Loud creaking when stopped and turning the wheel, 2014 TE KDSS with ICON lift

[MikeDeuce]

Hey folks,

For starters, here's a video:
Creak - YouTube

Car is a 2014 TE with KDSS with 3k miles, and only about 1.5k miles since I've installed the ICONs (with their tubular UCAs), which I'm running at about 2.75" of lift. I've got wider wheels and 285 duratracs as well.

I found this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/137515-creaking-noise.html but I'm running the RCI skids, so I don't even have that radiator support bracket installed now :\

I noticed this last night while parking... I'm suspecting it might be the sway bar bushings, but I figured it'd be a good idea to get this in front of more experienced owners before running under there with my tub of grease

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!
Mike

 

[eddiebx]

Did you change your UCAs? I think that ball joint moves while turning the wheel, so it could be the culprit...

 

[MikeDeuce]

Did you change your UCAs? I think that ball joint moves while turning the wheel, so it could be the culprit...

Yessir! Interesting, I wouldn't have thought that would need servicing of any sort so soon. Will do a little extra research into that.

I've edited my initial post to include the UCAs, thanks for pointing that out.

 

[eddiebx]

Hmm, that's definitely something I would put my ear next to and give it a close listen! Good luck, I hope you find it because that sound would drive me nuts

 

[Deep_palancar]

My bet is Control Arm Bushings

The new upper arm bushings should have been coated with grease, in, out, and sides as they were installed. If they weren't then you pretty much have to break it all down again to get the inside bushing/sleeve surface. Been there, done that. No amount of grease gun work will ever get it.

Might just be the lower bushings, the lower arm looks like it is moving around at the bushing. The cam nuts take about 128 ft/lbs. to cinch it up IIRC.

A hose to the ear while someone steers should lead you to the exact area. If it turns out to be the upper bushings, don't be shy with the grease; coat every surface that will contact something else and wipe it down later.

 

[Gabex35]

the UCA Uniball will creak new or old if they are not lubed. I've used TriFlow as of late and it works great.

Edit: Just watched the video. Sounds like the uniball. Lub it up and you're good to go.

 

[MikeDeuce]

Oh man, [MENTION=85512]eddiebx[/MENTION] [MENTION=77370]Gabex35[/MENTION] you guys nailed it -- uniball. I happened to have a fresh bottle of triflow wet for my mountain bike, so I popped the uniball covers off, cleaned out the little bit of dirt that still magically got in there, and thoroughly coated the perimeter of the top of the joint... And drumroll please... within seconds the noise started to go away. It's now silent and I've learned a good maintenance tip from y'all.
[MENTION=3606]Deep_palancar[/MENTION] Great idea with the upper arm bushings but I gave those guys a major bath in grease when I installed them. Thanks for the troubleshooting help!

Again, thank you all for the help. Hopefully I've thrown enough search terms in here so someone else can find this in the future.

If not, seo bomb time: groan groaning creak creaking noisy turning steering steer parked still not moving suspension lift install icon uniball upper control arm UCA :tea:

 

[Keemonrunnin]

My icon uca's made the same sound. Lubed it with dry lube. Done. I clean and lube my uca's about every six months. Sound has never returned since I've been doing this maintenance.

 

[eddiebx]

Glad you found the noise! That just goes to show that those dust caps for the uni-balls might not be keeping out as much as they seem like they would. Maybe it's because the bottom of the uni-ball is still full exposed so it can get "sucked" in and then slowly progress up as you cycle the suspension?