Doors: Squeaking in Door Frame

My Tacoma is coming up on 100k miles and the doors seem to make a lot of noise whenever I drive over rough surfaces. I've gotten used to this enough that it doesn't make me nutty anymore. On some level, I attribute this to using the truck offroad and figure I just live with the consequences. Occasionally, I wipe the seals down with silicone lube or the like and the sound goes away. Also, on hot days, the sound generally goes away. But...

This weekend, while in Death Valley, I hopped in my buddies 5th Gen 4Runner to move it down the trail and make room for some of our group's trucks. His truck is set up very similar to mine, similar age, similar suspension, similar mileage, offroading, etc., and not a peep. No door noise, no squeaking, rattling, are anything.

So, what's up here? Is something wrong with my truck? Doors? Door seals? Or is the 5th Gen just so much better built?

Thanks

 

unfortunately.. this.

the taco is, and has been, a pretty basic vehicle IMO. lacking some of the more "quality features".

its a give and take.. sacrifice the comforts for Tacoma dependability, ruggedness, and all around badassness.

 

When I had my 08 TRD Off Road, I noticed, what you seem to be living with.

I live in a rural area; and the road are mostly Township roads, uneven, sometimes rough , some bumpiness.

I attribute that noise, to the flexing of the body. I was always aware of the cab flexing differently than the bed; but as the truck got older, 20k + miles; the door opening seemed to flex.

And that was running empty; if I had any amount of load in the bed, say, plus 500 lbs; it was really noticeable.

Nothing was broken, or loose; as we looked at it several times. It just seemed to flex.and squeak. Oh yea, lubing the door seals, took the sneak away.

So what ware you worried about. If all the body mounts are good, and tightened to spec, nothing broken; that is just the way it is.

 

Checking the body mounts is probably a good idea.

I'm not worried about anything, but it was sure nice to be driving down a rocky trail without the squeaking doors and I'm a little bit jealous.

 

Door seals need lubed. My 2014 was doing it whenever the truck flexed - lubed 'em up and no more issues.

 

Yes, I've done this before. But after driving my buddies 4Runner, I find myself wondering why we should have to do this. Again, I'm thinking of the door seals as a starting point.

 

New seals ordered. I'll report back after installation

 

Update: I replaced the rubber seals on the front doors and the difference is amazing. The squeaks are gone and the doors shut very snugly. It's like having a brand new truck again! So happy with the results!

 

Good to hear and thanks for the update.

I am unimpressed that the seals would wear out so soon.

 

Also have to remember the 4Runners have fully boxed frames with reinforcements as with all SUVs. You cant have the flex of a truck in a SUV or you be breaking shit.

 

My door seals squeak too when driving over rough roads. I might try need seals too.

But to people lubing the door seals, what are you lubing them with?

 

I use an aerosol silicone sprayed on a rag and then applied to the seals, primary reason is so wet seals don't freeze up if we go from rain to below freezing.

But it takes care of squeaks too.

 

sil glyde

http://www.amazon.com/Sil-Glyde-Silicone-Lubricating-Compound-Ounce/dp/B0054DWS1W

 

My door seals use to creak quite a bit. I tried several different solutions, including repeated cleaning, applying wax, frictionless tape, etc. and the creaking would always come back after a few weeks. Eventually I tried some stuff called Factory Team Silicone Differential Fluid (5000 cst) and the stuff worked great! I apply it 1x per year and have been squeak free for the past 3 years. I figured I’d post this solution in the hope that I can help others avoid the frustration of trial and error with some of the other proposed solutions.