Rear suspension creaking

Hey all, I have a brand new (just got to 3000 miles) taco. I've noticed that when its gets near and below freezing there is a terrible creaking sound coming from the rear. Is this because it is an aftermarket suspension? Or do you know of other issues that could be looked into? Anything helps.

 

There is a TSB fix (sorry I do not have the number) for replacement rear leaf isolator pads and lubricant. Dealer fixed mine a few months back. So far so good. Was creaking so bad you barley had to touch the truck to make it creak. Good luck !

 

Thank you!

 

TSBs are for factory OEM equipment only. If you got aftermarket leafs you aren't going to get any help from that.

 

TACOMAS are known for this. I am on my second set of different leaf springs and they all creak. I have yet to meet a quiet tacoma, especially one that is used off road. They all are for a bit then they just creak. Unless you soak the leaf springs in oil constantly, which just promotes more dust/grime to accumulate, it will just continue.

And yes it is worse in the winter as the grime freezes in the leaf springs.

 

Thank you aaen! This eases my conscience haha

 

What you can do is pry the leaf springs a apart with a mini crowbar and wash them out. Let them fry and then coat them in fluid film or a dry graphite lube, take your pic. It will work for about oh a day then your right back to it. Another thing to try is take the bushings out and regrets them from time to time.

No idea why, but toyota in North America has no idea how to make leaf springs. I've driven hilux, land cruiser (utes and wagons) all over africa and australia in much harsher conditions and beaten trucks up and never had a squeaky leaf spring. Three toyota trucks in NA and they all creak.

 

Update!: I had the tires rotated and the mechanic said it is undercoating that got between the leaf springs that is causing it. Not fun. Hopefully it wares out shortly.

 

I’d say your mechanic is toting the toyota line. This is a known tacoma/toyota issue with leaf springs.

 

Update! After digging I found this thread;
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-with-the-dakars.156353/page-31#post-10669474
Since I have the OME Dakar leaf pack, I'm going to bring it to the dealer once more (since they still owe me a 4th leaf anyway), tell them I want it re-torqued with some weight on the tires instead of hanging on a lift. If this doesn't fix the issue then zip-ties it is!

 

The tech that worked on your taco isn’t very well educated as stated by the other members The creaking is as Toyota loves to say “normal characteristic of the truck”

 

For what it’s worth, I took my Tacoma in on Saturday for regular maintenance and I mentioned the rear squeaking. The tech and I went on a drive and he confirmed it, also noting that it’s a common issue with the pads getting dirty and said that using lubricant of any kind just promotes dirt to accumulate.

Anyhow, my squeaking/creaking just ended up being the spare tire being loose.

Obviously I know it’s a common issue but It may be worthwhile to check that your spare isn’t loose

 

Mine squeeked. Then didn’t squeak.. then did squeak. Now doesn’t squeak.

 

Got RXT Icons full pack. They squeak worse than a cheap French hore's bed. I like it. Brings back memories...

 

my dakar full packs squeek like a mofo also...apparently the company has released a fix ...1 hr labour for install of the fix kit.....

 

I know I'm going deaf at my age because I have never once heard any kind of noise from my 2016 OR. I don't run it off road a lot but do pull a trailer with it quite a bit. Maybe it's a good thing to be hard of hearing or maybe I'm just lucky enough to have a truck without issues.

 

If this is your experience I don't think you're doing it right.

I've done the same operation with great success on all FOUR of my Tacomas. Put it on a lift so your leafs spread nice and wide, powerwash everything thats in between them, then soak in white lithium grease extremely liberally, wipe away excess and voila! SILENCE.

I have to do this only once or twice per year and I go on multiple offroad trips per month.

If you add the little nylon silencers it works even better. Its not magic and there's nothing they do differently in Australia lol, leaf packs are by design METAL ON METAL its ridiculous to think this is a "tacoma only issue" even sillier to think its a north american thing.

It has much more to do with the local soil/dirt the grimier heavy mud makes the most noise in my experience. But I just did 3 back to back weekends in soft silty sand and my truck is quieter than it was when brand new. Just have to prep it correctly if the squeak bothers you.

 

I’ve tried that as well, no go. Even took the packs apart.

 

and you've tried the nylon pads?? Are you using white lithium grease specifically or some other lubricant??

One time I picked up some really grimmy shit in Baja on my 2nd gen and my normal operation didn't help, so I did it again but soaked in PB Blaster first then went over it all with white lithium. Maybe worth a shot! Your truck is too new to sound like a 90s Chevy :/

Maybe its the freezing weather? Does the lithium grease work for you in summers or is it always bad?

Either way try the three stage power wash -> PB blaster -> lithium grease then throw in the nylon silencers, it worked for my worst case of it.

 

the packs had nylon spacers or something that was in btw them. We tried lithium, fluid film dry lubes, etc. All the lubes ever did for me was attract more dirt, this was the exact same issue on my tundra as well. We all know Toyota makes bad leaf packs, yet the aftermarket ones all seem to squeak as well, probably has something to do with the packs being a wee bit short, maybe I am wrong? I'll probably just deal with it and sound like a jallopy while driving around town or cave and buy another leaf pack.