Hello All,

I've recently purchased an 05 GX470 with ~153K miles.

I noticed on the test drive a small clunking. I didn't think much of it, and figured it was the drive shaft.

After a few more days of driving, its definitely in the front end. I can feel it in my feet, and slightly in the steering wheel. It's easy to recreate: any sort of weight transfer, brakes / acceleration / or turning, especially with a bump, will cause it to do it. Sometimes it is worse than others.

I put it on a lift and didn't see anything that was obviously loose. I saw a few bushings were cracked, but nothing that looked as though it was to the point of failure.

Is there a comment set of bushings / mounts that need attention in the front end? LCA bushings looked ok. So did the lower ends of the sway bar.

The clunk is most noticeable on the driver's side, but can still be heard, and only slightly felt on the passenger side.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

Sway bar links.

 

Is this a fairly common problem?

 

For a truck with 150k, yes. That is, if if you don't have KDSS. If you do, then you don't have traditional swaybar links. Mine needed them at 140k, and I replaced them with 03-09 Toyota 4Runner links, because the Toyota ones are cheaper and exactly the same.

 

I also have the clunk in the front end you mention. I've narrowed it down to the half shaft needing replaced. When I bought mine @ 139k miles both inboard cv boots were busted. Grease had leaked out all over the suspension. I decided to see how far I could go with them in that condition. I'm now at 156k and the drivers side pops regularly when braking, turning, etc. My indy mechanic will be changing it out Monday to the tune of $260, including parts. Sounds like you're in the same situation. I have KDSS, but that's a different clunk, lol.

 

How do I determine if I have KDSS or not on my truck? When I was looking under the vehicle, I didn't see traditional end links like a normal car.

 

I didn't see any tears in the boots on any of the axles. It's not the on/off of throttle or brakes that will cause my clunk, it's weight transfer.