1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Weird Undercarriage noise

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by tacoman00, Oct 3, 2015.

  1. Oct 3, 2015 at 6:30 PM
    #1
    tacoman00

    tacoman00 [OP] Your Average Joe

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2011
    Member:
    #52689
    Messages:
    459
    Gender:
    Male
    Rockville, MD
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD Off-Road DCSB
    Toytec BOSS 2.0 lift, 18x9 Fuel Rebels, 32” BFG AT K02.
    So recently my truck has been making a noise i've never heard of. I've tried to pinpoint the noise with no luck, but it sounds concerning. Any way, here's a description, hopefully someone knows what causing it or at least can point me in the right direction:

    NEARLY every time I shift my truck into drive and roll a few feet, underneath my truck (sounds like from the front side of the undercarriage) there is a clanking noise that happens just once. and then I don't hear it anymore. Also, it occasionally happens when I'm begin backing up as well. My dad seems to think its the brakes but I'm not convinced. I'm leaning towards driveshaft.

    Any help is appreciated!
     
  2. Oct 3, 2015 at 6:56 PM
    #2
    520Toyota

    520Toyota Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Member:
    #90623
    Messages:
    283
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C.V.
    Nor Cal
    Vehicle:
    dcsb 6spd 4x4 offroad
    Ome lift
    Lube the u-joints and shaft.
     
  3. Oct 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM
    #3
    Luke01

    Luke01 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2013
    Member:
    #100703
    Messages:
    622
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luke
    Dallas, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Tacoma DCSB MGM lifted dented and armored
    Grillcraft Grill, Leer 100q top, 5100's on four corners, OME 885x up front, OME Dakars with add a leaf in rear, Lighting, a mix of Rigid and Chinese LED's, US Off Road hidden winch front bumper, SOS offroad conceprs skids, and rear bumper with swing out
    Yep
     
  4. Oct 3, 2015 at 7:06 PM
    #4
    MGtaco2.7

    MGtaco2.7 MEMBER

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2015
    Member:
    #146724
    Messages:
    915
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    NW Ohio
    Vehicle:
    18 DCSB 4X4 SR5 Silver Sky Metallic V6 AT
  5. Oct 3, 2015 at 7:50 PM
    #5
    sparkystaco

    sparkystaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2010
    Member:
    #30122
    Messages:
    5,922
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sparky
    SE Wi
    Vehicle:
    06 4x4 dc trd ofrd
    3" lift? A.R.E cap 285/70/17 moto metal 955 17x9
    IIRC 06 sport's don't have greaseable joints.

    To check if it's a u-joint, start truck and put foot firmly on brake, shift between D and R repeatedly, if it's a joint you'll usually be able to hear it.
    If that doesn't do it, next trick.
    To see if it's brakes.
    Start truck, foot firmly on brakes, put in D roll forward 10ft apply brakes firmly, put in R roll back 10ft; repeat.
    If this causes noise you have pad slap. ( pads moving inside caliper )
     
  6. Oct 3, 2015 at 8:55 PM
    #6
    520Toyota

    520Toyota Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Member:
    #90623
    Messages:
    283
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C.V.
    Nor Cal
    Vehicle:
    dcsb 6spd 4x4 offroad
    Ome lift
    My uncle had a 1st gen that had similar symptoms. He's had the truck for over 10 years and never greased the u-joints and drive shafts. After we greased it up, noise went away. Maybe the u-joints need to be replace if it is not grease serviceable.
     
  7. Oct 4, 2015 at 12:30 PM
    #7
    Sandyman

    Sandyman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2014
    Member:
    #137045
    Messages:
    132
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sandy
    Los Anchorage
    Vehicle:
    '12 DC Sport Limo
    Just me
    My '12 has some pad slap. It sounds like right side has one clank when stopping forward after a stop reverse and vise versa. I had planned to check it out next time the wheels were off.
     
  8. Oct 4, 2015 at 3:40 PM
    #8
    tacoman00

    tacoman00 [OP] Your Average Joe

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2011
    Member:
    #52689
    Messages:
    459
    Gender:
    Male
    Rockville, MD
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD Off-Road DCSB
    Toytec BOSS 2.0 lift, 18x9 Fuel Rebels, 32” BFG AT K02.
    just went through the whole u joint issue last year with this truck. replaced every u joint on the shaft one at a time. Because of this, I can only wonder if it is the u joints, why they wore out so quickly.
     
  9. Oct 4, 2015 at 3:49 PM
    #9
    TenBeers

    TenBeers Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2009
    Member:
    #18067
    Messages:
    7,709
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Bentonville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD Pro Cavalry Blue
    Yeah.
    LOL, that is just your brake pads. They float, so anytime you change directions forward to reverse and use the brakes, you may hear them knock a little bit. Nothing to worry about.
     
