Popping Noise / Feeling Under Feet When Turning & Letting Off Brakes

Joined
Jun 17, 2024
Messages
59
2009 Toyota Matrix XRS

After numerous repairs to my car this past year, some of which I had posted here previously my big issue for noises over bumps and turns was my engine mounts. I still get the noise on turns obviously lol but beforehand it sounded and felt like a canon going off whereas now its much less but still apparent.

Since then I still occasionally get a single clunk noise and feeling right under my feet when making left hand turns. I believe the noise mainly happens when I make a sharpish turn and am going somewhat quick, 60kmph+. It can happen if I am braking or not it seems but I feel I might instinctively hit the brakes ever so slightly on a fast turn so I am not 100% on that.

About a month ago I removed the stock XRS strut tower brace and that seemed to help it for awhile but alas the noise returned. After looking under my car everything seemed great expect, one of the mounts I had replaced was missing a bolt, sent it back to the shop that did the mounts got the bolt in no problem.

Unfortunately I still have that feeling/ noise although after getting the missing bolt installed the noise and feeling are much much less... but seem to happen more frequently? And just this morning after exiting the highway on an offramp that is a long left turn, I got no clunk from that but when I came to a stop right after the off ramp and took my foot off the brake I got the same noise and feeling, maybe even more pronounced than when it happens turning. Now, I know you're supposed to kinda hear or feel the brakes pop off ever so slightly but this was quite loud and I felt it in my feet.

I am no mechanic but have been learning lots about cars this past year (mainly just this car though lol) but my leading theory is it has to do with my axle, which is about a year old now. The boots arent ripped, no leaks and I am not getting the click click click sound you would hear if one of the joints broke. So I am thinking it could be the circ ring that holds the axle in the transmission and on turns it comes out slightly and goes back in and that is what I am feeling? but I am not sure at all. Additionally to say I don't believe it is the suspension and I get no noise or feeling going over bumps etc and I have a very steep curb for my driveway.

Any help is appreciated I will do my best to answer any questions, thanks!
 
Are your suspension parts OE or a reputable manufacturer (not many for Matrix in the aftermarket world)?
When you replaced those suspension parts, did you preload it?
 
Are your suspension parts OE or a reputable manufacturer (not many for Matrix in the aftermarket world)?
When you replaced those suspension parts, did you preload it?
Reputable manufacturer I believe so, most of it was done by my local shop who got me good parts, the other stuff like the axle and quick struts were done by a friend who is a mechanic and got his parts through work through a local part popular part store so that should be good. Same thing goes for the preloading, but if it wasn't preloaded was there a component that might cause these issues? Or is it more of a general thing?
 
Reputable manufacturer I believe so, most of it was done by my local shop who got me good parts, the other stuff like the axle and quick struts were done by a friend who is a mechanic and got his parts through work through a local part popular part store so that should be good. Same thing goes for the preloading, but if it wasn't preloaded was there a component that might cause these issues? Or is it more of a general thing?
QuickStruts are junk! Just to be clear. So, that is the first potential culprit.
What are "good" parts? Only 4Runner, Sequoia, LC, have good aftermarket part supply. Regular Toyotas don't have many good aftermarket options. Most aftermarkets are questionable for Camry, Corolla, Matrix.
Preloading means that you don't torque suspension parts (control arms) until they are loaded. The shop should have a suspension lift, where they can lower the vehicle on it and then torque parts to a specific value. The second best option is to lift the wheel to the driving point and then torque parts. If this is not done, your bushings will be strained, and lifespan is far, far, shorter.
 
I would at least try to find a parking lot or other where you can reliably recreate the noise.

You're asking a lot here and you'll get suggestions all over the map. It could be A LOT of things.

Also I have trouble buying the axle-popping-back-into-place theory. Maybe. But maybe a plane hits my house in the next two seconds.

Not bashing you, nothing wrong with thinking outside the box but try not to find too many zebras just yet when you hear hoof beats
 
I would at least try to find a parking lot or other where you can reliably recreate the noise.

