Stock Suspension problem?

I need some advice from you fine folks of vintage taste. I bought 2004 DC Tundra last year and other than the front end suspension is in great shape. I had a small local mechanic shop (oldschool, cigarette smoke, and a charming gravelly voiced old lady at the desk) replace the rack & pinion, outer tie rod ends, sway bar links, upper control arms, and front struts.

It was still making a clunking noise, so I took it back in, and they said it needed another tie-rod thing. When I got it home the tires lean out like in the picture below and when turning the steering wheel and approaching the stops on either end, the truck kinda leans into the turn. If I allow it, it would settle into the stops, it feels weird.

This is my first truck since I had a Mazda B2000 mini truck in the early 90's. Since I've never driven another Tundra and the suspension on this one was so F*$ked up when I bought it, I'm not certain what it is supposed to feel like.

Lastly, and unrelated (I think) is that when I drive over a speed bump, the back end comes down so hard that it feels like I'm riding a hard-tail chopper. The previous owner said he had the rear shocks replaced recently and the mechanic shop didn't note any problems. Again, I'm not sure what it is supposed to feel like. I did check if it still feels stiff under load and and it does with a refrigerator in the bed.

As far as I know, it's stock without a lift. I'm tempted to go back and give the shop one more try to fix it, but I'm not sure if it's broken or out of spec, or what. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Nice color.

For starters, when doing that much work you'll need an alignment done. I suggest a proper shop for that, don't let them set the toe and call it done, what you have is a problem of camber. That should be easily corrected by a good alignment tech.

Also, turn a wheel to the side and get a few pictures of your suspension for us. Seeing what you have going on is helpful. Be sure to get everything from the top of the shock down to the lower arm.

What are you doing when the clunk happens? Backing up, going over a bump, taking a dip, turning?

 

What kind of Alignment did we get done with the work listed above?

 

RE: Alignment, they did a "4 wheel alignment" when they replaced the front end parts in Aug last year.
RE: Clunk, I hear it at odd times and not very predictable; like when I get in the truck but not when turning or going over bumps, just sometime when driving or the truck shifting weight. They did fine a loose exhaust clamp, so maybe another one of those.
RE: Pictures: Damn! I glad you asked me to take them, look at the polished bit below. Def some kind of rubbing

 

Image 2153 is the driver's side no rubbing like the passenger side. Image 2161 is the passenger side wheel that's doing the rubbing. It's got 18 inch Tacoma wheels that the previous owner swapped the originals for.

 

The tire is rubbing a bit on the frame there. Looks like it rubs often enough to keep rust away, thats almost a good thing. You do have some rust creeping in.

I don't see anything standing out as bad. First pic the coil seems to be bending a bit, but that might be normal. Its possible that the coil is tapping the shock when you shift weight. They used a lot of zip ties on the brake line but that won't cause harm.

Check your leaf springs in the back, they could be popping too.

Excellent job on the pics by the way. So often we see pics that aren't useful.

Edit- looks like you have original Toyota lower ball joints. Not knowing the mileage on them, I would consider replacement with Toyota ball joints in the near future.

Also, see if you can get alignment done elsewhere. I would guess you are wither in California or Florida from the front yard. A Toyota dealership might be a good choice, or 4wheel Parts if you are in California. Costs more than average but it will be correct.

 

Ok, good, so probably just need to take it to a better shop for alignment and adjustment. Here's some picks of the rear leaf springs. Yeah, I live near the coast in south Florida. Rust is a problem. Not too bad over all. I looked at a truck shipped down from New Jersey and it's frame looked like swiss cheese. Someone's going to have a bad day with that one.

 

Also what are those yellow pads? That must be what I feel when I come down hard after a speed bump.

 

I was going to say.... Da heck are them yellow things??? They're huge! You have maybe 1-2 inches of movement before you bottom out on those stops. No bueno.

 

It almost looks like a Sumo spring or an airbag?

https://www.supersprings.com/shop/ssf-204-54/

 

Maybe these:

https://www.supersprings.com/products/sumosprings/

 

The big yellow bump stops are definitely the problem in the back. So that's solved. Previous owner likely towed or hauled heavy stuff. The front end does appear to be cambered in after the front end work. My son's looked like this after some front end work and it was all toe. Once adjusted it looked normal again. I would have swore it needed camber adjustment, but that was not the case. Yours appear to be toe'd in in the picture. I second the need for a real alignment, and a second set of eyes on the work. Those zipties are tragic. There's a bolt and clip that can't be too hard to source that would secure those brake lines. The toe being off would explain the rubbing on the frame too.

