Cold Weather brought on a front-end creak

[Newf4R]

The recent cold weather and constant snow storms have brought on a new creak in my front end. Here's the history.

Installed 5100s in September and have had no prior problems up until this point.
Fronts set @ 2.5 and rear has 1.5" Daystar spacers.

A few days ago a creak in the front driver-side developed, but only when making a hard left turn. I washed and warmed up the truck in a garage and it seemed to go away for a day or two. Now it's back and worse than the first time. The creak is in both sides, but much louder in the driver-side. Turning at all over bumpy terrain causes the noise.

Monday the truck is going back to Toyota to lower the front to 1.75". I'm going to get the mechanic to check out the creak, but I'm nervous that they are going to blame it on the 5100s and something that could be a warranty fix will be paid out of my pocket.

btw, I've researched the hell out of this topic, but turning up a lot of random stuff. Any suggestions are appreciated... I want to give the mechanic a few good ones on Monday so hopefully we can find a solution. I really don't want to scrap the lift.

Thanks, Tom

 

[1engineer]

It is a component of the lift or a result of the lift that is causing the creaking. Good news is those can be fixed. Bad news is it's going to cost you to have somebody poking around under there for a few hours.

 

[NoDak]

could it be the bushings? the rubber/urethane tends to get hard in cold weather and develop weird noises when rubbing. same thing happened to my late subaru once it got below freezing. going over bumps it would creak all the time, even during the first year.

 

[Newf4R]

Bushings is the first thing that came to my mind. I also read on a Ford forum that a guy had a problem with the boots rising up and cause a noise in the winter, but I don't think that's what this is. I'll suck it up and pay the bill, but I'm hoping a couple possible solutions thrown at the mecahnic will reduce my bill.

If bushings is the issue, will dropping the lift to 1.75" from 2.5" reduce the chance of this happening again? Sorry guys... i'm new to lifts, please pardon my stupidity.

Thanks, Tom

 

[simonj]

Bushings is the first thing that came to my mind. I also read on a Ford forum that a guy had a problem with the boots rising up and cause a noise in the winter, but I don't think that's what this is. I'll suck it up and pay the bill, but I'm hoping a couple possible solutions thrown at the mecahnic will reduce my bill.

If bushings is the issue, will dropping the lift to 1.75" from 2.5" reduce the chance of this happening again? Sorry guys... i'm new to lifts, please pardon my stupidity.

Thanks, Tom

ahh the joys of aftermarket suspension - hence why I NEVER touch it until my vehicle is out of warranty.

 

[eddiebx]

I've had light creaks and squeals in stock form too in the cold, i think it's coming from the bushings when it's cold.

One place to check would be the sway bar bushings, I remember when I took them off a few months ago to do my lift the inner surface area was pretty filthy, cleaned it off but not really sure if it helped or not.

 

[adam2562]

last time i looked closely at my sway bar bushings.. you could see where the excessive rubbing on the sway bar from the bushing has taken the black coating off and it looks to be bare metal.. i figured that area could use lube in the future but mine is fine until i'm going offroad.. the bumps and wiggles will bring out a few but that's ok as long as it's during offroading only

 

[eddiebx]

last time i looked closely at my sway bar bushings.. you could see where the excessive rubbing on the sway bar from the bushing has taken the black coating off and it looks to be bare metal.. i figured that area could use lube in the future but mine is fine until i'm going offroad.. the bumps and wiggles will bring out a few but that's ok as long as it's during offroading only

Yea that's exactly what I was talking about, on our KDSS front bar, the bar actually moves horizontally too due to the geometry. My paint is kinda rubbed off and a bit rusty. Not sure if it needs lube more so than just a nice clean surface...

On the regular SR5/LE sway bars the bushing only pivots around the one axis without the horizontal in and out movement.