Squeak near rear bumper...

[Chad T]

I have been having a bad squeak around the rear bumper. I started looking around and found the problem.

It was the upper part of the driver side bumper extension (the part below the tail light). There was a bolt/washer that was causing the squeak. It was loose and couldn't be tightened. I removed it and the problem went away. I'm wanting to get it put back together proper and started looking at parts diagrams. It appears that possibly a bolt isn't even supposed to be there, but I can't tell for sure. Looks like maybe a clip is supposed to be there instead.

I have attached a pic of the area I'm talking about. If somebody could check on this or take a pic, it would be much appreciated.

 

[Chad T]

Here's what it looked like with the bolt in place. Squeak city! The passenger side looks the same (except the bolt and washer aren't painted), but it doesn't squeak. Strange.

 

[SUP3RJEFF]

It should be one of those two piece screw in plastic clips, the bullet shaped expansion piece with the screw in the middle. You can get them lots of places, but if you don't have one to match the size by, I'd just go and get one at a Toyota dealer.

 

[Dawg4Runner]

Looks like you had a rear end collision and the body shop used a metal screw and washer instead of the factory plastic fastener. There are no threads to accept a screw on the other side, just a hole with a rubber cup that the fastener expands in.

 

[Chad T]

Thanks for the info. Before buying this vehicle, I talked with the shop who did all of the service work. They also do body work. The owner did mention that the prior owner backed into something at one point and his shop did the body work on the bumper. Apparently, the shop didn't pay close attention to how it was assembled. Looks like the genuine Toyota parts are about $3 total for both sides. Thanks again.