Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Couple of questions. For reference, the vehicle in question is a 3rd gen 4runner (1999), 3.4 V-6, auto, E-locker, running 265/75/16 BFG AT KO's.
Recently I've been hearing a "thump" or "clunk" coming from the front end when driving slowly or backing with the steering wheel at or near full-lock. This is all on the street, in 2wd often when going over a bump like driving across a curb. Doesn't sound "normal", and I'm wondering if I'm hearing a CV joint or U-joint that is about to fail. What else could it be? Would a ball joint failing make a similar kind of sound? I'm a bit paranoid about the ball joints since there are a bunch of threads over on T4R.org where people had their ball joints fail at speed and the result wasn't pretty.
I realize the short answer is "get it to a mechanic to have it checked out" and that is certainly on my list, but I'm just wondering what I should have them look for.
Second question: I last had my front end aligned in early 2010 after I hit a curb. I'm about to get new tires and wondering, should I get the tires first and then the alignment, or should I get the alignment first and then the tires, or does it even matter? Most likley the tires and aligment would be done within a couple of weeks of each other anyway and the 4runner is not my DD so it will stay in the garage unless I need it for something.
Thanks in advance for any advice! :ylsmoke:
Recently I've been hearing a "thump" or "clunk" coming from the front end when driving slowly or backing with the steering wheel at or near full-lock. This is all on the street, in 2wd often when going over a bump like driving across a curb. Doesn't sound "normal", and I'm wondering if I'm hearing a CV joint or U-joint that is about to fail. What else could it be? Would a ball joint failing make a similar kind of sound? I'm a bit paranoid about the ball joints since there are a bunch of threads over on T4R.org where people had their ball joints fail at speed and the result wasn't pretty.
I realize the short answer is "get it to a mechanic to have it checked out" and that is certainly on my list, but I'm just wondering what I should have them look for.
Second question: I last had my front end aligned in early 2010 after I hit a curb. I'm about to get new tires and wondering, should I get the tires first and then the alignment, or should I get the alignment first and then the tires, or does it even matter? Most likley the tires and aligment would be done within a couple of weeks of each other anyway and the 4runner is not my DD so it will stay in the garage unless I need it for something.
Thanks in advance for any advice! :ylsmoke:
