TRD Pro Clunk

[simonsay]

Not sure if it's a design issue. Yes, most on this thread have this clunk issue, but I do not have it and neither do others posted here. So the question is, what's the difference between yours and mine? Only thing I can think of is which port your truck came to.

 

[1engineer]

Not sure if it's a design issue. Yes, most on this thread have this clunk issue, but I do not have it and neither do others posted here. So the question is, what's the difference between yours and mine? Only thing I can think of is which port your truck came to.

How cold and for how long does it get in your location?

 

[simonsay]

How cold and for how long does it get in your location?

Well it's 72 degrees right now here in Vegas. I have taken the vehicle on runs in the mountains in the teens and twenties with no clunk at all. We were at the top of our run in snow and 15 degree weather all night and still nothing going on these snow covered trails. At night in the winter here it's in 30s, no clunk. Not sure how cold you guys are experiencing this clunk, but I've definitely had it in cold enough weather to see if I had it to.

 

[NuclearN8]

Also new to the forum and new to 4runners in general. I have a 2016 TRD Pro on order and will be trading my 2012 Rubicon Unlimited. I know we are talking different vehicles all together but thought that sharing my Jeep experience may help. For the first year of owning my Rubicon there was an awful clunking sound that occurred anytime I went over a bump. Similar to the TRD clunk, it sounded and felt like it was coming from the front end and could be felt in the floor. After numerous checks, I couldn't identify anything loose or rubbing in the suspension components, skid plates, etc. After some additional research, I found that some people found this clunk was actually coming from the driver's door latch. The solutions were to either realign the strike point or put a small amount of felt tape around the striker. Sure enough, I gave the tape a try and have not heard the clunk for 80,000 miles (other rattles, yes, but not the clunk). Just wanted to put this out there as it sounds like a similar situation to what I dealt with on my Jeep.

Very interesting. Wouldn't be surpised if this was the cause. Maybe it's the hood striking plate or latch... if it opens or closes or has a latch it makes sense that it could be making the noise if not properly aligned or torqued down from the factory and the cold weather merely exasterbates the issue due to contraction of materials.

 

[Jaden_C]

I don't think it's a coincidence the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro has Fox vice Billstein suspension on it. (I'll be curious to see if the 4Runner and Tundra TRDP models also get the FOX treatment...)

Companies as large as Toyota do not part ways with established subcontractors for no reason... While I'm sure Fox told Toyota they could supply the suspension cheaper, I'd find an awful big coincidence this change came following 2 years of clunky front suspension...

kinda like Toyota switching head gaskets on the 4Runner in the 2005 model year but there wasn't a supplier quality problem there... again, awfully coincidental.

The good news is the clunk doesn't appear to be a safety issue but it is concerning that no one can figure out what is causing it (which leads me to believe it's internal to the strut/ shock)...

Maybe the Toyota Engineers and Fox worked together to prevent this clunk by designing in the internal bypass feature... do the billstein's have this feature? If not, it may make sense why Mike Sweers was so excited about it at the Tacoma TRD Pro debut (I think it was mentioned 10 times in the 2 videos I watched online...).

Then again, maybe it's all just a big coincidence.... the likelihood is though we'll never find out.

Definitely thought the same thing, how long has Toyota partnered with bilstein? I know it's been awhile and it seems surprising they would switch all the sudden. I also agree those with clunks should get a fox suspension haha. Now if only I can get my runner to clunk between now and when the new runners come out :laugh:

 

[Beer_Runner]

Newark Port. Built Jan 6, 2016. 28 degrees F. No clunk. Fingers crossed and knocking on wood. Just got her tonight, so we shall see.

 

[TRDPRO]

2017 TRD Suspension

It's interesting that the TRD engineering team has switched to Fox over the Billys in the 2017 Tacoma. Straight from the site:

"
Tacoma TRD Pro really earns its off-road cred through its TRD-installed suspension and exhaust enhancements that include:

FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass shocks tuned by TRD
TRD-tuned front springs with a 1-inch lift
TRD-tuned rear suspension with progressive-rate off-road leaf spring
"

Update: Sorry I missed [MENTION=87178]NuclearN8[/MENTION] comment on the same observation.

 

[technichen]

OK....This just in! At 1st the idiots at the dealership told me it was my garage door opener was rattling against my 4x4 knob.....:uzi: Sooooo in my furious haste I went there to personally scold them. After taking the tech for a ride he did hear and note the sounds. Afterward the Mgr and the tech and I took out another TRD and it had the sounds but not as apparent as mine, but only after the Mgr said if it has the same sounds the "WILL NOT FIX" it, this lead to some verbal confrontation. Afterwards, I was told they'll get a engineer in and start a case on it. Since then, (15min ago) My dealer rep personally spoke with a Toyota engineer and they are aware of the noise and were instructed to put it on a lift and check a c-clip on the UCA........This is all I know for now.:shrug:

I'll keep you posted!

