Shocks and Suspension noises

First post in TW….
Recently bought the 22 TRD Off Road Tacoma. This is my first truck ever… I have noticed I can hear the shocks/suspension when going over bumps or dips…is this typical? …no bumping or grinding just faint clattering. Am I just hearing the suspension at work?

 

Welcome to TW.

Switching from a Subaru Forester to a Tacoma was a bit of a shock at first.

The trucks are just noisy, even at idle the engine makes a pretty incredible racket. There is also a lot more road noise compared to a normal passenger car.

Over time it's become just what's normal to me, there is quite a bit of road noise intruding simply because it's a truck and not quite as luxurious as other cars.

Now if you're talking about clunks and pops rather than something like a big bump having a sort of cabin-wide *thump*, there might be an actual issue. But I'm guessing it's just a bit jarring how loud the cabin is?

 

I also have a 3rd gen manual transmission. It happens in all the newer Tacomas, but much more noticeable in the M/T. Its not the suspension though. There is slack in the drivetrain from the transfercase, to driveline. When you let off the accelerator and go over bumps it is losing tension and you will hear something similar to a bellish noise. I had it checked out by toyota, and also a transmission shop. Both said its not a problem mechanically. The Transmission shop said they could eliminate the issue for around 2k. So I just figured eff it, its not a problem other than a sound, and its never stranded me on even the hardest trails I have been on.
Like the poster above, its a truck, they tend to be rough around the edges compared to a car.

 

Oh man, yeah you're dead on with this.

It's the clattering just like OP describes too, sounds similar to a loose heat shield or something.

 

I am almost positive it is suspension due to the fact that it happens when I go over the bumps and dips and at no other time. The noise is a faint clattering that isn’t really felt…just heard. I figured it would be the beefier suspension that is known to be had on the off road package. I have only drove SUV for my whole life so when you say the noises that come from a truck may be different, it makes sense.

 

Give this a try.

With the truck off, in neutral, and parking brake set, climb under the truck, grab the driveline with both hands and twist it back and forth sharply.

If that is the same sound you hear than carry on without worrying. But if it isn't, have it checked out.

Best of luck

 

The factory skid plate clangs on the bolt when I go over speed bumps