I need assistance diagnosing chassis noise

The problem: a sound emitting from the undercarriage somewhere. The sound happens once 90% of the time and twice 10% if the time. The sound sometimes occurs several feet after going from parked to reverse and also will sometimes occur several feet after going from drive to reverse. The sound isn't really a dead thud or a sharp cracking sound but kind of in between. A few times I have heard the sound while turning and moving forward and going over bumps at the same time.

The truck: 1996 Tacoma 4WD V6 auto power steering and brakes stock auto hubs 175K miles on truck. The front axle boots look perfect. The ball joints, tie rods, and driveshaft u-joints were checked by me and a paid second opinion and they're good. Steering rack, front struts, front springs, rear shocks, front rotors and pads, mild front lift with spacers, 1" front diff drop, are all new and the sound persists (I didn't expect those parts to fix the sound). 4WD works perfect. Auto trans is original, BLACK fluid, and works perfectly.

My best guess is a front auto hub is bad somehow, I know nothing about working on 4WD hubs. IF it's a bad auto front hub what should I expect to pay for manual hubs in parts and will I need special tools to do the swap? Any reason why I would want to keep auto hubs?

My second guess is a front axle problem, other than using a torch or a sawzall to remove a Toyota 4WD IFS I know nothing about working on them. This truck is staying with the IFS. Are there any special tools needed to work on these axles?

What do you think the problem is and how would you go about fixing it?

Thanks in advance

 

I changed the confusing title.

 

I used a $99 Steelman Chassis ear to find an intermittent creaking noise. I was ready to sell the car until I found the problem. If you get to the point where you just can't find the noise, a chassis ear makes all the difference in finding the issue.

The chassis ear in this video is the deluxe wireless mode. I found my issue with the basic $99 wired model.

It would be good if auto parts stores rented/loaned the basic chassis ears. I may never need the one I bought again.

https://youtu.be/UyRoLwbvCp4

 

Loose brake pad on one of the calipers?

 

Anything like this?

https://youtu.be/2UnOgbeiByM

 

I had never heard of a chassis ear, pretty cool. San Diego county has over 3 million people in it so I'm going to try to find the rental of a chassis ear. Thanks.

 

Rotors and pads are new and their replacement didn't affect the noise.
The noise sounds exactly like a car I had where a caliper bolt had snapped.
I went with slotted and drilled rotors to try to help out the crappy stock brakes, it did.

 

No. A lot more leaf spring wrap than I expected to see in that video.

 

The North East accents just make me roll for some reason! that's an invaluable tool that I think I need to save up for. I need the wireless model.
Did he say 'been looking for a reason to poop out a video for you guys on this thing' lmao

 

Lmao that's what I heard too.

 

Actually I need that tool now. Looks like you could put the transmitters anywhere you need though right? I'll look more into, but those weren't fixed positions that had to be used right? The front diff, the rear diff, the transfer case, etc? Those were the just spots he picked because he knew the noise was likely one of those right?

 

Former NJ/NYC area resident from some time ago. Certain parts I don't hear. Many of my co-workers are from the northeast. My accent is a mix of AR and NJ, so I can't talk about anybody's accent. "How da hell are ya'll today?"

 

There are 6 sensors in the kit. I started by putting them in the vicinity where I heard the noise. Then narrowed it down on a 2nd round. I had a hard time believing what I heard and what it turned out to be.

 

What did out turn out to be?

I've got at least 3 different annoying noises coming from my truck that push to me the brink of insanity on some days. This tool sounds very useful

 

Energy Suspension anti-sway bar bushings. The bar was carrying on like a guitar string.

 

Ditch the sway bar and you'll never hear it again.

OP,
If you can't fix it yourself, I suggest taking it to MIT in El Cajon. They do great work there.
Good luck.

 

It's funny, some are actually a riot, like they get me laughing for some reason, like dude in the video. And some of those accents and can just pierce my deaf eardrums it seems and it's the last thing I want to hear. Not sure of the difference, maybe just when it's so severe of an accent it bugs me? No, cause some of those l are funny too. Man I dunno
But I wouldn't make fun of an accent just because.... That's mean, and who really enjoys being mean. Well I mean in real life, everybody can play a meanie in fake internet life

 

What'd you find and what was your symptom/s? Or was that in a prior post already? I'll go double check

 

Wow, that's bizarre but so good to know. Everybody thinks the answers to life's problems are poly bushings but I didn't think they were the greatest thing when I started using them in my Cruisers years ago. I mean it's a lot easier to install two poly bushing halves over needing to press in oem rubber bushings but man I've had squeaks for months or years that ended up being some obscure poly bushing. For example overly tightened upper shock mount with new poly bushings. But good to know I'm not alone on that stuff after joining this forum lol

 

Yah don't get me started on f'ing poly bushings.