Lift your truck up by the frame near the rear axle to get the load off the springs on that side. Drive a wrecking bar or big screwdriver between the spring leafs to separate the ends where the anti-friction pads are. Try to clean the dirt out of these with a rag or string worked through them, then spray some kind of lubricant in there (I use a wax-like motorcycle chain lube that doesn't attract dirt). That should fix it for some time.

 

cool...i didnt even think about lifting the truck. Thanks for the good idea.

 

After you clean the crud out from between the springs, it would be a good idea to lube them up.

Some graphite or dry moly lube between the leaves will go a long way. If you can't get your hands on either of those, some regular chassis grease would do.

 

Hello everyone,
For quite some time now I have plagued by some annoying squeaks from the rear of my 2003 4X4 SR5 Extracab Tundra. It seems to occur most often when hitting uneven pavement, rather than when hitting an actual pot hole, and is more noticeable when it is dry out as opposed to rainy. Does anyone have a clue what I can do about this? It's a year old with 32,000 miles, but is sounding more like an old Ford at this point.

similar threads merged. --sean

 

When I lifted my Taco, it started squeaking in conditions you are describing. I discovered mine was the leaf springs on the driver's side. To correct, what I did was waited for a dry day, went to Wal-Mart and purchased some gun lube or Corroision X which is used to treated rusted shotguns. Then, I found a hill that was dry just so I could position the rear leafs at different angles to ensure I was getting lubricant on the side and in between each leaf. MAKE SURE THE PARKING BRAKE IS FULLY ENGAGED BEFORE PERFORMING THIS OPERATION. I had a manual transmission so I left the truck in gear as provided insurance. The articulation of the truck allowed this to happen fairly simple. I figured it was only a matter of time before the passenger side rear leafs started squeaking as well. So, I went ahead and did that side as well. As soon as I got off the hill, no more squeaking. As standard practice, I performed this process about once a year. Make sure to get a lubricant that is sticky so after a good rain, it will not wash out as easy. That was my fix. Of course, this was for a Taco and not a Tundra but it sounds like the same thing that was happening to me.

 

Have you done anything to the rear suspension? Spray some WD40 on the top stem bushings. If the squeaks go away after that, have the bushings replaced or keep a can of WD40 in your truck.

 

ten bucks sez its the leaf springs, my alcans do the same after two rusty ohio winters. they didnt squeak in colorado when they were new, and it is the same high pitched sudden squeak over small bumps.

-s

 

My 2004 Tundra 4x4 did the same thing. It would make a squeeking (like a cricket) sound from the rear end somewhere. After a lot of trial and error, I lubed the leaf spring bushings with WD-40. Finally cured the problem.

 

A cricket. That's exactly what it sounds like!
Thanks for all the suggestions I will have to wait for a dry weekend and give these a try. :tu:

 

Perhaps a better alternative is some spray on white lithium lube. It will last longer than WD-40. It will help alot if you can let the rear leafs fully extend so that you can give them a good dousing

 

I am experiencing something similar

My 2004 Tundra 4x4 did the same thing. It would make a squeeking (like a cricket) sound from the rear end somewhere. After a lot of trial and error, I lubed the leaf spring bushings with WD-40. Finally cured the problem.

I notice it going slow over speed bumps

 

Sqeak 2004 Tundra

Anyone got a "sqeak" coming from rear suspension of double cab 2004 model!!!!

 

Hey I do! I think it is coming from the rear. I can only hear it when traveling somewhat slow over bumps with the windows down, and even then it does not do it all the time.......to me it sounds like some sort or a suspension bushing, i hope there is a known solution for this problem.

 

I had that problem on my '02.
The dealer installed brand new leaf springs under warranty

 

hell i have it on my 04 tundra doublecab as well. it sucks. i can hear it on small bumps and what not. i tried spraying wd-40, it didnt work, since our trucks are under warranty i suggest we just get it fixed from the dealer

 

hell i have it on my 04 tundra doublecab as well. it sucks. i can hear it on small bumps and what not. i tried spraying wd-40, it didnt work, since our trucks are under warranty i suggest we just get it fixed from the dealer

I have/had this squeak from my 04 dc trd too. Took it to dealer they said the spare tire was rubbing. I didn't like this explaination. I heard several things on this board as to what it may be. I sprayed some around in the suspension to no avail. The only result I have right now is I have taken the drivers side bilstein rear shock out to see if there was any rubbing going on, couldn't see any real visable rub at least. So I greased up the metal bushing plate on the top mount anyway and reassembled. It does mount up in there with a metal plate against the frame of the vehicle.

Instead of taking off the other shock since the first one was a PIA, I took some PB blaster and squirted some up into the top mount area.

I didn't see any immediate result from my actions, but 4-5 days later now I don't hear the squeak anymore. Maybe the lube has finally worked into the right spots. So I don't know if I hit upon the actual source of the noise. But maybe some others could do some similar lubing and see if its the source.

I really know this noise was bothering me and now its not so bad driving the vehicle, so I do think it has stopped now or is at least very in frequent.

 

took my 03 in for this not too long ago, said they would take off the rear spring packs, disassemble them, put in some graphite lube stuff, then put them back together and reinstall, has fixed mine so far, we will see what happens in the future

wes

 

took my 03 in for this not too long ago, said they would take off the rear spring packs, disassemble them, put in some graphite lube stuff, then put them back together and reinstall, has fixed mine so far, we will see what happens in the future

wes

Please follow up and let us know what happens, Wes. I've got this same problem on my 04 DC. Driving me crazy!

