Tuff Tercel Truck

[Petros]

when does in clunk? if it clunks on hard acceleration, especially in a turn, that would likely be the cv axle joint. if it clunks when applying the brakes, could be the rubber bushings on the sway bar end or something loose on the suspension; check all the bolts to make sure they are tight. Also check the bolts in the bottom of the steering knuckle that attached the ball joints (one forum member found these loose), check ball joints, and the condition of the rubber in the upper strut mount, and all the other rubber bushings in the suspension. I once found the large nut on the top of the strut backed off several turns and it allowed the damper rod to move up and down 1/4" making a clunking when going over bumps.

Usually a worn steering rack or tie-rod end will not clunk but make the steering feel loose, you will also feel the clunk through the steering wheel if it is bad enough to allow it clunk.

[dlb]

more details, rokkatansky. when does it clunk? when going over bumps, when starting from a stop, when shifting gears, when turning while accelerating, etc? just "it clunks when driving" could be anything.

[Rokkatansky]

Hi dlb,
It clunks all the damn time.
There is a little play in the wheels.
Changed bearings, CV joints,Left outer tie rod.
Was told by mech when got a wheel alignment last time that my inner tie rods are shot, so I suspected this to be the problem.
Have ordered a set of inner steering rods at a decent price since they want to get rid of em at the store. $11 each plus freight instead of $33.

Also get some white smoke on start up sometimes.
Changed the head gasket and just replaced rocker cover gasket which fixed slight leak.

Oh yeah the car needs a good tune.
Running so far out. Put the timing light on it and turned bolts on carby till it sounded right, it goes back to crap. Ahhh!
Cars! Like women, love em but sometimes they just give grief.

[marlinh]

Normally an alignment shop won't do an alignment if there is something loose in the front end. It is a waste of money because it need to be done again after the repairs are done. I know some people on this site do their own, but not everyone here does.

[irowiki]

Wait, you tried to time the car by adjusting the carb? You should be adjusting the dist!

[Petros]

It clunks all the damn time.
There is a little play in the wheels.

this statement about "all the damn time" is not helpful and likely not even true. It certainly does not clunk when the car is off and not moving I should hope, if so than you have something perhaps we can not help you with Does it clunk when you turn the steering wheel even if not moving? if so it might just be the steering rack bushings, in addtion to the tie rod ends. You should also check the play in the rack itself, they can wear out.

Put the timing light on it and turned bolts on carby till it sounded right, it goes back to crap.

I hope you intended this as separate statements, because fiddling with the "carby" with a timing light will not help at all, will likely make it worse. First look for vacuum leaks, than work your way down the trouble shooting guide in the service manual.

[Rokkatansky]

Tuned the car by dizzy (Distributer) Adjusted the idle screw to stop it from bogging out (Stopping) to keep revs up when dot (on front crank belt) lined up with timing light (Which was connected to dizzy).
If a car car makes sounds with suspension when one is not in motion, this does not make sense to me, since suspension sounds are usually emitted with action to said area (Physics) this being a clunking noise appearing on passenger side while car is in motion (Driving).
If this appears in motion without steering vehicle, it of course it appears when steering.
Please don't take me wrong here I'm trying to be as clear as possible.
I will get steering rod bushes too.
Booked in with mech since i am out of order to do job myself.
Just want the car sounding and driving correct.
The guys who done the alignment did not charge me, since there was a problem with movement in wheels (inner tie rod (suspect)), thus telling me parts need to serviced.

Hope this helps.

Rokktansky

[marlinh]

I'm glad they didn't charge you for the first alignment. I have had a manual steering car with worn inner tie rods clunk like crazy.

[Petros]

if you have worn and sloppy steering tie-rod ends, it will clunk not just when driving it, but also if you push up and down on the bumper or fender (wings) when it is not moving. Also, a really worn and sloppy front wheel bearing can cause this, or a lower ball joint.

Easy check, jack the car up so there is no weight on the front wheel, than push and pull both on the top and bottom of the tire, and the front and back. It takes some force, but if the ball joint is worn it will clunk when you push/pull on the top and bottom. If the tie rod end is worn it will clunk when you push/pull on the front and back of the wheel. If it does it on both it could be both, and/or wheel bearing is sloppy (worn out). If you have someone help you, you can usually see where it is moving (clunking) when the wheel is wiggled by looking for the source of the movement, you have to get your head under the car to see it, so use jack stands.

These things are actually fairly easy to replace, and the parts are not costly, if you have basic tools and a large hammer, you can do it yourself. You will still need to have the alignment done after the repair.

[tercel4wdrules]

I'm glad they didn't charge you for the first alignment. I have had a manual steering car with worn inner tie rods clunk like crazy.

I've also had two manual steering cars that also clunked due to inner tie-rods that had too much play. It was noticeable when accelerating and then decelerating.

[Rokkatansky]

Damnit!! Went to use my windscreen wipers and found out some one snapped (Broke) the centre one clean off. does anyone know a fix for this (Mc Gyver) since there are not any around at wreckers.
Also that clunk.. Got new inner tie rods and `sway bar bushes and it still clunks, mainly when going over lumps in road.
Throwing so much money at this car lately, I'm losing. Faaaaaarq!

[rer233]

Unclear about what broke on the wipers- was it the arm or the pawl? Either way, being RHD, my guess is the part will be different from our "normal" LHD parts. As for the klunk- have you checked the steering shaft u-joints? (esp the lower one.) i've had a few t4's that had play in the lower joint that made more of a rattle than a klunk when driving over gravel roads.

Good luck- love the graphics on your "truck!"

[marlinh]

Did you check the ball joints? They can clunk over bumps.

[dlb]

rokkatansky, what is the complete list of front end components you have replaced so far? whatever you have not yet replaced will be the parts i would inspect first. it is possible that some of the new parts are bad out of the box but i think that is less likely than old parts wearing out.

[Rokkatansky]

I have figured out the problem on the front end. It was the bolt in the strut holding the shock that was moving, tightened it, no more noise.
Have anew problem, Just done the head gasket and valve seals and valves.
Took my time, the Petros method, everything is on.
Noticed very slight moisture around the new head gasket area, is this meant to be like this? or is it sediment from new gasket.
Should I re torque it?
Also the car is running rough, can't sit on idle and when I put foot hard on throttle it does nothing, just idles really bad.
Has anyone had this problem before?

Bought to do a long distance trip and want to make sure all is well.