 

[probos]

Not sure if it's a design issue. Yes, most on this thread have this clunk issue, but I do not have it and neither do others posted here. So the question is, what's the difference between yours and mine? Only thing I can think of is which port your truck came to.

I've not experienced it and we've had plenty cold weather here since mid-January. I've intentionally gone over speed bumps to see if I could hear the dreaded "clunk". I heard what I normally hear,...maybe slightly more pronounced but I'd expect that with very cold temps. Tires are cold, suspension, frame, etc.

 

[technichen]

Well, I still have the noise. No issues were found on the UCA. So, the Toyota engineer says "Drive it like it is and if the noise gets worse the they will send out someone to look at it" So, there you have it! I made sure they noted it in my file that it didn't get fixed and I' now SOL. I'm now the proud owner of a $40K rattle can! "I love what you do for me":smash:

 

[simonsay]

Why has someone not put a gopro down there yet?

 

[quicksandTRDPRO]

Why has someone not put a gopro down there yet?

They have. Checkout post #92 (page 7)

 

[TRDPRO]

Definitely thought the same thing, how long has Toyota partnered with bilstein? I know it's been awhile and it seems surprising they would switch all the sudden. I also agree those with clunks should get a fox suspension haha. Now if only I can get my runner to clunk between now and when the new runners come out :laugh:

Couldn't agree with you more. I just hope they don't make the change and leave all the clunkers hanging with the company line "The noise is characteristic to the suspension" The change was made for a reason even if they never admit to it.

 

[Beer_Runner]

Well, I think I have it. I have a notchedy/clickedy feeling and noise coming from under the driver side, which is most noticeable when going over a wavy or lumpy road, as opposed to say a pothole. Anytime where the suspension rebounds pretty quickly and frequently, I can hear it. Sounds and feels sorta like a wheel that's not torqued down or a broken endlink. Is this what you guys have?

 

[9lb taco]

Well, I think I have it. I have a notchedy/clickedy feeling and noise coming from under the driver side, which is most noticeable when going over a wavy or lumpy road, as opposed to say a pothole. Anytime where the suspension rebounds pretty quickly and frequently, I can hear it. Sounds and feels sorta like a wheel that's not torqued down or a broken endlink. Is this what you guys have?

Sounds about right. And 19k miles on the odometer, it's still there. arty:

 

[Infernorunner]

Another winter almost over and toyota hasn't done or said anything to lead me to believe they are going to fix this. This is crap! Pay extra money for this suspension and it's the worse part of the vehicle. Two dealers same response. Say they heard about it and will let us know if a fix is available.

 

[Beer_Runner]

Yeah my clunk is now pretty loud over the choppy unplowed roads here in Michigan. I wasn't able to get an appointment to bring it in (so it could at least be annotated in my repair log) until next week. It will be warm here by then and probably won't clunk at all.

 

[kzanard]

Well still no solution. Yesterday my truck went in for the 6th time for the clunk. After the 4th time, they decided to replace the left front suspension components listed below (on the 5th appointment they discovered they ordered the wrong parts once they had truck apart. :ybrick. Service called and said truck is all set and noise appears to be gone. I pick it up (very skeptically) and sure enough - clunk still there. Turned around and went back. Took tech out AGAIN to show him the noise and he confirms clunk is still there. Service manager says now the next time they take it in (I would not leave it there without a rental from them) they will need to keep it until they exhaust all other possibilities because now they have to answer to Toyota Corporate why they just spent all that $ to replace parts and the problem still persists. We'll see..... waiting for them to deliver a rental today or tomorrow as I told them I could not take any more time off of work for this problem. And the saga continues....

Other than the clunk, I am still loving the truck!

 

[Bevo]

After the 4th time, they decided to replace the left front suspension components listed below (on the 5th appointment they discovered they ordered the wrong parts once they had truck apart. :ybrick.

It is things like this that reinforce my lack of faith in dealership service departments. Most people on this forum could look at that ticket and tell them they were ordering the wrong parts. No KDSS on the Pro.

Good luck getting them to actually diagnose and fix the problem. So far Toyota Corporate has not seemed interested.

 

[OKStormRunner]

This thread is the main reason why I didn't get the TRD pro