Check your U-bolts

So, after a month of feeling a subtle clunk as I stop and a subtle clunk as I take off, I knew something was loose in the rear and went to find it. First off, eliminate wheels. All wheels at torque spec. Then there was the 'eye spy game' of red rust oozing from left rear leaf spring stack but not the right. I set the torque wrench to 74 ft/lbs and hit all four nuts. Nothing clicked, it just turned. Mind you, 6 years ago (name brand tire store) added a helper leaf when they leveled the Tundra. I bought it 3 years ago.

Point, don't hesitate to look and put a wrench on things, especially when red rust is present. Needless to say, the right side was well over 95 ft/lbs before it clicked. I took the left side to 85. Noise has stopped and the clunk has stopped.

Should I replace the bolts?

 

Always replace ubolts whenever they get taken apart. Or at least locktite on them so they don’t loosen back up. I had to get mine replaced at a name brand store and they reused one of my old ubolts and that one immediately loosened up after a day or 2. Had them replace with new one. Good luck.

 

Interesting my truck is doing that same thing you've described. Just noticed it recently, haven't had a chance to check it (too busy fixing other people's cars!) Right on man. Thanks for sharing. I'll be checking the u bolts tomorrow!

 

I would, you just tightened all those lug nuts up over top of completely rusty degraded threads.
Torque setting isn’t really worth much to them. It’s just the time they stopped but they sure aren’t secured to nice shiny threads.

 

Yes....replace the ubolts. They are a one time use by design. The nuts are intended to cause the threads to roll (misalign) as the initial torque is applied during installation to prevent them from coming loose.