Squeaky Leaf Springs

Hello all I purchased a 2017 Tacoma with the off road package October 1st. I take to go hunting October 16th and it gets muddy and starts squeaking, power washed it And it still makes noise. Took it to the dealership and they cleaned it and greases it no more noise. I take it off roading dec 20th and it starts to make noise again! Take it back to the dealership only for them to tell me that they have to call corporate and see what they want to do with the truck. Corporate then tells me that it is my problem and I should not have taken it off road....even though I have the off road package. It appears I am not the only one that this is happening to. So i basically have a car now because I can't take my truck to hunting camp or to the fishing holes with out having to take it back to a dealership to get fixed even though TRUCKS ARE DESIGNED TO GO OFF ROAD. Toyota corporate is not helping me out at all and looks like I like I wasted 40 grand on a truck that I thought was the best and would be realaible to go off roading in. Does anyone have a ideas on how to grease it myself?

 

There's a tech tip (TT#) somewhere out there for the leaf springs. It says specifically for the tech NOT to lube them but to clean between the pads on the leafs. I had them do this to my truck twice now but can confirm it will start squeaking again not long after and especially if you take it in the rain/dirt/mud. These leaf springs just suck ass.

 

so do I have to buy new leaf springs or a new suspension cuz this is BS, I paid for the whole truck and now this BS happens. Wtf Toyota corporate, why did they put shit leaf springs in and then not have a solution to it!?

 

What will you buy? Dakars are notorious for squeaking as well. Not sure an aftermarket leaf pack (which could cost upwards of $700 to $1000) will even do the trick. It's a gamble not only for the cost but also for the question of what it may void on your warranty down the road.

I think the best course of action is to continue forcing the dealer to take care of the squeaks. I'd also call and make a case with corporate and let them know how you feel (sounds like you've already done this but maybe it hasn't got the attention it deserves). The more attention this gets from consumers and the more time & money Toyota has to spend dealing with it, the more likely we are to get a longer term/permanent solution.

I straight up told Corporate that if I have to keep taking it back for the same issue time and time again and it is not resolved, I'll be contacting an attorney and pursuing a buy back. They have been taking care of me since then. Here in AZ the magic number is 3 times for a repair issue. Of course it probably didn't hurt that they also had to replace my rear differential at 10k miles.

 

I have been making a lot of calls but the dealership is going to charge me 350$ every time I need it cleaned, I just love that I support Toyota and in return they bend me over a barrel and stick it in dry. Why can't Toyota realize that they have a problem with their equipment and do something to fix it rather than just wait and gather more angry customers? COME ON TOYOTA

 

yah looks like you did. ROFL you REALLLLLLLLYY wouldn't have liked all the little noises and dings and dongs and sounds the truck would have started making, AFTER you started "off-roading" it consistently. You're probably going to have to just sell it. Sounds like a totaled truck, and Toyota corporate ripped you off big time. This truck should not make a single peep out of any orifice what so ever, for any reason. And you do know virtually every single manufacturer in the history of the automotive industry will not let the customer make claims against "use of the vehicle" don't you? This is why GTR's or Ferrari's or whatever include "launch control" and launch control is a feature they spend millions of dollars developing, it costs the Consumer Tens of thousands to add to a vehicle, but many times simply using it will void your warranty. This is standard industry practice.

God's honest truth is this: Leaf springs are prone to creaking and squeaking, both aftermarket and factory on Toyota's, Chevy's, Fords, Jeeps, you name it. If you have trouble believing this google it, or go on any other offroad forum under the sun and see for your self. Aftermarket leafs especially do this, so you will want to stay away from upgrading your suspension.

"BUT IT SHOULDNT DO THIS, I DEMAND A FIX"

This is a function of their very design. Leaf springs can and will do this. While not all Tacoma's does this, yours does. And many Trucks used in an offroad capacity will, and you can pout like a baby and "not use my truck" until you sell it. And tearing into Toyota corporate or your service dept literally isn't going to do anything for you or your truck, because leaf spring squeak is incidental-noise from use: they aren't broken, configured wrong or defective. Good luck, but you should probably just get it sold before you put any more miles on it, Toyota will never be able to make you happy on this one.

