Ian C Posted April 3, 2005 Share Posted April 3, 2005 Name: Knocking and creaking suspension Also known as: Suspension clonks What is it? You get a knock/creak/clonk noise from the underside of the car. Usually caused by: Reversing under full lock Braking for the first time Why? The suspension subframe nuts and bolts work loose over time, and when loads shift (e.g. changing direction) parts of the suspension shift a tiny amount as well, causing the noises How bad is this problem? Apart from making your car sound like it’s going to fall apart, your car could, well, fall apart People have gone for a couple of years with these noises without anything falling off but at least one person has experience a front suspension collapse. You have a year or so to sort it out before this will happen but as the fix is a simple bit of maintenance, why wait? Remedy: Use the attached torque tables to get the bolts all torqued up correctly. This is really a ramp job with a very big industrial torque wrench as some of these bolts are done up FT. It’s a simple procedure so a local garage can perform the maintenance. Other possible causes: Brake pads could be shifting in the calipers if the noise is only heard the first time you brake in a direction. -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest edgonuk Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 I get a clonk from the front suspension or brakes but only very rarely like once a month. As far as I noticed it happens only when I'm driving very slowly. When you say 'You get a knock/creak/clonk noise from the underside of the car.' is this all the time or like I've described? My supra is from 93 and the suspension is lowered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 Please add loose droplinks to other causes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 Also anti roll bar bushes, suspension bushes, etc. Bear in mind that knocks and clunks cover a multitude of sins....though the above is the best and cheapest starting point!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Please add loose droplinks to other causes. Yeah. One of my rears is extremely loose (I almost removed it.. but not quite) and it sounds absolutely shocking. New ones on order, quite cheap too. Rears were £28 ea, fronts £34 each, -ish. As for control arms.. they cost a a bomb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackso11 Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Ok...there are no lose bolts that i can find, no clunks or knocks, but when I start moving slow or fast the rear suspension creaks. Its coming from the drivers side. I opened the boot and checked for moving foam chunks, changed the boot rubbers and the noise is still there. if I have the boot open and jump up and sit on the rear wing I can hear the creak soming from the top of the suspension. Any ideas? I hope its not the bushes. Are there any points I can grease up around there? havent had the case off the top of the suspesion as I was doing this in Ikea car park. I don't like the noise....souds like something is going to snap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavies Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Another interesting possibility for mysterious unpleasant popping noises (from the front though): http://mkiv.com/techarticles/front_end_popping_noise/index.html Apparently a common fault with one of the motor mounts (says driver side in the aritcle, but suspect it would be passenger side if the guy that wrote it was from UK ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon78 Posted December 22, 2005 Share Posted December 22, 2005 I also have a knocking from the front of my '95 J-spec SZ but it occurs all the time and is especially loud when I go over speed bumps and harsh bumps in the road. I have to admit that I haven't had a look under the car yet but would be grateful of any direction as to what part of the suspension it could be to narrow down the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted December 22, 2005 Share Posted December 22, 2005 Someone also mentioned about the tyres slipping in tight angles, usually aggrevated by larger wider wheels etc. I had my subframe bolts tightened yet still got the knocks on full lock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulmann Posted December 28, 2005 Share Posted December 28, 2005 I took my supra sz to toyota to have them look at a really annoying knocking noise coming from front suspension. It was a loose ARB mount bolt. torqued up. no more knocking. and it cost me feck all too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon78 Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 Sounds like the problem I am having. One trip to Toyota coming up. Cheers Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cg084 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Are there any images of where all the subframe bolts might be located for both front and rear. MAny thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Sorry no pics, but if you get under the car the subframe bolts are quite obvious. You need a deep socket, cant remember what size but the search button is your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardasaliah Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 Someone also mentioned about the tyres slipping in tight angles, usually aggrevated by larger wider wheels etc. I had my subframe bolts tightened yet still got the knocks on full lock. I get that- tyres slipping in tight angles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mark poulton Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 i have the same clunking at low speed over bumps and pot holes, imtold this is due to wear in the top of the suspension unit known as the doughnut, there can be play between a ball bearing and whatever it is in contact with, ive had to opt for new front suspesion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartW Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I had exactly this and tried everything. The clicking sounded like it was comimg from the handbrake shoes but i could not find anything!! It would get worse as it got hotter Eventually i cured it..... The driveshaft nut had worked ever-so slightly loose causing slight movement on the splines,So if you have this symptom and your castle nut and split pin in the centre of your rear wheel is rusty this is probably the fault Hope this helps someone Cheers Knightrider:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Whats the torque setting on the castle nut,? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyin_scouseman Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Hi guys, Couldn't help but take notice of this thread as i have been a bit worried about the knocking sound of late coming from the rear of my motor too. It occurs when i go over the slightest of bumps etc... The sound is as if something is loose. It also occurs after i engage 1st gear and take off from a stand still until the backlash is taken up. I just ain't sure what to do I would have thought Toyota would be a bit pricey with parts and labour as my motor is a J-Spec. I was thinking of taking my motor to Gaz Walkers Garage to see if he can fit new bushes after Christmas and maybe fathom out where the Knocking is coming from.... I just pray the back end of my motor doesn't fall off before then otherwise i maybe riding a horse-drawn 2 wheel chariot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt _Aero top_ Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I've got a bad knock on the front drivers side tryed fixing it but spend most of my time under the car scratching my head . What exactly are the torque settings for thr front subframe ? i cant make owt out on that attachment . and whats that about the engine mounts ? anyone had this problem or is it very unlikely ? the list of what to check just keeps on growing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hi guys, Couldn't help but take notice of this thread as i have been a bit worried about the knocking sound of late coming from the rear of my motor too. It occurs when i go over the slightest of bumps etc... The sound is as if something is loose. It also occurs after i engage 1st gear and take off from a stand still until the backlash is taken up. I just ain't sure what to do I would have thought Toyota would be a bit pricey with parts and labour as my motor is a J-Spec. I was thinking of taking my motor to Gaz Walkers Garage to see if he can fit new bushes after Christmas and maybe fathom out where the Knocking is coming from.... I just pray the back end of my motor doesn't fall off before then otherwise i maybe riding a horse-drawn 2 wheel chariot Check the shock absorber bolts are tight. All you need to do to get to them is take out a tiny piece of plastic trim in the boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyin_scouseman Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hey thanks Carlos i will check later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dini_the_owl Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Just had same issue here with clunking now sorted i reakon. http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?p=1124720#post1124720 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOGS Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 I've got a 95 NA which likes to knock its head off going over rough roads. When on smooth roads like motorways, theres not a single noise at all. it doesn't knock when braking, turning slowly or reversing. It only knocks over bumpy, poorly maintaned roads(most of the roads in scotland then lol) Anyone help me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 I've got a 95 NA which likes to knock its head off going over rough roads. When on smooth roads like motorways, theres not a single noise at all. it doesn't knock when braking, turning slowly or reversing. It only knocks over bumpy, poorly maintaned roads(most of the roads in scotland then lol) Anyone help me? Drop links (Anti-roll bar links) need replacing, I'd say. Search the forums for write-ups. Angle-grinder might be needed if the hex-slots (allen-key slots in the bolt) doens't give enough grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_supra Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 I had been getting really bad creaking suspension over the past week or two. It wasn't a clunk just a creak every time the suspension travelled up and down. I spent ages trying to find out what it was. I replaced the ARB bushes and the droplinks. It turned out to be the front bolt on the lower suspension arm was quite loose and was causing the noise. tightened it up and all is fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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