WTF is this creaking noise??

I just got finished taking sway bar off. I ran my first Gen taco without a sway bar and liked the way it drove 95% of the time, so with my current taco with the Bilstiens and progressive coils I figured it would be even better. It now drives a lot smoother (yes I know high speed maneuvers will be more risky) and the dam creak/click is gone.
I'm not 100% convinced that the sway bar was what was making the noise, but I think it effected the shocks/coils enough that it caused the sound while driving. When I jack the truck up and down the drivers side faintly made the sound, but while driving off road and on uneven terrain it doesn't make a peep!

Anyways I'm happy/glad my truck is quiet and also rides so much smoother than with the sway bar. As long as I don't drive it like a corvette I'll be fine.

The real test will be this week at work on long stretches of newly build logging roads that definitely aren't smooth.

 

Didn't read the whole thread, but this was my creaking that i found...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...iving-me-crazy-any-advice-appreciated.478636/

 

So did you put the rubber washers between the aluminum piece and the steel frame, or between the aluminum mount and aluminum bar? Or maybe both from reading your post.

If between 2 aluminum pieces did you have to remove plastic front bumper/facia to get at those bolts?

I soaked this area of mine with prenetrating oil without luck, but maybe rubber washers are needed.

Doing some more reading made me think that removing my sway bar would stop the frame from flexing in this area creating the creaking sound. The sway bar mounts are up front, and now that it's removed the frame wouldn't be flexing as much, hence my creaking sound stopped.

Thanks.

 

Started happening a year after the frame replacement. Put rubber washers in between everything and did not torque it down fully when i reinstalled it and its quiet as can be. Yes had to remove the whole bumper which made the job so easy. The hard part was tracking it down to that....it was a nightmare.

 

If the noise comes back check your core supports and motor mounts for proper torque. Also your cross members

 

Will do for motor mounts. I did core support and cross member already. I'm almost convinced now that it's the bumper support (aluminum pieces)

 

10-4 thanks!

 

No problem, and I forgot to say that i did the radiator core supports also first which did not solve the problem although they needed to be replaced.

 

if you have a growl with vibes when driving then you could have a wheel bearing going out. mine started squeaking when they started going out. but they progressively got worse and since your problem got better without the sway bar then im sure yours are good. just thought id throw that out there to have piece of mind

 

Just an update,i replaced my radiator core mounts with energy suspension poly mounts. The creaking is all but gone now, I only hear it on larger hits off-road at work. My mounts were shot, and I think the new ones, being stiffer, are keeping the bumper mounts from flexing as much thus keeping the creaking to a minimum.

Here is what my original rubber mounts looked like

 

My rig is making this type of noise as well. An intermittent clicking sound when turning or going over bumps. Got under there this evening and it is my end links. One has grease that has leaked out and the other has no grease at all as they are both flat. Looks like I'll be putting on a set of endlinks and sway bar bushings just for the hell of it.

 

Well, my end links were beyond shot. Replaced them yesterday with mevotech. It handles better and seems tighter but the noise is unchanged. Next step is the rubber washers idea. The noise is driving my OCD bananas! I've got some decent pics of my end link job, just need to upload.