You're asking a lot here and you'll get suggestions all over the map. It could be A LOT of things.

Also I have trouble buying the axle-popping-back-into-place theory. Maybe. But maybe a plane hits my house in the next two seconds.

Not bashing you, nothing wrong with thinking outside the box but try not to find too many zebras just yet when you hear hoof beats
Ah ok thank you! If I can recreate it, beyond explaining how I make the noise anything else to note or look out for that would be good to share on here afterwards?
 
QuickStruts are junk! Just to be clear. So, that is the first potential culprit.
What are "good" parts? Only 4Runner, Sequoia, LC, have good aftermarket part supply. Regular Toyotas don't have many good aftermarket options. Most aftermarkets are questionable for Camry, Corolla, Matrix.
Preloading means that you don't torque suspension parts (control arms) until they are loaded. The shop should have a suspension lift, where they can lower the vehicle on it and then torque parts to a specific value. The second best option is to lift the wheel to the driving point and then torque parts. If this is not done, your bushings will be strained, and lifespan is far, far, shorter.
The shop def has that kind of lift so I cant think of why they wouldn't have preloaded it... but they also forgot a bolt on my engine mount so who knows... And thank you for the advice on the aftermarket parts ill buy good name brand where possible from now on.

I don't think its the struts because on my old ones when they went it would make a pop pop pop noise turning at standstill and that is not the case at the moment, plus I have shaken my car (at stand still) while I had someone turn the wheel and it was all fine but it could be another part of the strut going or like you said something wasn't tightened when preloaded. And what I am still baffled by is why this morn when I took my foot off the brakes I got the noise and feeling, doubt the struts would cause that but what do I know lol.

Since I am not getting a lot of help with my local shop I was thinking of taking it to toyota just for their diagnostic. I wont get any repairs done by them I know it'll cost me an arm and a leg. Will run me about 100$ so not terrible but I figured they would know the car better than a local shop.
 
The shop def has that kind of lift so I cant think of why they wouldn't have preloaded it... but they also forgot a bolt on my engine mount so who knows... And thank you for the advice on the aftermarket parts ill buy good name brand where possible from now on.

I don't think its the struts because on my old ones when they went it would make a pop pop pop noise turning at standstill and that is not the case at the moment, plus I have shaken my car (at stand still) while I had someone turn the wheel and it was all fine but it could be another part of the strut going or like you said something wasn't tightened when preloaded. And what I am still baffled by is why this morn when I took my foot off the brakes I got the noise and feeling, doubt the struts would cause that but what do I know lol.

Since I am not getting a lot of help with my local shop I was thinking of taking it to toyota just for their diagnostic. I wont get any repairs done by them I know it'll cost me an arm and a leg. Will run me about 100$ so not terrible but I figured they would know the car better than a local shop.
When you slam the brakes, does the steering wheel jump in any direction? drive 20-30mph and slam brakes without holding the steering wheel. Just for a second, you don't need to stop. See if the steering wheel makes jerking move in a certain direction. That is an indication of worn-out bushings.
 
When you slam the brakes, does the steering wheel jump in any direction? drive 20-30mph and slam brakes without holding the steering wheel. Just for a second, you don't need to stop. See if the steering wheel makes jerking move in a certain direction. That is an indication of worn-out bushings.
At work currently so I will try this again tonight but had read similar things so I have tried it in the past and I wasn't pulled in any direction... I will try again tonight tho to make sure.
 
2009 Toyota Matrix XRS

After numerous repairs to my car this past year, some of which I had posted here previously my big issue for noises over bumps and turns was my engine mounts. I still get the noise on turns obviously lol but beforehand it sounded and felt like a canon going off whereas now its much less but still apparent.

Since then I still occasionally get a single clunk noise and feeling right under my feet when making left hand turns. I believe the noise mainly happens when I make a sharpish turn and am going somewhat quick, 60kmph+. It can happen if I am braking or not it seems but I feel I might instinctively hit the brakes ever so slightly on a fast turn so I am not 100% on that.

