Well. I have a '94 22re 4x4. I had been having noises near my axle lately. My CV joint was busted on my drivers side, so I had a local shop replace the whole CV axle. Now the noises while turning are gone, but I still get a rattle when I drive straight sometimes. It seems to rattle when the truck is in too low of a gear, like taking off in 2nd gear. Oh, and I have a 3inch BL with 33x12.5's. My balljoints haven't been replaced to my knowledge, do you think they could be the culprit? What indications do you get when your balljoints are going? Thanks in advance!

To check the balljoints, jack up the veh, grab tire and shake. You will feel them wobble around if they are bad.

Would they make a noise like that if they're bad though? What else would you suspect at first for making the noises?

Are you talking about a rattle when the engine is lugging? Ball joints will make noise when you hit bumps independent of engine RPM. For example, since the lower a-arm attaches to the shock, it is very likely to make noise if it is bad.

I have had bad ball joints that showed no play whatsoever when jacked up but made knocking noises when hitting bumps.

If lugging the engine makes something rattle, first off don't lug the engine. Oil pressure drops and you run the risk of there not being enough pressure to float the bearings. It can prematurely wear internal engine parts. Otherwise, I'd look at the exhaust system for something loose/rattling.

Frank

I don't purposely lug the engine, my stock gearing with 33's makes it inevitable sometimes...No, the noise is definitely comming from my suspension somewhere in the front. I'd bet my next paycheck it's near or on the front axle. If I didn't know better, I'd say that it's still the CV joints, but the whole drivers side axle is new, and the other one is fine...

I can't figure this out for the life of me, and neither could the repair shop. When I'm running over 2k rpm, no noise. But you're right, bumps definitely accent the noises....any other ideas???!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

1st grease em and see if it goes away. you may have bad control arm bushings,tie rods anyting up front can cause this jack the truck up and shake,shimmy,giggle,whack and smack every thing also kicking tires can tell you alot...lol

Don't forget to also check wheel bearings.

If everything appears Ok, idler,wheel bearings, shocks, then if you have high mileage replace the ball joints.

Frank

Toyota tells there can be 2.3 mm freeplay (up&down) and they are in their tolerance. Very difficult to measure, I think.

I noticed I can feel now wobble in the lower balljoints after I installed the BJ spacers (vehicle raised up from chassis). Just before there is no wobble at all. Then I tried same again after I put ¢" piece between the upper A-arm and bump stop (like this: http://www.sdori.com/UCAspace.jpg ). No wobble any more.

Frank, have you noticed that or are my lower balljoints worn?