2016 Tacoma Limited Creaks after Suspension Install by Shop

As the title says. Had a shop install a Fox 2.5" suspension kit. Everything was good the first couple weeks but then I noticed some loud Creaks that could be heard inside the cab.

Not sure if it just can't be heard at higher speeds but I only notice it at low speeds like under 25 when I'm pulling into a parking lot let's say or driving through my subdivision. Also most noticeable when turning but can be heard going straight over a slightly bumpy road let's say.

In tandem with this, I noticed immediately after driving the truck after the install that the steering isn't as loose as it used to be. For instance when I come out a turn I have to literally turn the steering wheel back to center where as previously it would kind of pop back. Not sure if it's related or if that is just what happens with bigger off road tires.

But I'm not an expert at this stuff at all so was looking for some input. I reached out to the shop today as well but wanted to get some opinions here to see if there is anything I can do easily myself to correct it.

I'm in the middle of a road trip so I'd like to correct it for the rest of the trip if possible. Also would like to know if it's anything to be concerned about to continue driving it like this or if it is ok to just blast the music and ignore it until I get back home. Thanks for any help you can provide. Here's a video I grabbed of it:

https://youtu.be/xNBpFrsvFSQ

 

Sounds like your tire is rubbing on something. Did you get it aligned? Positive castor is what makes the steering wheel center automatically. If you can't get enough castor after a lift you'll need aftermarket UCA's

 

Forgot to mention it's only coming from the driver side. And it's not just during turning. I only have 265/75/16's on. Doesn't appear to be rubbing. I did get it aligned.

I have aftermarket UCA's.

 

Does the new UCAs have greaseable ball joints? Did they get greased?

Do you have the spec sheet from the alignment? Post it if you do

 

Loose wheel nuts?

 

Poly bushings in the UCA? sound just like ungreased ploy bushings or an ungreased ball joint

 

I have the Total Chaos UCAs. Just watched their video on lubricating/greasing the uniballs properly. Will give that a shot.

I believe I have the spreadsheet. Unfortunately I am away from home for the holiday so don't have that available.

 

Forgive the ignorance. Would the poly bushings be located at the back end of the UCA?

 

yeah, the bushings are the polyurethane spacers that the big long bolt goes through that attaches to the frame. Those will be squeaky if they’re not installed with the proper grease or not torqued down properly.


Edit: TC UCA’s. It’s most likely the uniball. Grease it.

It could also be your sway bar if the spacers weren’t installed. Just other things to check.

 

Polyurethane bushings. They would be where the control arms meet the chassis. They can be any color but usually look more like really really hard plastic than rubber.

FWIW, my 2016 sounds like a gypsy wagon driving through the neighborhood. I've shot all of the moving joints with tri-flow, liquid grease, etc. It works for a few days and then creeks comes back. Sometimes its an old creek, sometimes its a new one.

 

I have this lying around:
www.wd40.com/products/white-lithium-grease/

Would this work?

I know TC recommends CRC's dry PTFE lube. Wondering if this would work as an alternative. Don't mind going to the store to get the recommended lube.

 

Ah, I don't like hearing this. Not a big fan, really don't want this to be permanent. I don't mind greasing every few months. But not every few days.

 

Use the dry lube with PTFE.

wd-40 has one too.

 

https://www.wd40.com/products/dry-lube/

 

FWIW, I’ve run a dirt king ball joint and a SPC ball joint UCA for years and they are still silent.

they are different than a uniball.

 

Will do, I'll grab that and give it a try when I can. I'll let you all know what happens

 

Check your spherical bearing on the Fox shocks as well. I've got one on one of my kings that groans and creeks like hell if I don't keep it lubed.

 

Thanks, I'll give that a shot to if it's not the UCAs. Didn't see anything online, anything special to lube those properly. Like do I need to loosen anything up.

Or can I just spray that area with the same dry lube with PTFE discussed above?

 

Whatever you use on your UCA uniballs should work on those as well.

 

I beat the hell out of my truck when I'm off road. I've had it buried to the skid plates in some pretty nasty muck in a dry lake bed that left a little surface rust on everything within a day. I'm still cleaning that crap out of my lower control arms and front bumper. Stay away from the uni-ball and get something greaseable. Icon went away from the uni-ball and now has a greasable delta joint. Next time I rebuild my shocks I'm changing to those.