3rd Gen Poll: Rear End Noise howling when feathering throttle

My leaf springs were noisy as heck. ANY movement at all. I soaked them on a warm fall day last year with progressively thicker spray lubes, up to spray grease, starting with a penetrating lubricant while raising and lowering frame/body. Pretty easy, just put some cardboard down first so drips don't get on ground. Wow was I amazed how it quieted the truck, and it must have done a decent job as it is May and still very quiet.

I am not here to postulate all this howl comes from the leaf springs - but worth a shot (no pun intended) to help isolate the real howl.

 

I might experiment this weekend by putting some metal C-clamps on the ends of the leaf springs to see if the added mass changes anything. I'll let you all know.

 

Are you talking about the howl noise or leaf spring squeaking?

 

"I am not here to postulate all this howl comes from the leaf springs."

BOTH really. Obviously the springs squawking and squeaking when acting like an ape on, or just touching, the rear bumper is way different than a howl at highway speeds. I am merely suggesting lubing the holy cheese out of the leaf springs and see how it sounds on the freeway.

 

No howl at all anymore on my 2020 sr5, not that it was all that noticeable at the beginning when first owned. Just wish the ride would improve on the iraqi roads here. Going to install the 265/70r 16 spare tires from the old tundra. Don't know if the firestones this truck came with suck, or what? I'll see if the 265 goodyears eliminate some of the sharp jitters on the roads here. On the interstates the ride isn't nearly as bad. The 01 tundra with the 265 goodyears road like on a cloud in comparison.

 

The Firestone tires that came on my 2019 Sport were probably the worst tire I have ever owned.

 

Anymore? Can you explain.. did you get anything fixed to make it go away? or did it go away on its own?

Was your howl the one everyone else here is having? (50-60 mph)

 

It was a low sounding growl at 45-50 mph when rounding curves. After 1500 miles its totally faded away. The entire truck now runs extremely well. Just wish it didn't ride so bumpy around town here.

Thats good to hear. If the other tires make an improvement its a plus.

 

Post any change it makes, if any.

 

Exactly.

As far as I am concerned (AFAIAC?) - Toyota has made leaf spring lube an added maintenance item. Forced it on us, if you will. I should start a new thread.

 

Leaf spring lube? Sounds a bit counterproductive.

 

Yours don't squeal and squonk like a pig?

 

When they’re dirty from offroading they do. Add lubricant to the mix and that may quiet it temporarily, but in reality it attracts more dirt and makes it worse. Best thing for the leafs themselves is to hose them down, degrease them, scrub the dirt out/off, and repeat ever so often. Only lube I ever use is on the pivot points from time to time. So far about 10k miles offroad in my 3rd gen and it’s worked flawlessly.

 

Nice. Mine were noisy 500 miles off the lot. And got worse and worse. Blasting and scrubbing them clean didn't help. Off road was embarrassing frankly. Brand new truck. The lube is holding and in fact they don't seem sticky externally probably because the only thing left is the Amsoil HD Metal protector which is just waxy, not sticky.

 

Usually when I rotate tires and service the truck every 5k, I’ll pry the leafs apart and scrub quick. I figure I might as well if I already have the truck up on a lift. Lots of dirt and sand can work it’s way deep between the leafs. This has worked for my leafs now and my Dakar leaf pack on my second gen, which are notoriously noisier when dirty.

 

All these posts and no one attaches a video? Someone should post a video so I can hear these rear ends please.

 

It may be hard to hear it with a camera or cell phone mic.

 

I didn't take these, but same noise.

 

I’ve seen on a few differential forums that 75/140 is a way to tone differential whine down. Anyone tried it? I live in a year round 80 degree + environment so cold weather making the fluid to thick isn’t an issue.

 

Originally my sr5 did the same, but more faint, it was barely noticeable but there. After 1200 miles or so it faded away. At 1500 it was totally gone. I just chalked it up to be a tight drivetrain till broken in.