Creaking and Rubbing Noises in Front

[CptAwesome]

Recently my 2015 has developed a creaking sound in the driver's front when going over parking garage ramp transitions and the like (not straight on, but at an angle). Rocking the car doesn't recreate the sound, not does pushing down on the driver's front fender. Got underneath and sprayed connection points with WD40, but still seems to be there, maybe a little less pronounced. The dealer wants $150 to even take a look at it �� but recommended spraying some silicone lubricant on the spring top hats. Will report back once I've tried that.

PLEASE report back if you figuring anything out. This is my exact problem. Pushing down/rocking does not cause the sound. Transitions at an angle (straight on is fine), as well as low-speed turns (sometimes), does.

I'm trying to borrow a torque wrench this weekend to see if it's the LCA bolts not being torqued properly as mentioned in a prior post.

edit: curious as to how many miles are on yours? Mine started, but rarely and hardly noticeable at 30,000. I'm at 63,000 now and it is happening very often and it's quite noticeable.

 

[mc813]

PLEASE report back if you figuring anything out. This is my exact problem. Pushing down/rocking does not cause the sound. Transitions at an angle (straight on is fine), as well as low-speed turns (sometimes), does.

I'm trying to borrow a torque wrench this weekend to see if it's the LCA bolts not being torqued properly as mentioned in a prior post.

edit: curious as to how many miles are on yours? Mine started, but rarely and hardly noticeable at 30,000. I'm at 63,000 now and it is happening very often and it's quite noticeable.

Will do, I haven't done it yet but hope to soon. Were you able to get a torque wrench and test out your theory?

As far as miles, I have 55K now and I'd say it developed in the last 5K miles.

 

[Jarheadoo7]

Went to the dealer yesterday for an abnormal front end suspension sound. They diagnosed it as the struts, specifically the Bilstein 5100’s. They actually have a recall if you bought a 15-16 TRDP with the “Toyota” labeled Bilsteins. If you bought the aftermarket Bilsteins than your living with the noise until you get new ones. So I call the noise George now since we are living together.

 

[CptAwesome]

Will do, I haven't done it yet but hope to soon. Were you able to get a torque wrench and test out your theory?

As far as miles, I have 55K now and I'd say it developed in the last 5K miles.

Well, I borrowed a torque wrench finally, but it turns out I didn't need it.

While I was waiting on the torque wrench, I decided to test the hood theory that lukeskywalker mentioned above. I figured no way this could be it, but I didn't have anything to lose. I adjusted the rubber stoppers up a few turns and I haven't heard a squeak since.

Based on the type of movements that cause the squeak (exactly the same as what you described), it really didn't make sense that it could be the hood. But it was. I guess there is just enough flex from those movements that causes the squeak.

Try adjusting the rubber stoppers to put some upward pressure on the hood while it's closed. It worked for me.

 

[CptAwesome]

Are you SURE it's not the hood latch?

I think this problem has been going around the forum forever. It's almost always ending up to be the hood latch.

Try pressing up and down the driver side front corner (head light) to get the 4runner to bounce up and down to recreate the sound.

I'd say 8/10 times, most people find out that it's the latch all along.


***** NVM...just read the last posts...but to others reading this, if you have a similar issue...check out the hood latch.

It WAS the hood after all!! Thank you! Do I need to replace the latch or just lube it? I turned the rubber stoppers to give some upward pressure for now and that totally got rid of the sound, but I would like to fix the underlying issue.

 

[mc813]

Well, I borrowed a torque wrench finally, but it turns out I didn't need it.

While I was waiting on the torque wrench, I decided to test the hood theory that lukeskywalker mentioned above. I figured no way this could be it, but I didn't have anything to lose. I adjusted the rubber stoppers up a few turns and I haven't heard a squeak since.

Based on the type of movements that cause the squeak (exactly the same as what you described), it really didn't make sense that it could be the hood. But it was. I guess there is just enough flex from those movements that causes the squeak.

Try adjusting the rubber stoppers to put some upward pressure on the hood while it's closed. It worked for me.

Awesome! Did your noise sound like a spring/metal creaking? Crazy to think the hood could make that sound but I'll take it if it fixes it. I'll have to adjust the stoppers when I get home later.

 

[TEN613RPro]

Everyone with a Grand National was dealing with the same issue in the past. The center post would rub against the big hood and after a while the paint rubbed away and the rubber hardened up, and it was really loud.

I noticed in my '18 that the recesses where these rubber pad rest when the hood is closed are covered with a clear expel type of material. Just clean both surfaces and dress it occasionally.

