll have to look closer for cracks/play. When we had the shocks and LBJs out maybe we should have looked closer and pried for movement. Any test methods you'd recommend for the control arm bushings?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. Given this info maybe checking the control arm bushings is warranted. It didn't smell or look like PS fluid to me.

 

The lowers are pretty easy to see, and because of your symptoms, they could be the culprit.

 

A major pain to replace, though, if that's what your issue ends up being.

 

Yes I've experienced this on my Tacoma because of rusted cams bolts and sleeves. Not fun.