help: chassis noise after lifting

B

bananaslug

New member
Dear all,

Thanks for forum members' advice and posting on how to lift my 07' T4R SR5 V6 4WD.

I put in a new set of FJ front and rear springs, and Bilstein 5100 shocks (set to 0" lifting) to get 2-3/4" lift on the front, and 1/2" lift on the rear. I also had the alignment done. Now the truck is almost level from front to rear.

In addition I also installed the Goodridge stainless steel brake lines (2" extended version) and made sure the brake lines do not touch anything there.

I have noticed some noise from chassis/suspension after 600 miles. Here are the symptoms in 2WD mode (I have not tested 4WD mode yet):

1) no noise when driving > 25 mph (may be due to loud road noise?)

2) not-loud noise noticed after complete stop; I feel it comes from under seats, not from the front axles (but I could be wrong)

3) not-loud noise noticed when making a slow turn downhill with no gas/brake paddle hit (so I think it is not from transmission or brake)

4) no steering feeling when noise happens

5) noise slightly more serious when I first start the truck in the morning, and definitely reproducible after complete stop

6) noise may not be reproducible after rolling stop.

Could you please help? Any advice/suggestion is welcome!

Regards,

BS
 
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Bushing noise? Did you grease them when installing? Easy test, hose them down with water and see if the noise goes away. Gotta be quick though, water doesn't lube for very long.
 
What kind of noise clunk, rubbing, metal on metal, ect. And you said you can feel in seat, have a pssenger ride with and see if they feel it. Details on sound will be helpful.
 
Thanks for trying to help me!

I feel the noise coming from under seats. Yes, passages in the front and rear all can hear the noise at low speed.

As for the noise type, it is not metal-to-metal noise or high pitch squeeze noise. It is sort of relatively low bass clunking noise, not loud as I only notice that <25 mph.

I definitely did not lubridate the bushing, and I will do that to see if the noise goes away.

Regards,

BS
 
No, I have not re-torqued the top 3 nuts after struts were installed. Could you please give me the torque specificaiton?
 
Could you please advise how to lubricate the bushing? I am slightly paranoid about the ghost noise, so I want to get detailed instructions.
 
bananaslug said:
No, I have not re-torqued the top 3 nuts after struts were installed. Could you please give me the torque specificaiton?
Click to expand...

Tight, pretty damn tight without stripping or breaking stuff.

I throw that out only half in jest; 2 of the nuts are really hard to get a wrench on much less a socket and a torque wrench. My advice is do what you can with the t-wrench and do the last couple soon there after while the 'strongarm torque wrench' is still calibrated:D

The numbers are, from the '06 FSM: Install the 3 nuts on the upper side of the front shock
absorber with coil spring.
Torque: 64 N*m (650 kgf*cm, 47 ft.*lbf)
:cheers:
 
Dear all,

Here is the progress. I took my T4R to a local mechanics because the noise still exists after I tighten the 3 nuts on the top plates of front struts.

The mechanics and I both think
1) the noise coming from the rear, not front;
2) it happens when doing turns at low speed (without stepping on gas or brake);
3) it does NOT go away after I washed the chassis yesterday (so may not coming from bushing)

Anyway he lifted the truck, and inspected everything under the chassis, and could NOT find anything wrong. The rear springs seat properly.

The final "summary' from that mechanics is that maybe the noise comes from the rear springs due to break in. Have anyone had this kind of problem? please help!
 
Does a light/slight brake application stop the noise? Did they take the spare out for lift install? Is it tight?
 
CJ3Flyr said:
Does a light/slight brake application stop the noise? Did they take the spare out for lift install? Is it tight?
Click to expand...

Thanks for helping me.

A light./slight brake application does not stop the noise. The noise is more reproducible when doing low speed turns. It feels like something is winging and hitting the chassis.

Your suggestion of checking the spare is a good one. The mechanics did not take off the spare during lift install, and we checked again and found the spare is up there tightly.

One thing I am 99% sure is that the noise comes from the rear, but have not been able to figure out where it comes. I plan to get rid off everything in the trunk and the side hidden rear compartments to see if the noise goes away. Will keep you posted.

Regards,

BS
 
I know you said the noise sounds like it is from the rear, but have you looked at the swaybar and where it is touching? I had a similar noise which happened during turns which turned out to be the sway bar rubbing on the spring perch.
 
Lexusbstrdchild said:
I know you said the noise sounds like it is from the rear, but have you looked at the swaybar and where it is touching? I had a similar noise which happened during turns which turned out to be the sway bar rubbing on the spring perch.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice. I have not checked the swaybar. If that's the cause, 1) how did you fix that? 2) if it cannot be fixed, what are the potential damages?

BS
 
hi,

Could you please advise what is the best way to check if the swaybar is rubbing the spring?

The noise in the rear is reproducible, but it does not happen every time when I make low speed turn. I also had the T4R lifted in a shop, and I did not recall seeing any rubbing against spring.

Thanks!

BS
 
Your description of the sound is very vague so it's difficult to give a precise answer. Have you ruled out the usual suspects?

-Brakes/calipers
-Driveline clunk
-Tires rubbing anywhere (did you upgrade the tires when you added the lift?)
-Improper alignment?
-Something loose inside the truck like the bottle jack or loose cargo?
-Is it a clunking or a shifting noise under your seat? Could it be the infamous seat creaking/popping?

As for the sway bar, just go look under your truck. Find the bar that runs between the two front spindles, and underneath the front skit plate. Find where it passes the front coilovers and see if anything is touching or if there are any rub marks. You can also drop the skid plate and make sure the two mounts are tight.
 
Dear all,

Thanks for your tips and advice. Here is the latest progress:

A) alightment was done about 600 miles break-in period after lifting;

Noise came out after the aligntment, could it possible that alignment causes noise???

B) re-torque all nuts, although mechanics thought everything was fine after visual inspection

1) tighten 2 loose nuts on the "top plates" of rear shocks.
=>Now I do not notice any rear noise.

2) tighten all 6 nuts on the top plates of front shocks as tight as I can (they were not loose before tightening).
=>I am not sure how tight they are as I cannot use my 1/2" torque wrench, but it is at least 35 ft.*lbf according to my 3/8" short torque wrench.

3) tighten 1 loose big nut on the bottom of passager side shock to 100 ft.*lbf according to specs (the driver side is very tight, beyond the specs).

However, I still hear noise on the FRONT when I first start my car, or after a complete stop.

I did not upgrade the tire size, so tire rubbing is ruled out.

Could you please advice how to
1) rule out brake and caliper?
I did upgrade the brakeline to Goodridge stainless steel brakeline recently.

2) driveline clunk?
My mechanics drove the T4R several times, and he did not think it was the driveline clunk. But how to make sure it is not?

Thanks again for your help!!!

BS
 
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