  10. Oct 4, 2015 at 5:09 PM
    #10
    tacoman00

    tacoman00 [OP] Your Average Joe

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2011
    Member:
    #52689
    Messages:
    459
    Gender:
    Male
    Rockville, MD
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD Off-Road DCSB
    Toytec BOSS 2.0 lift, 18x9 Fuel Rebels, 32” BFG AT K02.
    It hasn't been doing this all along though. Also, its not just when i change directions. I can go get in my truck and throw it in drive all begin pulling off and after rolling 5 feet (even before pressing the gas) I will hear the clanking noise.
     
  11. Oct 4, 2015 at 5:18 PM
    #11
    Cano PR

    Cano PR Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Member:
    #125717
    Messages:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    PR
    Vehicle:
    2014 black trd sport 2wd 4.0L v6
    Oem skid plate, oem running boards, oem roof rack, TRD cat back, TRD drop in filter, hid & leds, avs in-channel vent visor, 20% window tint, oem door sill, oem bed mat short bed.
    The caliper has a spring on the bottom pin go buy 2 more put on top pin also clank will go away pins that holds brake pad
     
  12. Oct 4, 2015 at 6:44 PM
    #12
    EdinCincinnati

    EdinCincinnati Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2013
    Member:
    #99457
    Messages:
    2,447
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ed
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2014 4x4 TRD OR
    Tighten the 4 bolts in the crossmember under the transmission. I had the same problem. That fixed it.
     
  13. Oct 4, 2015 at 7:27 PM
    #13
    Fury

    Fury Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2012
    Member:
    #72221
    Messages:
    160
    Gender:
    Male
    Hi all.

    Sounds like the same as mine. I have a '12 and I hear that sound every time I take off after starting the engine - forward or reverse. It sounds like a light clunk. I was concerned and this is the direction a service guy pointed me to. I then found this in the repair manual.

    From the 2012 RM - Brake control - Vehicle stability control system - System description - Section 3a


    When the vehicle speed first reaches approximately 6 km/h (4 mph) or more after the ignition

    switch has been turned ON, each solenoid valve and the brake actuator motor are sequentially

    activated to perform electrical checks. During the initial check, the operating sound of the motor

    can be heard from the engine compartment, but this does not indicate a malfunction.


    I am convinced this is what makes the sound in my taco. It may or may not be your issue ...

    Cheers
    Ray.
     
  14. Oct 4, 2015 at 8:03 PM
    #14
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2009
    Member:
    #19185
    Messages:
    23,530
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Doug
    Lakeside, Ca / Gardnerville, Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2004 DC TRD 4x
    Grey wire MOD, deck plate, diff breather MOD, 2nd gen. OME 883# on Tundra 5100's, OMD custom 3" leafsprings, rear shock relocation, Ivan Stewart TRD rims w/285/75/16's, '02 bumper MOD, Famous Fabrications sliders , LED interior/exterior lights, bed bar, Custom tube bumper, Old school KC day lighters,Red Ring 8" HID flood, Kenwood vhf 2M.. umm some other shit I'm forgetting right now
    Can you post up some audio of said "clank" So far it seems the "clank" means something different, now if you said it sounds like a piece of wire wrapped around driveshaft I'd say easy, Ujoints...
     
  15. Oct 4, 2015 at 11:38 PM
    #15
    sparkystaco

    sparkystaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2010
    Member:
    #30122
    Messages:
    5,922
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sparky
    SE Wi
    Vehicle:
    06 4x4 dc trd ofrd
    3" lift? A.R.E cap 285/70/17 moto metal 955 17x9
    Who replaced the u-joints? Did they install them properly? Did they grease them when they installed? have they been greased since?

    A u-joint without proper installation or grease will fail quickly, leaving you wondering why this happened.

    I've seen u-joints fail in 6 months from this.
     
  16. Oct 5, 2015 at 12:06 AM
    #16
    Mxpatriot

    Mxpatriot Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2009
    Member:
    #26163
    Messages:
    3,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    '06 4x4 AP LT and Locked
    In addition to what others have mentioned, check the two 17mm bolts that hold each brake caliper to the spindle. Take the tire off, look on the back side of the caliper, they'll be clear as day which two I'm referring to. While you're there check to make sure that each caliper has two pins going through it, holding the brake pads in place.
     
  17. Nov 29, 2015 at 8:11 AM
    #17
    snipehunter007

    snipehunter007 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2014
    Member:
    #143354
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    MelleMel
    Bartlett,TN
    Vehicle:
    Pre-Runner SR5
    I've had a similar problem with my 07-Taco!! At low speeds, I heard a squelling sound. As I started to speed up, the squelling sound went away. This also happens when I went reverse. Thought it was my rear drums...changed them out (never again...if you do, get the proper tools:amen:) :stayontopic: Ok, sorry about that. The noise was from my U-joints wanting to fail around 85,000 miles. Changed them out (3) and all was good with the world again.
     
  18. Aug 16, 2016 at 3:49 PM
    #18
    krue92

    krue92 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2013
    Member:
    #94732
    Messages:
    55
    Gender:
    Male
    Nebraska
    I know this thread is a little old now, but did you ever get this resolved. My 2011 makes a noise when just starting out in drive as well, but only if I reverse first. It makes it after I go about 10 ft and sometimes does it in reverse too.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top