4Runner Front End Rattle

[ProfessorP]

Sorry if a solution for this has been posted on T4R.com before.

About three weeks ago I noticed an intermittent front end rattle on my 2019 T4R with 6,500 miles. We were on the way home from on off road trip and it mostly only rattled at highway speeds. The rattle was random and didn't sound rotational. I crawled under the truck and poked around under the hood, but couldn't find anything.

After installing a 2.5" lift last week I noticed the rattle more often and now it was happening at 40+ MPH. It was driving me crazy, so I pulled off the skid plate looking for trapped rocks. The plate was tight and I found no rocks, so I started banging on stuff with a dead blow hammer. Still nothing... until I dragged my hand across one of the flexible panels/flaps held in place with plastic clips in the front wheel well. Rattled like crazy!

I fixed the squeaking rattle by replacing the plastic clip with a 1/4" x 1/2" button head machine screw, fender washer, standard washer and lock nut (all stainless). The passenger side plastic clip was rattling a bit as well, so I replaced it. All is now silent!

4Runner Front End Rattle Fix VIDEO

 

[Florunner78]

The clips Toyota uses are pretty much garbage and lots of people have had the same issue. I replaced my liners with the kit from Rad Rubber and the clips that came with the kit appear to be higher quality.

 

[JP421]

My bug guard squeaks when getting in and out of the driver's seat. Does it more the warmer it is.

 

[gp55445]

That squeak was driving me nuts. Thanks for posting this.

 

[jimmied]

Sorry if a solution for this has been posted on T4R.com before.

About three weeks ago I noticed an intermittent front end rattle on my 2019 T4R with 6,500 miles. We were on the way home from on off road trip and it mostly only rattled at highway speeds. The rattle was random and didn't sound rotational. I crawled under the truck and poked around under the hood, but couldn't find anything.
... Still nothing... until I dragged my hand across one of the flexible panels/flaps held in place with plastic clips in the front wheel well. Rattled like crazy!

I fixed the squeaking rattle by replacing the plastic clip with a 1/4" x 1/2" button head machine screw, fender washer, standard washer and lock nut (all stainless). The passenger side plastic clip was rattling a bit as well, so I replaced it. All is now silent!

4Runner Front End Rattle Fix VIDEO

It is so funny you posted this. I was doing my front brakes tonight and happen to hit that panel in my driver side and noticed how noisy it was. It is on the agenda for this weekend. Lol.

 

[ProfessorP]

It is so funny you posted this. I was doing my front brakes tonight and happen to hit that panel in my driver side and noticed how noisy it was. It is on the agenda for this weekend. Lol.

Funny how something so simple can make so much noise. Can't believe Toyota used such a flimsy fastening system on an otherwise well made truck. Oh well glad you found it!

 

[ProfessorP]

The clips Toyota uses are pretty much garbage and lots of people have had the same issue. I replaced my liners with the kit from Rad Rubber and the clips that came with the kit appear to be higher quality.

I agree, the clips Toyota uses are definitely garbage. Lots of people may have had the same rattle issue, but I sure couldn't find any threads documenting this specific cause. I finally found one post buried in one thread mentioning the wheel well liner clip. I wonder how many 4Runner owners going crazy trying to diagnose rattles and squeaks have never realized all that noise is coming from those stupid little plastic clips.

If the rest of my clips eventually start making noise, Ill go with the Rad Rubber kit. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[tls3601]

Because the 4Runner is typically so quiet any rattle gets noticed quickly. The American junk I have owned in the past had rattles since day one! When I asked dealer years ago I was told it was normal. Not normal; JUNK!!!!

 

[ProfessorP]

Because the 4Runner is typically so quiet any rattle gets noticed quickly. The American junk I have owned in the past had rattles since day one! When I asked dealer years ago I was told it was normal. Not normal; JUNK!!!!

After 13 years of driving quiet, well made Tundras I owned a rattletrap 2017 F-150 for 18 months before throwing in the towel and going back to Toyota. The F-150 sounded like a one man band of squeaks, rattles and driveline noises. I was surprised that the 2019 4Runner would start making noise so soon. Fortunately it was an easy fix. I agree that it's not normal!

 

[Tejas]

I could have sworn the rattle was coming from the transmission tunnel area, it was driving me nuts trying to track it down. Thanks for posting this, I just went out and fixed mine.

 

[ProfessorP]

I could have sworn the rattle was coming from the transmission tunnel area, it was driving me nuts trying to track it down. Thanks for posting this, I just went out and fixed mine.

Same here! That’s what I thought at first then figured it was the skid plate. Drove me up the wall until I found that stupid plastic clip.

Glad my post helped.