It is mentioned in another thread to jack up each side, power wash the hanging leaf springs, and then try some spray lube. Mine are not that dirty... all highway miles at this point. I may give it a try before heading to my dealer, which is a stretch from my house. I wouldn't trust my bike with the nearby service depts...

I have sprayed some WD-40 one of the shims that seems a little more loose than the others. Didn't help though.

Is there a snowball's chance that Toyota will do a TSB on this? I hate to ride with my windows down... every time I hear it i get pi$$ed!

 

I fixed my squeak

My 04 DC was doing it also until I read about the fix on another thread. Apparently there is a missing o-ring or gasket between the upper rear shock mounts and the shocks "washer". I removed my rear shocks from the frame and could see where the rubbing was taking place. The upper shock "washer" is in contact with the frame mount. The shock "washer" has a flange that "enters" and opening on the frame mount. It was clearly visible that this is where the rubbing occured. So to avoid the dealership hassle, I just wrapped the flange with electrical tape to provide insulation and lubrication between the metal parts. That was 3 weeks ago and I haven't heard it since.

 

My 04 DC was doing it also until I read about the fix on another thread. Apparently there is a missing o-ring or gasket between the upper rear shock mounts and the shocks "washer". I removed my rear shocks from the frame and could see where the rubbing was taking place. The upper shock "washer" is in contact with the frame mount. The shock "washer" has a flange that "enters" and opening on the frame mount. It was clearly visible that this is where the rubbing occured. So to avoid the dealership hassle, I just wrapped the flange with electrical tape to provide insulation and lubrication between the metal parts. That was 3 weeks ago and I haven't heard it since.

That's one I haven't heard. Glad it worked for you...

I lifted up the rear end this weekend and sprayed my leaf springs a lot with some DuPont Grease spray. Well, that didn't do a dang bit of good, but my leaf springs are real shiny now .

I only hear the chirp noise while the truck is on the road. If I jump up and down on the rear bumper (wife/neighbors think I'm crazy) while the truck is parked, I don't get that chirp. How about your DC?

I'm taking it in to the dealer this week for an oil change and this issue. Hopefully, they'll be able to take care of it the first trip.

 

That's one I haven't heard. Glad it worked for you...

I lifted up the rear end this weekend and sprayed my leaf springs a lot with some DuPont Grease spray. Well, that didn't do a dang bit of good, but my leaf springs are real shiny now .

I only hear the chirp noise while the truck is on the road. If I jump up and down on the rear bumper (wife/neighbors think I'm crazy) while the truck is parked, I don't get that chirp. How about your DC?

I'm taking it in to the dealer this week for an oil change and this issue. Hopefully, they'll be able to take care of it the first trip.

Panfisher,

The reason that you can't duplicate the noise by jumping on it is because you are unable to move the truck fast enough. The noise is typically produced when you hit hard or sharp bump where the rear axle is jolted. Shocks (dampers) apply force proportional to velocity, meaning that the faster you try to compress or extend a shock the more resistance force it provides. So to relate to our situation, a hard bump will try to compress the shock quickly and the high resistance force will be transferred to the upper shock bushings (rubber). When these rubber bushings are compressed they allow movement between two metal objects (frame mount and the bushing washer). The problem is not the movement but that there is a missing o-ring or gasket between the frame mount and bushing washer (not sure exactly). Regarding my fix, I used a couple wraps of electrical tape to prevent contact between the frame mount and the bushing washer, and I had both side completed in the same time it would have taken me to drive to the dealership. When you take it to the dealership, just tell them to remove the rear shocks from the frame and everything should be clear.

Good luck!

 

My 04 DC was doing it also until I read about the fix on another thread. Apparently there is a missing o-ring or gasket between the upper rear shock mounts and the shocks "washer". I removed my rear shocks from the frame and could see where the rubbing was taking place. The upper shock "washer" is in contact with the frame mount. The shock "washer" has a flange that "enters" and opening on the frame mount. It was clearly visible that this is where the rubbing occured. So to avoid the dealership hassle, I just wrapped the flange with electrical tape to provide insulation and lubrication between the metal parts. That was 3 weeks ago and I haven't heard it since.

:ts: Nice call Gooch.....made a rubber washer to go between the frame and shock washer(just did the pass side).
Did nothing else and this did fix that damn squeak.
Getting the top nut off the shock (TRD) was a ball buster .
My 04 DC is quiet again

 

Mine only started squeaking after I had my AAL put in.
I've been pre-running on some really dusty roads so that probably added to my problem.

Should I jack it up under the axel and take off the wheels or just jack it up and go from under neath?

 

you should probably jack it from the frame, since jacking it from the axle would still put weight on the springs, not letting them open up.
Mine still squeak a little bit, but they started to snap and pop when i go up driveways, or over slanted ground. They go "donk!crunk!" somthing like that. heh. It sux. Im going to try to take it to the dealer soon as i get some time to spend all day there. Those guys are so slow. And theyll probably tell me nothing is wrong.

 

Mine only started squeaking after I had my AAL put in.
I've been pre-running on some really dusty roads so that probably added to my problem.

Should I jack it up under the axel and take off the wheels or just jack it up and go from under neath?

I experienced the same thing after adding AALs. I got some good advice from Gary Wheeler at Wheeler's Off Road: He said to drill the AALs and put some anti-friction pads on them (Gary can sell you these for minimal $$). I also thoroughly lubed the springs with white lithium grease PRIOR to reassembly. No noise since then!

Ken