Squeeky front end, chirping noise when driving over bumps

Hey fellow Tundra owners,

I simply wanted to post a solution to a problem I've been chasing down for months related to a chirping, squeeking/squeeky sound coming from the front end of my 2018 Toyota Tundra Limited. I spent literally months chasing down this problem and had it looked at by 4 mechanics from multiple well regarded shops (even some that specialize in lift/modifications) in my area. I hope that this will save someone else the countless hours of frustration, work and mechanic appointments that I went though.

For starters, I have a 5' lift installed, and I love everything about this truck. Except as of 2-3 months ago, it began this constant chirping when driving over bumps of any kind - especially small bumps that have abrupt impact....gradual hills/bumps/sways didn't bother it at all...had to be a bump that jarred the front end a bit. Nothing worse than a sweet truck cruising through the campground and sounding like its a 20 year old rust bucket. Sounded like birds chirping under the wheel well on the drivers side, or like sneakers on a gym floor. To make matters worse, 99% of the time it could NOT be reproduced while parked...had to be driving.

Ok to the matter at hand - below, please find what I tried (based upon many recommendations from Tundra forums - thanks guys!) and what eventually fixed the problem:

1) Greased every moving part I could possible reach - all suspension bushings/movable joints around the upper control arm, lower control arm, sway bar links etc.
2) Greased the condenser mount bushings - evidently this is a known cause of persistant chirping/squeeking
3) Greased the hood latch thingy - also a known cause
3) Removed the sway bar and greased all contact points, cleaned/greased the bushings
4) Greased the rear springs, although I was 90% certain the noise was from the front
5) Removed the driver side upper control arm, greased/cleaned everything

That was just the work I did myself - as I mentioned above - went though multiple mechanic appts with several different theories on diagnosis...

What fixed it? The center shock bolt on the strut hat extension. With the lift kit, there is an adapter mounted to the strut hat to give the additional height - buried inside and likely sitting in water at times (hence prone to rust) is a bolt. I finally sprayed some grease down into the cup (of sorts) and moved the bolt a bit with my wrench to work the grease in and the problem went away. Worth noting, my truck is undercoated to resist salt/weather - so that probably didn't help matters. Attached is a picture and I sincerely hope this will help someone along the way.

 

Going to give this a go with my 07. I have had a squeak that I couldn't find since I lifted it. Thanks!

 

I had a squeak and it was my spare tire...which now resides in the bed of the truck.

 

Congrats on the truck.

Nice work figuring this out!

Before I read to your solution, I was going to suggest its the tire rubbing something under compression since you said you can't reproduce it sitting still and it happens over sharp jolting bumps. That was my first thought, tire catching something and like sneakers on a gym floor, squeak!

Strange that the bolt in your spacer was making noise, those really should not be moving around from my understanding.

Now that you got that solved, I would recommend working towards ripping those spacers out and get a quality suspension or bracket lift, if you don't already have one with a 5in lift?

 

I have a 7" bds kit and I'm dealing with the squeaky front and I'm pretty positive its the sway bar bushings and/or end links.

As a note - from my experience with various vehicles anything that uses poly bushings - especially aftermarket ones - squeak like crazy. Call me crazy but the red energy suspension bushings squeak less than the black ones and theyre supposedly the exact same. I have 2 people that agree with me so far so maybe just half crazy.

 

@Seafury

What sort of suspension do you recommend? I’m no lift kit expert but it looks like I have the factory struts/shocks/springs w/ the extension. In that case I could ditch the extension altogether? What’s a “bracket lift”?

 

This has solved any front end squeak for me.

 

I can't recommend something like this, it's really a personal choice.

How high do you want you truck?
Are you prepared for the reprocussions of a lift?
Sqeaks, possible steering rack failure, reduced turning radius, premature ball joint failure, you and your people climbing in and out, and in and out of the bed, needing a stool to perform engine repairs etc?

How much do you want to spend?
Do you tow, a lot, a little, heavy, light?
Do you off-road, and what kind, slow, or fast, trails, hills, rocks, desert running?

Many things to consider.

Lifts go like this.

1-2in front lift:
Adjustable shock, Bilstein, icon, fox, king depends on your money and future plans.

1-2in Rear lift:
Blocks which ride bad and can break or come out. Shackles which improve ride and have no downside really.
New leafs, cost a lot and stiffen the ride, but good for extra loads and towing, airbags also an option. Carrier bearing drop for drive shaft angle correction.

2.5-3.5in front lift:
Any combo of above shocks plus you need small spacers (shocks mostly max out at 2.5in) different, or adjustable, upper control arms for proper alignment. Diff drop needed. Bump stop extensions required.

4-12in+ front lift:
Bracket lift which replaces front subframe crossmember and usually requires cutting and welding. This lift is needed to go beyond 3in correctly as it fixes control arm angles and allows proper alignment. Usually uses stock upper control arms, but some have had to swap out to adjustable ones to get better alignment.
Diff drop needed, sometimes steering tie rod end modification needed. Bump stop extensions required.

May use stock shocks with spacers, which is crappy, or spend $$$ for above named adjustable longer shocks made for the bracket lift you buy.

Most of these are complete kits usually installed by a competent lift shop but can be done at home by those with space, advanced skill, knowledge, tools, equipment, and free time.

3-14in+ Rear lift:
Best is probably some combination of Shackles, leafs, and blocks.
Carrier bearing drop required. Extended rear shocks required. Bump stop extensions required.

For fast offroading you need long travel suspension and very deep pockets filled with a wallet that has its own set of balls hanging down. Read the stickies on lifts for more detail.

I did 3in front on bilsteins with small spacers with rear Shackles. Adjustable UCA's, diff drop, carrier bearing drop. I don't off road except the beach or a wooded trail here and there. I'm not into tearing up, or scratching up my truck at this time.

This info is readily available in the suspension section read it, and think on it. Then plan your project.

Let us know what you decide.

 

So I recently heard this a couple weeks ago and it’s driving me nuts. What you described is exactly what’s going on with mine. I don’t have a lift though, so I’m wondering if it’s the same problem. I wonder if it’s more like what @Tundra234 said? Mine also sounds like it’s more on the back side, so maybe it is the spare? I’ll have to check.

 

I’m glad someone responded to this thread again bc I just heard mine again this evening with the first somewhat cooler day here in VA.
The noise on my truck is 100% the front sway bar end links. BDS and other companies include longer end links that utilize heim joints on both ends. I loosen them one at a time and re-grease/swivel them around and the noise completely goes away. I’m not sure their is a better way around it since the joints aren’t wearing strange or “bad” but they simply seem to rotate and move in a small limited range of motion regardless of how you drive. I was using the spray white lithium but it doesn’t last as long before having to re-coat the heim joints.

 

Dude, I owe you ALL the beers. This is exactly where my chirp was coming from. I had a flat plugged recently and the tire shop needed to tighten the spare down just a skosh more. Strange that what was causing OPs chirp was identical to my situation, but completely different route causes. At any rate, I'm glad I don't have to listen to that anymore.

 

Mine ended up being the spare. I tightened it down just a bit more and all is well.

 

even better than my scenario. I don’t have a spare under mine anymore.