Do I need a new suspension?

4

4RunnerLady83

New member
Bought my 2000 4runner Limited 4x4 about a year ago & LOVE it!! BUT, a couple months ago, I noticed it squeaking loudly at stops & taking off and going over bumps. After a few weeks of doing this, it has now started sounding like everything underneath the whole truck is going to fall out onto the ground every time I go over any kind of bump. This is especially prevalent un the back end where the squeals that started first sounded more in the front end. And every now and then, it Will go back to just squeaking or no noise at all. Rides pretty rough. This started as sounding like the spare tire might just be loose, but keeps getting worse. I can't afford to drop a fortune on this thing but would love to know what's wrong with it & if its worth fixing or not. And this noise is so loud...the suspension always felt a little rougher than I liked, but I just thought it was a truck and supposed to be that way. Please, somebody, tell me what's wrong with this thing!!!
 
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Well if its making noise something is obviously wrong. We are either going to need you to do some tests, closer inspection, or at least some pics of the suspension components to try and spot anything super obvious.

Location would probably help as well, then someone may be able to take a look at it, or at least recommended a trusted shop.
 
Well, there is a Toyota dealership in my town, but I was hoping to get some idea if this is common or what. Guess I'll take it there when I have a chance.
 
I'm new to the toyota 4Runner as well, but it sounds like you might have torn thrust arm/ control arm bushings. This could get more expensive if you continue to drive it in that condition. You need to have it looked at and fixed ASAP before more parts go bad.
 
im not going to freak you out, but i know that there have been quite a few reports of the rear axle housing rusting out bad, as well as the the mounting brackets for the rear links, could just be though that it might be a worn out pan hard bar bushing or the link bushings as well, but will need more info though, or pics too.
 
4RunnerLady83 said:
Also, is this safe to drive right now? I have a three year old son & do not want to endanger him in any way.
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Short answer:

I would recommend for you to just have someone look at it, especially if you have a 3 year old son you haul around, I haul around a 5 year old all the time, he loves riding in it for some reason.

Extended Response:

It's really hard to diagnose a vehicle problem over the internet, unless there are pictures/videos or its something that is logical or very common. Mystery squeaks have to be the hardest to diagnose lol, now pending on the problem you could be fine driving around, but if its something really important it could be dangerous, If you dont feel comfortable driving it with it making that noise, or dont feel qualified enough to drive it then, have a mechanic or 2 look it over and find the problem.

If it were me, and i that was the exact description i would keep driving, but i can only go off of what you said, but i am fairly mechanically inclined in the sense that i never pay for anything other than body work on cars, so i would determine in person or with a phone call to my father whether it was safe to use, and the fact that i am cheap and would rather wait it out.
 
Well, it just rolled over to 160k...I have only owned it for a little over a year, so have no idea what was done or replaced before then. All I've done is oil changes...pretty lazy car owner, I guess.
 
It really could be any number of things then. Like others have said, hard to diagnose over the Internet. Best bet is to go to a shop or dealer, ask them to go for a ride with you so you can point it out to them. Could be as simple as a sway bar link or could be more serious.
 
Check your swaybar bushings, mine were badly worn and causing metal on metal contact. It was very noisy and squeaky. Just swapped them out today for some poly bushings which fixed the problem.
 
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