 

I had no idea it was possible to rub the frame up front?

 

Thanks for the help you guys. These (https://www.supersprings.com/shop/ssf-204-54/) look exactly like what's on there and are not even for the Tundra. When I put in my truck's info, I get similar but different ones. I think it's weird that the front frame rubbing is only on the right side. I must make a lot of left turns (like NASCAR). I'm going to take it to another shop to get the alignment tweaked out. Initially, I figured old truck is fine with a mom and pop mechanic, but I think I'm beyond that now after $2600+ in front end work, and two subsequent trips back without solving the basic problem here.

I appreciate everyone's time and love this truck like everyone else on here.

 

Agreed.

@Astra038 are you running OEM wheels?

 

I believe they are from a Tacoma. They're 18 vs the original 16's.

 

Tires are 265/60R18s

 

Maybe it's the angle of the pic or the fact that I haven't had a stock front suspension in a couple years but does that control arm look super high to anyone else?

I thought I remember them coming out "level" compared with the ground. I'd almost question if they installed them on the wrong sides.

I may be completely wrong and feel free to tell me that lol.

 

Upper control arms appear to be installed correctly. As far as the angle of the arm, the angle of the pic may be throwing that off. Looks relatively flat, Mine is angled down due to the front lift I have so no comarison there for you. My Lower ball joint does not look like this. Whatever this blocky thing is here is not on mine. You can see the actual ball joint boot on mine.

 

Isn't that the "protector" or dust cover for the LBJ? I am 99% sure I have them https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota__Tundra/PROTECTOR/63078027/4334634010.html

 

I had a 1st gen
And now a 2nd gen

I had alignment issues and “clunks” in the front end on both vehicles

In the end,the alignment hardware was stripped or worn and would not stay tightened to specs

New OEM hardware did the trick,align with a trusted alignment shop

Don’t use aftermarket stuff it won’t hold up to the factory torque specs

 

Stupid question, but the clunk you describe was similar to mine. Have you checked the 4 transmission mount bolts that secure the mount to the sub frame? All 4 of mine were loose causing a random clunk noise. Tightened the bolts and it's been fine ever since. Should be 4 x 14mm bolts under the rear of the transmission near the drive shaft.

 

Side note, this wont solve your uneven frame rub mystery but maybe help prevent it, some 1.25-1.5" spacers will bring your tires out flush to the fender flares. Currently running 2016 Taco rims on my Tundra with spacers.

 

Now that you zoomed in, that shock bushing looks a bit saggy for new.

Some of the Toyota ones have that, its like a boot cover. My original ones, and the ones installed for a recall had it. My newest Toyota ones do not have it. I'm still unsure what its purpose is, maybe it protects the boot.

 

My 06 LBJ had protection boots on them

Also check your transmission fluid level if it’s low the slip yoke may be binding causing the infamous bump. I always filled mine over by 1/2-1qt without issue. That stopped The yoke binding issue completely

 

Lots of good advice here for sure.
Couple things mentioned that you might want to follow up on;
If you don’t know when the lower ball joints were replaced maybe do them, they could clunk (side note, I just redid mine, oem, and reused the protector)
Those lower shock bushings do look off, clearly not centered, might unbolt them and see if they’re okay or not.
What kind of shocks are those? Are you sure they’re good? I chased a front end problem on one of our cars for a while, replacing everything like you have, not thinking the strut could be bad, but in the end found out that was the cause.

 

I think those wheels have a 30mm offset. Stock is 15mm. That could cause the rubbing, you're over a half inch closer to the frame.

 

Pop like that? 70% of the time it’s the lower ball joints

 

Both my 06/07 popped,even after new LCA’s and BJ’s. It was the alignment cam hardware

 

Thanks for the advice gents. Taking it to a good alignment shop, checking transmission bolts, lower ball joints, shock bushing, getting wheel spacers, and removing the yellow spring bumpers. Hopefully she rides better after all that.