 

[CptAwesome]

Awesome! Did your noise sound like a spring/metal creaking? Crazy to think the hood could make that sound but I'll take it if it fixes it. I'll have to adjust the stoppers when I get home later.

Yes, that's what the noise sounded like. I'm curious if the hood fix worked for you too.

 

[mc813]

Yes, that's what the noise sounded like. I'm curious if the hood fix worked for you too.

Well I'll be damned, it worked! I'll admit I thought there was NO way the freaking hood stopper could cause what sounded like a creaky bed spring, but it did! SO happy the noise is finally gone.

 

[st1bn7]

Your symptoms are exactly like mine, so I am assuming I have the same issue. Did the creaking come back, or is it still gone?

Can I tighten the bolts under load, or does the vehicle need to be off the ground?

And to confirm, the LCA bolts are the ones in this diagram that are indicated by the 129 ft/lbs torque spec?

Thank you so much for the help.

I have the same squeaking i have pass 2 set of bilstein and they alway comme back ,but i have notice when a friend is jumping on the driver side to make it move when i pry the top bolt the sound is less loud so i am wondering if the coil when it flex side to side maybe is rubbing on top plate ! Sorry for the bad english

 

[Olddudesrule]

Ok, perfect timing. I have the exact issue the post above describes. Just installed 5100's all around and Dobinson's springs front and rear. I have an intermittent "spring" sound coming from the front now. Noticed it as soon as I started driving. It's not constant, and I hear it mainly at slower speeds as the front loads and unloads (small bumps). Sounds like something is loose, but I've checked everything two times. Everything that was removed was replaced and torqued. I did add a diff drop kit, and the half shafts are almost perfectly level. I may remove the drop kit and see if that changes anything. Can't really see how that's related.

Anyone shed any light on this?? I've got to believe it's related to the new suspension, since it started immediately after the change.

 

[SATSTRAIL]

I have a 2016 trail and it soon after new developed a squeak from the front left primarily on sweeping left-hand turns over bumps. Like when you make a left-hand turn at an intersection. In the end it ended up being the hood squeak concerns listed previously. Lubed the latch and adjusted the bumpers, noise is gone.

 

[Olddudesrule]

I'm confident mine has to be related to the suspension upgrade, as it started immediately after that. Just need to figure out how to "hear" the sound more directly to diagnose where it's actually happening. I'm 95% sure it's in the front, based on what I'm hearing (and my friend heard) on our initial test drive. If I didn't know better, I'd swear something is loose or was left unattached.....triple checked, not that.

 

[Redpnt]

I'm confident mine has to be related to the suspension upgrade, as it started immediately after that. Just need to figure out how to "hear" the sound more directly to diagnose where it's actually happening. I'm 95% sure it's in the front, based on what I'm hearing (and my friend heard) on our initial test drive. If I didn't know better, I'd swear something is loose or was left unattached.....triple checked, not that.

With the truck parked, have your friend stand on one of your sliders (or open one of the rear doors and stand on the door sill) and bounce up and down to rock the vehicle from side to side. You should be able to walk around to the front and hunt for the sound while your friend continues to bounce.

I had a creaking which I was SURE was from my driver side UCA, but I did this test with a friend and discovered, like many others in this thread, that the noise was coming from the hood latch.

 

[Olddudesrule]

I haven't, but will when I get home tonight. I seriously doubt it's the hood latch, but if it is, I will gladly eat crow.....

 

[tpotnoc]

I struggles with this for almost two years and multiple trips to dealer and suspension shop. Out of shear frustration in had my wife shake the truck while I lithium grease sprayed everything that moved.

While is was under the truck, the noise seemed to be coming from higher. Popped the hood and the noise stopped. Cleaned and greased the hinges, struts and the latch. Sound gone. Seems it is a mis-aligned latch in my case. Carry the spray with me in case it Returns

Resurrecting old memories here, but are you still battling this? Ive had the hood latch noise since I bought it and I’m wondering if there’s a permenant fix yet.

 

[tpotnoc]

With the truck parked, have your friend stand on one of your sliders (or open one of the rear doors and stand on the door sill) and bounce up and down to rock the vehicle from side to side. You should be able to walk around to the front and hunt for the sound while your friend continues to bounce.

I had a creaking which I was SURE was from my driver side UCA, but I did this test with a friend and discovered, like many others in this thread, that the noise was coming from the hood latch.

Any fixy fix for the hood latch noise, other than just spraying it?

 

[tpotnoc]

0

I fixed this by backing out the hood spring adjusters. It puts more tension on the hood and stops the squeaking.