About a month ago I removed the stock XRS strut tower brace and that seemed to help it for awhile but alas the noise returned. After looking under my car everything seemed great expect, one of the mounts I had replaced was missing a bolt, sent it back to the shop that did the mounts got the bolt in no problem.

Unfortunately I still have that feeling/ noise although after getting the missing bolt installed the noise and feeling are much much less... but seem to happen more frequently? And just this morning after exiting the highway on an offramp that is a long left turn, I got no clunk from that but when I came to a stop right after the off ramp and took my foot off the brake I got the same noise and feeling, maybe even more pronounced than when it happens turning. Now, I know you're supposed to kinda hear or feel the brakes pop off ever so slightly but this was quite loud and I felt it in my feet.

I am no mechanic but have been learning lots about cars this past year (mainly just this car though lol) but my leading theory is it has to do with my axle, which is about a year old now. The boots arent ripped, no leaks and I am not getting the click click click sound you would hear if one of the joints broke. So I am thinking it could be the circ ring that holds the axle in the transmission and on turns it comes out slightly and goes back in and that is what I am feeling? but I am not sure at all. Additionally to say I don't believe it is the suspension and I get no noise or feeling going over bumps etc and I have a very steep curb for my driveway.

Any help is appreciated I will do my best to answer any questions, thanks!
check the axles.
 
After rechecking work done, i would check the subframe / cradle to body mounts, make sure they are at least OE specification and go to the top of the range, your description is pretty much text book for that.
 
After rechecking work done, i would check the subframe / cradle to body mounts, make sure they are at least OE specification and go to the top of the range, your description is pretty much text book for that.
Great thanks! and would that be where the subframe connects to the main frame/ body of the car or do you mean where the engine mounts connect to the subframe/ body? Additionally what do you mean by "go to the top of the range" In terms of torque or price sorry I don't understand... Thank you tho will check out the subframe at the very least.
 
If you can predictably recreate then you'll almost need a second person to be outside the vehicle and listen/watch. I know this won't necessarily provide results.

I might formulate a list of the top suspects and spray them with a penetrant or lubricant. ONE AT A TIME. If you can then no longer create the noise, you may have found the culprit.

This is all oversimplified I know because sometimes you'll think you found it and then it comes back almost immediately.

But all you can do is start trying different things, but approach it with a methodology of some sort.
 
If you can predictably recreate then you'll almost need a second person to be outside the vehicle and listen/watch. I know this won't necessarily provide results.

I might formulate a list of the top suspects and spray them with a penetrant or lubricant. ONE AT A TIME. If you can then no longer create the noise, you may have found the culprit.

This is all oversimplified I know because sometimes you'll think you found it and then it comes back almost immediately.

But all you can do is start trying different things, but approach it with a methodology of some sort.
Thank you this is great advice! The spray idea is genius I will def try this!
 
Great thanks! and would that be where the subframe connects to the main frame/ body of the car

Yes.

or do you mean where the engine mounts connect to the subframe/ body?

No

Additionally what do you mean by "go to the top of the range" In terms of torque or price sorry I don't understand... Thank you tho will check out the subframe at the very least.

i mean if the spec for torque is (i'm making this up look up / find the correct one) 120-140LBFT go 140. start with the rearmost if you feel it in your feet. If you get help, see if the passenger feels it too and try to swap places and see if one side is worse. Depending on how the subframe mounts you might also see evidence of movement in paint of undercoat.
 
On my car it was the lower ball joint. At first, it only made a thud noise while reversing and turning, then over the course of a year it made clunking and thud noise over bad roads even moving forward. I removed the wheel, and pushed the knuckle up and down, sure enough there was movement up and down, just a tiny bit, but you can feel it and hear it. Removed the old ball joint, it was very easy to turn with just my fingers. Swapped to new ball joints and no noise.
 
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