Creaking/cracking sound from front suspension: 2016 tacoma OR

Holy crap this is exactly the sounds I just started getting after new tires and an alignment. I have no aftermarket skids but you guys are saying this is what the sound is? I get it slightly when turning the wheel at a standstill and also when turning moving and going over bumps.

had the Offroad shop check all suspension parts for tightness and they couldn’t figure it out either

 

If you get the sound from going up and down bumps, it’s likely the body mounts. If not go up through the thread for the radiator bracket

 

Is the fix for body mounts easy? And it’s this EXACT sound too so I feel like it must be what OP had.

 

OP was skid plates.

you have an idea now, check out those things. Body mount isn’t difficult

 

OK so wondering if OP had stock skids. I checked mine and I don't see where they would be rubbing anything.

I also just took the truck out again on some dirt/mild off road trails. I've now confirmed that even if the wheel is straight I sometimes get the same sound as the video OP posted but only going over bumps. Any time I'm on an off camber section of trail, or the front driver side is raised or being articulated AND when I steer a little bit putting stress on the turning system/wheel... is when it happens. But of course, not all the time.

I had the offroad shop check for suspension tightness and they lubed everything up today for me. They also pointed out it might be the sway bar connection points? Seems to be coming from the driver side too.

 

Long time listener first time caller.

I recently started having this/ similar sounds as well. 600 miles in on a new taco with ToyTec Boss. The sound at the beginning of the thread sounds dead on. I mostly hear creaking from driver’s side anytime the driver’s side suspension articulates forward or revers. Kills me. Haven’t have this issue with lifted 2nd Gen taco.

Sounds like a couple different areas to check. One thing I found for sure is the sway bar is hitting the driver’s side coilover. I can see the red marks. And the sway bar, even with relocation brackets is TIGHT against the coilovers on both sides.

Working theory is something with the sway bar and/or mounts. Taking back to the dealer and off road shop to evaluate. Will definitely check the body mounts as well

 

Are your sway bar relocation brackets on backwards? They should move the sway bar forward

 

Solid question.
So far as I can tell, they’re installed the right way... obviously the sway bar tells a different story. I do need to take them off and double check. My thought was Toyota did this, I kinda want them to see their boff.

Challenge here is in some improvises home testing I covered the shock body to have a barrier between sway bar and coilover - same sound still persisted even over slow bumps, road imperfections, manhole covers, backing into the garage etc.

 

get under the front bumper and check the sway bar mounting location. You will see the spacer bracket below it. If the spacer has space behind it, it’s correct. If the spacer has space in front of it, it’s incorrect.

 

Body mount fix is incredibly easy. I actually was the clown who started talking and pushing for body mount replacement on member trucks long ago on the 2nd gens and since the 3rd gens are the same animal as the 2nd frame wise at the radiator support bushings it sort of carried over onto you guys' trucks as well.

The predominant issue stemmed and continues to stem mostly at the radiator core support because the bushings allowed too much slop and that coupled with a heavy battery made for a disastrous recipe on the core support bulkhead and eventually even warped/ warps the frame mounting portion where the bolt runs through due to the slop from the bushings and all of the metal to metal contact as the bushings shift around in there attempting to support all that body weight in the front.

Looks like Toyota is still designing garbage soft bushings which shred after 1000 miles.

 

Good to hear I'm not the only one. Unless I just didn't hear it before, I only started hearing this after I got an alignment. My 4WD shop inspected everything yesterday while doing my CMC and said everything was tight and lubed. They said its maybe the sway bar mounts. I don't have a relocation kit though. Do I need one? I have 6112/5160 and JBA UCAs.

 

the 6112s are bigger than the oem coils. I have 2.5s and needed the relocation bracket. Order a set. They can’t be expensive, and super easy to install. You won’t even need to jack up your truck.

 

When my guys originally installed it, they said it wasn't getting in the way. So why does one need a relocation kit? Not sure what it does really...

 

Decided to search really quick for you

https://greenlaneoffroad.com/16-tacoma/front-sway-bar-relocation-bracket

This is one example; lots out there, and this company makes solid products. All it does is move the sway bar down and forward. The sway bar is already close to the coilover, when you get a bigger set of coil overs with a larger diameter, they can hit the sway bar during articulation of the suspension. This does nothing to change the feel of driving the truck, it just moves it slightly to not interfere with the new coilovers

 

I experience this as well, but only on full turn. Looks like OP's example was even at the slightest turn the noise would appear.

I still haven't figured out what it is...

 

NIce thanks... maybe i'll pick one up.

 

Mine also seems to be worse some days than others. Whats funny is my rear dakars did this same kind of sound (although less squeaky/creaky) and I lube them up and it went away. Then a week later my front is making similar sounds! The 4WD place inspected everything so it sucks when you don't know what it is.

 

Check your spherical bearings on the Kings.




Very likely this is the source of your trouble. Identical to the noises I was getting (before it got worse and started creaking and groaning like a rusted out 76 Ford), and it took far too long to track it down to this. I was just certain it was the LBJ. It wasn't.

Spray some lubricant on the joint, go for a drive, and see if it disappears.

 

6112s too?

 

After alignment I had this, then I tightened the hell out of the LCA bolts and all was well.