Metal on metal contact sound when stopping

Must say this site has saved my ass a few times when working on my truck, so I appreciate ya'lls help! Here's what I've got:

On my 2005 Tacoma I have the Bilstein 5100's all around, 2" blocks in the front, 1" block w/ AAL's in the rear (had this lift for over 2 years now). Recently (about the last 4000 miles), every time I come to a stop at a stop sign or light I hear a metal contacting metal sound. I just replaced the front shocks; have a new CV axle on passenger side. My guess is it's either the A-arm bushings (truck has 182k miles) or the CV axle. Was considering buying one of those diff. drop kits but wanted people's input before doing so. Thanks!

 

well im new to tacomas,, but not new to working on vehicles... so just a dumb question,, please don't make fun of me for asking... have u checked ur brake pad/rotors...??????? they make a metal to metal noise... sometime even when u have pad left, the back side of the rotor (which receives more pressue) is destroyed and all is left is metal to metal...just a thought..

 

You make a great point! When I was installing my shocks I noticed the disks were pretty messed up. I do know those and the pads need to be replaced. Here's why I feel it's something other than brakes though:

It mainly happens when I'm pulling up to a light (so about 5-15 mph) and I've noticed it only happens when the front end dives down.

Second, it may be a completely different problem, but I hear a sound very similar to this one when I turn my wheels sharp to one side.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought for the brakes it would be a constant "grinding" sound when they were applied? This sound only seems to come up right as I'm about to come to a complete stop.

Thanks for the help though, I do need to replace those pads and rotors too!

 

This is just my thought on it, but seems possible the metal to metal/pad to rotor contact could come at the end of a braking cycle with peak braking pressure reached as truck comes to a stop. If you know the pads and rotors need replacing, and you've been running your lift for two years with no noises, I think I'd replace the pads and rotors and see if the sound goes away before tearing into anything else. Also seems possible that the same contact could be generated with a full lock turn depending on how worn those pads are. There is some natural play there and it would be greater with worn down surfaces.

Just my thoughts

 

Appreciate the help guys! I'll give that a shot this week and see what happens! Thanks

 

Two posibilities, either you have a bad ball join or a worn out universal join. The ways to tell is by reversing out of a residential driveway and listen when the front tires fall off the curve. If you hear a tud or clunk, then is you ball joints. If it only happens when you let off the gas or break or also if you take off suddenly, then is your universal joints on the drive shaft.

 

I'm curious about this.....

Where are the blocks located - INSIDE the coil assembly, or OUTSIDE the coil assembly? And - do you have the bilsteins set at ZERO??

 

The blocks ate on the inside of the assembly with the shocks set on the 2nd notch, i believe 0.8

 

How big are the blocks?

Are they 2" lift blocks? Or are they 2" thick?
Generally, a block that's 1" thick will give you about 2" of lift.

Reason why I ask.... With a block and bilsteins set at a certain height, you can overload the lower coil seat. And sometimes, the knuckle can come in contact with the coil when the suspension flexes.

Take a look at the clearance between the coil and steering knuckle.

 

I believe the blocks are 1" thick, so they'd give the 2" lift you're talking about. I took a look at the coil and steering knuckle clearance and they seem to have enough spacing to where they wouldn't come in contact. I've been told that because the front brakes are original that there is the possibility of the calipers being worn out so they have play in them, and that could be the reason for the noise. These Tacoma's seem to last forever but is it common for the whole caliper assembly to wear out at 181k miles? Dumb question, but I've also had to rebuild the transmission because it was going bad at 175k miles.

 

I don't think anyone can suggest that the calipers are shot just because its a certain age or mileage.... that all depends on the history of the vehicle.

As Moose has already mentioned - you might want to look at your brakes.
I have an O7 and I just changed my pads and had my rotors turned last year (6 years/55k miles). Prior to changing them, I had a clunk when I stepped on the brakes and that lasted for about a year. I actually had plenty of pad material to last another year or more - but because of the clunk, I did the work early. After the work - the clunk is gone.

When was the last time your pads/rotors were serviced?

As for Transmissions - again, depends on the history of the vehicle. Many many years ago, when I owned a Toyota Tercel - I had to replace the transmission at 110k miles. I know a friend who had an 04 tacoma and he replaced his transmission at (shit, can't remember) but it was closer to 200K. So.....yes.... Toyota transmissions can and do fail.