Update - I’ve suspected the wiper seal was the culprit here, but after pulling the plastic cover, the seals weren’t making a peep. However, after spraying some mild soapy water on the top shock bushings, the noise seems to have gone away. Obviously this is temporary, and explains why it went after after car washes, but I don’t really understand why they’re squeaking, or from what part.

Do I do the spray-and-pray and hit the bushings with some silicone-type spray? I just bought a tube a Toyota lithium soap grease for a brake job, I could pull the shock tower and apply a little to different places. My only concern it drawing dirt and debris and causing premature wear. Any insight?

maybe try loosening them up a bunch, apply some long lasting silicon lube or something, and then tighten them down to the right torque. or just tighten them as is.

I have a '21 with the Fox Shocks. The front driver's side has squeaked/creaked on and off for the last 10k miles. I took the shock completely off and lubed everything in sight with lithium grease. Still squeaks occasionally. I'm convinced it's something internal to the shock at this point. I bought one of those cheap mechanic's stethoscopes and it's loudest when I put the rod on the shock body itself.

I was waiting to do anything since I saw that my dealer was getting in a few Pros. Went and looked at one today and the rear shocks squeak the same as mine, which means the dealer definitely wont do anything about it since they already told me its 'normal' for the fox shocks. when it's not 1000 degrees, I'll pull the top tower bolt and apply a very thin amount of toyota rubber grease (since i have more than i'll ever use) to the tower shaft. I suspect that's gonna take care of it; will report back.

The OE Fox shocks that come on the Pros are made in a different facility from their aftermarket and race offerings.

FOX Factory Race and Elite Series shocks are very high quality, the OE stuff is great quality as well but a mass produced item that occasionally has production issues, like any mass produced item.

You shouldnt need to spray lubricant on them as the in/out motion of the shock shaft continually coats the shaft with shock oil on a micro level, but if they are new a touch of a silicone based lube could prevent the noise for now.

There are several reasons that they could be squeaking; the most common on the OE shocks (Jeep, Toyota, etc) is a dry wiper seal that has not been broken in yet. Other noises could be coming from the bushings, rub or contact with an external component, nitrogen in the oil from improper assembly, etc.

Take it back to Toyota and ask them what their solution is, it is covered under warranty. Otherwise it could take 1500+ miles to wear in that wiper seal that is most likely the cause of it.

While I know its not what people want to believe, but performance shocks make a lot of noise as compared to a sealed twintube shock. The bypasses on some of the trucks we work on are enough to drive you crazy.

The part I am referencing is #17

just wait till any of these guys run a polyurathane bushing lmao...hey Chas

Thanks for the feedback. I previously pulled the shock cover and inspected the wiper seal. It seems to be doing it's job and I didn't hear any noise from it when I put my ear to it. Spraying the top of the shock mount with some light dawn water makes the noise go away, which is why I suspected those bushings.

Unfortunately, the Toyota route is a bust, at least at my dealer, because they've already told me they wont do anything about it.