BamaToy's Garage and Diagnostic Center.

You going the the race next weekend then at Charlotte?

 

Nope, we always go camping at Summersville Lake in here WV over Memorial Day Weekend. To be honest, the All-Star race may be the last one I go to for a while. I went to Richmond last September before the All-Star and both races were bore fests. No real racing, all follow the leader. 2 total cautions in 2 races. One for debris and the other for the drunk guy climbing the catch fencing at Richmond. The qualifying for the All-Star race was more entertaining than the race itself.

 

Well brakes started sticking again over the weekend. This time it was during some heavy braking when I was ascending and descending a mountain heading to the lake for the weekend. From what I can assume, they got a little warm and started sticking just just enough to make a grinding sound. Once they cooled off, no more sticking. Thing is this sticking issue doesn't effect my acceleration or the steering, it's just an audible noise. Think I might go ahead and break it all down this weekend and see what I can find.

 

I would look for possible dirt and trash in the deal around the pistons, as well as remove all of the slide pins and clean/lubricate them.

 

Forgive me if this is completely the wrong issue to ask you about, I just searched brake problems, and this came up. I hope I'm not stretching my karma here.


Year: 2005
Make: Toyota
Model: TRD Sport DCSB
Engine size: 4l V6 4x4

On top of this basic information it would be VERY helpful to include:

Is a lift installed: OME front shocks and coils, Dakar leaf pack in the back.
Aftermarket components: none other than the lift parts
Is there an alarm system installed: no idea...
When did you first notice the problem?: After installing the lift and getting 255/80/17 Tires
How often does it occur?: Most always when going from reverse to drive, especially when on a hill, or after having gone over some bumps.
What have you ALREADY replaced to try and fix it?: nothing
Have you checked codes?: nope, it's mechanical, as in the drivetrain, suspension or breaks. \


So, with the above said, here is what happens. After backing up from whatever parking spot I'm in, I break, and as I break I hear a "clunk", as I am coming to a full stop. Then, I go forward and the noise doesn't repeat itself. It usually appears when I back up, break and then go forward, or vice versa. I can feel it on the break/gas pedal, as if whatever is causing it is connected to those in some way.
It started after I got my lift installed and tires upgraded. I checked most all bolts and nuts in connection to the lift, not quite for torque, but to see if they're lose or not. I'd have to take the tires off, in order to check torque on most of them, but if necessary I'll do that.
Also, it appears to be coming more from the passenger side than the driver side. But I'm not 100% sure about that.
My alignment was not perfect, due to the fact that I didn't upgrade my UCAs. Caster was not ideal, rest was ok if I remember right. I have quite a bit of bump steer, but I'm not sure this is related to this.

/Edit: I don't wheel hard, to this point forrest dirt roads and such, but she has 160k on the odometer.

I hope this makes sense in one way or another. If not, sorry to bug you.

 

Never consider it bugging me when asking for help. I am here to help out whoever asks.

The clunk that you are hearing can be a couple of things that I have seen. The most common is axle wrap, and driveline binding, which is more pronounced when a lift is installed in the rear. When you are in reverse and apply your brakes, the brakes slow down the wheel, and the momentum/force gets transferred into the leaf springs. This causes them to wrap up slightly. It can be something as small as 2 or 3 degrees, which you wouldn't visibly notice. When the vehicle comes to a stop this wrap is held in the springs until something releases it. This could be shifting gears, taking your foot off the brake, or anything similar.
When you shift into drive it is the most pronounced as your axle wrap is negative, and shifting into drive brings the drive train into positive. This makes for a nice "clunk" or "bump" feel. Tacoma trucks are well known for axle wrap issues, and there really is not a whole lot that can be done. Stiffer springs can help. A Carrier bearing drop can reduce the condition as it keeps the driveshaft more in line and less chance of it binding as well. Having your driveshaft angles checked and brought into proper alignment can also help.
One of the ways to check for the axle wrap is to check and see if the noise is more pronounced after a stronger brake into reverse. If you can gently ease yourself to a stop and then shift into drive and it isn't as bad as if you brake stronger in reverse, then yes, you are looking at axle wrap or driveline binding.

 

Thanks for the help. You're right, it's more pronounced of a sound when I break stronger, or if I'm on a hill, where the there is more stress on the drivetrain. If I break carefully, it's not noticeable, or happening at all.
Now, I do have a carrier barring drop here that I have yet to install. With all the above said, what's your assessment of long time impact? What is going to happen, if I doesn't get addressed, since there's not much I can do?

 

Really not a whole lot. It is a common problem on all trucks with leaf spring suspension kits. I don't have to deal with it since I have a manual trans, but I personally think it is more of an annoyance than a problem. I have yet to hear of it causing any real damage.

 

So, this weekend is the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, and as I was getting to the local Toyota stealership to pick up some parts, the marketing manager from Toytec pulls up for a TRD Racing meeting at the dealership.
I pull him aside and explain that I bought the lift from them and what has been going on with it. He tells me his first thought is the upper and lower control arms, since the sound is coming from the front, rather than the back.
So after I get home, out of curiosity I check the torque on the LCA bolts and sure enough, they were no more than 50lbs/ft. Since I torqued them to spec I've had no noise going on. Hooray.

 

Going over your first posted question you didn't specify front or back, so I assumed it was rear by your description of the sound. lol. Glad to hear you have it figured out!!

 

No worries, I appreciate the help anyway. It was my bad for not specifying front or back.

 

I have a 2008 sport with roughly 90,000 miles. Having brake trouble .I have had the truck about a year now. The used car lot I got it at , put new rotors and pads on it. About a month later I would get a sqeek when applying lite pressure on brakes, but would go away with more pressure. Took it back in they worked on it again went away for awhile , but came back. All along I have felt like the brakes have been spongy , and over all weak. So about a month ago A mechanic here locally said that I needed calipers, That they weren't releasing all the way. Or they were only working on one side. so had new ones put on. Finally nice firm good feeling brakes,and I'm happy now. Well just the other day brakes start with the noise again, now I'm back to spongy brakes. Do u have any idea what it could be? This has been really frustrating .

 

Also forgot to mention , He only put the calipers on . He said pads and rotors were fine. And I have had the brake fluid bled out, or replaced at one point. but not when calipers were done.

 

Interesting, I have very similar brake issues...

 

Interesting problem. Before I go any deeper into the possibilities, would you please be as descriptive as possible about the squeak? Is it in the pedal? From outside? Left side, right, or both? Does it happen when sitting still, or when slowing down for a stop, or both?

 

Are you sure that's not just standard? A lot of us feel this way about the brakes. Try finding people in your regional forum who might let you drive their truck up and down the block a few times.

 

It is pass. front that makes the noise. only does it with light pressure on brakes. I kind of think it is from back of pads, because it stops with more pressure. and doesn't do it after brakes have been worked on and greased up good. takes a week or two to start again. The new calipers did improve the brakes. Do u think the fluid might have gotten hot when old calipers weren't releasing all the way? I flushed out old fluid a few months ago , just had calipers done. I'm meaning for the spongy pedal for the fluid, not the noise. The noise has always been on passenger side front.

 

would like to add, I'm pretty sure it is making the squeak sound all the time now. passenger side front . I don't know, maybe it is something else and not brakes. could the bearing make noise and be bad, even if it checks out ok?

 

There is a possibility that something got caught up in the brake pad and rotor area. Spongy brakes could be from air ingested in the line, or moisture. Those would be the things I would look at next.

 

not typically, no. When I was at the dealers I would see maybe 2 or 3 a month. At my own shop a couple a year maybe.