Occasional Squeaking when going over small bumps

I’ve noticed my tundra making a squeaking noise when I go over bumps in the road or uneven roads and when I replaced the struts and shocks it was still there. However after such a long time of it happening and driving me crazy, I looked at the suspension thread and looked to see if it was any worn bushings or to see if it was something obvious that needed to be replaced. After looking I didn’t see anything major but noticed the driver side strut mount rubber was cracked and sort of out of place compared to the passenger side. But I am no expert and have no idea of it is anything else so I took some pictures to see if maybe you guys could point out some stuff that may be causing the squeak or if it is the strut mount. The first three pictures is of the drivers side suspension area and the last picture is the strut mount on the passenger side for comparison. If a more experienced person w suspension can take a look and tell me what might be the cause or if it is the strut mounts it would be much appreciated. Thank you!



edit: also if you could take a look at the LBJ and let me know if that needs replacing soon or if I need to take a better picture for you guys let me know please and thank you!(don’t want to end up with my wheel in my fender)

 

LBJ should be replaced 100-125k mile and only using OEM parts. You can't "look" at an LBJ and know if it needs replacement. And for a $120 part per side, knowing failure is catastrophic, you should replace if you don't know the history. Aftermarket LBJ have been known to fail in less than 10k miles.

Creaking, typically coming from metal on metal rubbing, is a common thing to hear before an upper or lower ball joint fails.

 

I also notice the isolator at the top of the driver's side strut is mangled. And your UBJ look crusty as fuck, as though they've potentially leaked all their grease out.

 

May sound dumb but which is the isolater?

 

The Spring Isolator is the rubber part that goes between the spring and the shock mount. It's the rubber part you mentioned in your first post. The strut mount.

I'm not sure that a worn out strut mount would cause a squeak. Maybe, but mine are pretty worn out and don't squeak.

Are you positive that the squeaking noise is coming from the front? It's very common for leaf springs to squeak. There are little plastic pads that go between the leaves, right near their ends. It's common for these to wear away over time, resulting in metal-on-metal contact, and squeaking/groaning noises. My truck does it.

I can send you a photo of their location in an hour or so.

 

I think it’s coming from the front or at least that’s what it sounds like. I’ll check my leaf springs when I can and take a picture for you guys to look at. That’s what I’ve been told it may be by an uncle of mine who was a Toyota mechanic for awhile but i wasn’t sure if it was coming from the back or not. Thanks for the advice

 

should I replace the Ubjs since I’m gonna do the lower as well?

 

Following this as i'm dealing with the same thing. It comes and goes and it driving me crazy too. For me it started after going down some dusty logging roads a few weeks ago. I have 5100's too.

 

When was the last time your lower ball joints were replaced with new OEM units?

 

I would. They can put up a serious fight. Not fun.

 

no clue. bought the truck used from my grandfather with like 70k miles on it and I’m at 91,500 or so right now. I doubt he has replaced them. When I bought it I needed a new water pump and timing belt and brakes needed to be serviced but other than that it’s just been oil changes and then the new struts and shocks. I know when I went to get all of that stuff done it was recommended I did the LBJ but never did them. I probably would be doing those next with the uppers as well.

 

Follow this instruction: https://www.tundras.com/threads/front-end-squeaks-only-in-4wd.147800/#post-3706742

 

Been a while. About 80k if I remember correctly. I inspected them per youtube videos and they passed. I was think about swapping them out, but didnt want to unless they were bad. I can make it squeak by gently rocking the truck sometimes. I need to ask my neighbor to give me a hand rocking the truck with me underneath.

 

it’s the same with my truck. If it’s off and I push up and down on the front to make it rock, the squeaks tend to start up again.

 

Many have found similar and it was due to missing shims in their leaf pack, between the ends of each leaf there should be one shim per side, but if you’re positive it’s in the front…

 

Just following up on my squeak. I found the culprit. I have SuspensionMaxx extended sway bar links installed, along with new 5100's, for about 4k miles now. I must not have had the links tightened down enough, and when the bushings started to break in, it loosened thea contact point enough for the noise. I tightened the top nut down about 1.5-2 turns, and now the noise is gone. It looks like you have stock links so this may not be the same cause.

 

SuspensionMaxx uses poly bushings. It’s worthwhile to slap some lube* anywhere the bushing touches to cut down on squeaking.

 

SuspensionMaxx extended swaybar links use poly bushings? I can't believe I didn't notice this.

I've had a squeak in the front passenger side at slow speeds. I did too many changes/upgrades in a short period of time which makes it hard to pinpoint the culprit, but it was about the time I installed those swaybar links and I did not put anything on those bushings


I assume that's a typo and where you say line it should say lube or grease?


Edit: yes - straight from the manufacturers website, so maybe my issue is a simple as that



this website did some testing of various types of lubrication for urethane bushings, and this was their conclusion. Someone on here recommended this lube and it has the PTFE additive. It's what I used on my other polyurethane bushings

 

Yes, I meant lube. And yes, clearly they're using poly bushings.

The lube you pictured just so happens to be min and @FrenchToasty's favorite. While it's not as useful for these bushings, SuperLube also makes a great O-ring lube which I use on my auto parts (sensors, injectors, anything I need to stay put) and also in my espresso machines (for the group head gaskets, o-rings, and seals). You can also use it on electrical stuff in a pinch, and it works for plastic gears.

Obviously, don't use this stuff on your bushings, just posting for reference.

​

 

I’ve been using this on my O-rings for 50 yrs

 

at a quick glance those labels look the same. Easy to mix up if you're not aware

 

Why does that give me "weird adult store packaging" vibes? I think it's the font and the simple blue-on-white color scheme. But I definitely wasn't sure which "o-ring" you were referring to until I googled the stuff.

 

OK I'm thoroughly confused. Both of those have the same part number however, the one I posted says it has PTFE which means it's waterproof and will adhere to polyurethane bushings.

And I can't remember who but one of the trusted posters told me to use that when I was putting in polyurethane bushings on my steering rack

edit: I just had to purchase a new tube that is labeled the same as Shifty's. Although it doesn't say it has PTFE, it does say it is impervious to salt water, so I'm assuming it is OK for polyurethane bushings.

 

Damn you’re right. They do have the same part number on the label. Huh.

 

First got it for my pool filter in the 70s. Most pool shops carry it.