 

I'd press for a new dealer if possible. Also stop telling them that you're offroading it. Maybe you drove through a mud puddle or down a rainy highway with dirt or sand on the surface of the road? They can't prove it unless you admit it. It's total bullshit though, I agree.

 

They may be prone to it, but that doesn't make it acceptable. My 2003 Ford with 160k miles on it never had squeaking leaf springs. Sorry but I call bullshit there.

Also you're wrong, Toyota has worked to fix my leaf springs multiple times. Read the entire thread. The FTS from region HQ had to fly out to work on my truck. Some folks have also had their leafs replaced entirely.

 

Has Toyota been good to you all this time? Do you feel they are helping you out with your truck??

 

I don't wanna sell it cuz it's my dream truck but Toyota will not help me at all for some damn reason. What's the point of having the off road package if you can't off-road? It's like buying a house and having to replace the roof every time it rains!

 

They've at least been good as far as offering me a 125K/8 year Platinum factory warranty. My main complaint is they've been slow or unresponsive in finding more long term solutions (or permanent fixes) for the rear differential howl, leaf spring squeaking, hood adhesive failure, driveline vibes between 1800 - 2200 rpms, etc.

 

You Implicitly agreed to these squeaks and squeals by using the truck and off-roading it. This why your lawyer isn't even going to mess with this stupid ass shit. Some squeaking and squeeling may be experienced after off road use: this is not indicative of failure, defects in workmanship or abnormal. And your 2003 Ford IS NOT a 2016 Toyota Tacoma. Irrelevant comparison. And cry bullshit, cry hard, because leaf-springs and squealing are synonymous.

I read the thread, and I'm also pretty sure I have seen you in no less than half a dozen other threads with your insane cry-baby Toyota corporate threat posts, where you have been demanding new rear differentials, blowing the door off of your dealer and Toyota with lawyer threats and god knows what else, because of lame shit like "whistling sounds". It gets to the point where it makes no sense why you even own This Tacoma anymore. You honestly need to take some responsibility for yourself. Why you would even bother with suing a giant automotive corporation and this ceaseless bitching about squeaks and squeals from every orifice on this truck ill never understand, especi. Just sell the truck, seriously. It will be so much easier than spending your life absolutely broken over whistle noises, pursuing lawyers and trying to litigate Toyota corporate.

No its not like that at all. You can off-road it just fine, and nothing is broken on your truck, and everything is performing as designed. Your leafs are not broken. In certain instances, water, mud, soil, sand etc.. can cause incidental squealing when it works its way into leaf springs. If you roof leaks when its wet, its broken. If you off-road your truck, hit a bump and your leafs flatten out and blow out your suspension, they are broken. If your leafs get mud and shit built up in them, and start to squeal, they still work fine, now they just squeal. Squealing and squeaking CAN HAPPEN to leaf springs when off roaded. Again, you will have to face facts that this is simply a part of the subculture you are now in, and is part and parcel of this hobby. Leafs springs can do this and likely will do this. end of story.

Or you can get a lawyer and sue Toyota, or just sell the truck. Which will be far easier.

 

You're wrong.

 

I believe this is a second gen issue as well. I hit my springs with fluid film from time to time and they have never squeaked. Might be worth a shot.

 

i guess I just need to fix it and sell it then which sucks cuz I literally just got it, why would they market an off road package knowing that it's not gonna perform off road and possibly leave your new vehicle sounding like a 30 year old pick up.

 

What kind of fluid film?

 

A squeak in the rear is how you know a Tacoma is near!

 

It is just called fluid film. It is like a thick WD40. They sell it at lowes. Smells like a goat farm and performs miracles as far as I am concerned.

 

I spray white lithium grease in mine (2005)... Takes about 15 seconds, can last anywhere from 2 years to 2 months depending on what I'm doing with the truck. Still haven't gone through one can since I've owned my truck. People make this out to be a huge deal when it really isn't. My neighbors Titan does the same thing. I showed him the fix and he was grateful.

 

I'll try it! How often are you doing this to your truck?