DIAG clicking/thumping when turning, Sway Bar End Link, But is Good?

YoshiMoshi3
Sun, 26 May 2024 00:08:09 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

05 Toyota Camry.

I hear a thumping/clicking/dinging sound while turning the steering wheel slowly. Recently replaced inner and outer tie rods on both ends, as well as both sway bar end links (which was actually awhile back before I had this sound). Sound still persists after replacing tie rod ends. Was ready to about to replace the CV axles, but decided to DIAG further.

Removed outer tie rod ends from both knuckles. Turned steering wheel and is silent.
Rotated knuckle on both sides, and sound persisted.
Removed top nut from sway bar end link to McPherson strut assembly on LHS. Needed a braker bar. Boot was full of grease.
Rotated LHS knuckle and silent. Rotated RHS knuckle with RHS sway bar end link still installed and RHS outer tie rod removed from knuckle, was silent.
Reinstalled top ball joint in sway bar end link on LHS to McPherson strut assembly, rotated knuckle and sound was back.

I think I found the problem. With the LHS sway bar end link installed thumping/clicking while turning knuckle, without it installed sound goes away.

I removed the LHS sway bar end link, thinking I found my problem, required a braker bar on the bottom ball joint as well. Boot was full of grease. Ball joints were very stiff, could not rotate with my hands. But I don’t think too stiff. There was no play. I was able to rotate the part with the top nut off, with the bottom installed in the car, using the length of the part as leverage, so they do rotate! Seen some really bad ones, where I could rotate the studs of ball joints with the strength of nothing but my two fingers, this was very far from this.

So I considered the LHS sway bar end link to be good. I was thinking that maybe the sway bar bushings were bad. But they looked good. No cracks or nothing. I grabbed ahold of the sway bar and tried to wiggle it to check for play, and there wasn’t any.

Well I’m confused. thumping/clicking sound while turning RHS and LHS knuckles with both outer tie rods removed. Remove LHS sway bar end link and sound goes away, but the sway bar end link seems to be ok. Not sure what could be causing my sound?

Thanks for any help.

16 posts - 7 participants