TRD Pro Fox Shock Clunk
- Thread starter fr4c
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jros3484
New member
Your dealer is full of it. Toyota covered it. Field tech came out, repair was authorized by Toyota, dealer even commented that “this cost Toyota alot of money to fix.” No way in hell my local dealer floated the bill. I didn’t even buy the truck there. Said multiple times this is a known issue and that it would need to be properly diagnosed to be authorized.
I’d try a higher volume dealer with more pull and street cred with Toyota.
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Agreed. I had a little back and forth with my dealer team and they played middle men with the field service tech. They are checking one more thing tomorrow with the rear suspension that apparently requires a special tool that the regional manager is dropping off. After that they plan to replace the rear shocks, but Toyota has said they don’t think it will resolve the issue. After that I’ll have 3/4 new shocks. If the problem isn’t resolved any suggestions on next steps? At this point we are within the Lemon law requirements for Ohio.
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ForRun
New member
Interested in hearing about this special tool for suspension? I know a stock rear shock is a pain with the top nut but an amateur like me can get er done
nb rob
New member
Well, for the next step you could add the very thin washer to the rear mount like I’ve suggested twice in this thread.
After all, it did fix the clunking sound I had for 2 brands and 4 different shocks; which is to say that it wasn’t the shocks, it was the width of the lower shock eye vs the length of the mounting post.
The special tool is likely a nitrogen manifold to verify the pressure.
If you can’t find these washers locally, pm me your address and I’m sure I can pop then in an envelope.
After all, it did fix the clunking sound I had for 2 brands and 4 different shocks; which is to say that it wasn’t the shocks, it was the width of the lower shock eye vs the length of the mounting post.
The special tool is likely a nitrogen manifold to verify the pressure.
If you can’t find these washers locally, pm me your address and I’m sure I can pop then in an envelope.
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Thank you for the feedback. Honestly my rear suspension noise isn't so much "clunking" and isn't just over bumps or when the shock is cold (originally the thought was after the shock body warmed up a bit the noise was gone). I think another member described it best when they said it sounds like driving over fresh snow and you're packing it down for the first time. To me it sounds more like a bushing or end link binding than a shock problem.
Can you share the specs on the washers? - apologies if I've missed it from an earlier post.
nb rob
New member
Apologies, I thought you were fighting a clunk sound. Which I spent a lot of time tracking down. Hell, it even took a friend and a big retaining wall to figure out whether my clunk was coming from the front or back of my vehicle. Big bumps didn’t make the sound, it was just small irregularities, which drove me bat shit crazy. It was not easy to track down, but when it was finally fixed, I couldn’t believe the beautiful silence
The washer has an inner diameter of 3/4” and an OD of 1”. It is about 1/32” thick, and it is stainless.
I found them at Home Depot of all places in their specialty parts bin. It is a shim washer. I looked high and low for them beforehand.. all over the web. I couldn’t believe I found them locally at a home improvement store.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/paulin-3-4-steel-spacer-washer/1000128967
Lower shock eye comes off, spacer goes on, then shock eye, then the retaining bolt. I used a bit of no-squeal brake gel to hold it in place during maintenance when I switch shocks.
It takes up the small amount of slop that is unusual, but was present on my vehicle.
My saga has included the "clunk" from the front suspension which led to replacement of one of the Fox shocks and brake pads. The rear was actually the noise that I was most concerned with and took it to Toyota to address. They were chasing the front noise, which frankly I felt was pretty normal (just a light "click" over irregularities) and I kept insisting my concerns stemmed from the rear. I should have more feedback today, but I believe you are correct that they are checking the pressure in the rear shocks today (special tool).
Is the issue went away for good?
Hi, is the noise ever came back after they replaced front shocks? Or is it still good?
Well, I picked up my vehicle yesterday after the repairs were performed. Front left and right Fox struts we’re completely replaced. I haven’t driven it much since then, but the noise in the front end appears to have gone away. I’m still getting some small creaking from the rear, but will wait it out for a couple of weeks to see how it is under different conditions. Overall I’m very pleased with how it was handled. My claim is still open if there’s any future issues.
Attached is a the redacted repair sheet.
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Hi, is the noise ever came back after they replaced front shocks? Or is it still good?
DallasTRDPro
Member
Wow this thread is not making me feel too good about my 2020 "reliable" TRD Pro.
Tuco Ramirez
New member
Don’t sweat it.
It’s mainly a bunch of sissies crying about a noise that Toyota has deemed normal. They will preach about “derrr teryotuh manual says only dis oil. De toyerta enginuurs know besstt,” but then cry when the same engineers say this noise is WNL and has no ill effect.
Or one or two borderline illiterates coming to the thread to troll a little bit...sound familiar?
I can't speak for others that have had this issue, but mine is not the "ticking" of an internal bypass shock. Maybe I'm a "sissy" who expects a brand new vehicle to sound better than a wooden ship while traversing the local mall parking lot. If so, shame on me for having such lofty expectations. Toyota has actually acknowledged it's an issue, but have no path forward and fail to accept responsibility. Fox seems to be on the same page, but that's because these aren't really Fox shocks. Toyota says it's an off-road suspension, take it to the dunes and enjoy it. Which is funny because that would easily void the new vehicle warranty. Kudos Toyota for trying to sidestep an issue.
DallasTRDPro
Member
I won't sweat any issue until it happens to me.
We need a troll blocker.
Again not all of us are having the issue they are “deeming normal”
As stated above and I do like his description as it’s very accurate, it shouldn’t sound like a wooden ship. And in my case you shouldn’t feel a thump against the floorboards hitting your foot. To make it better you should never have a Toyota customers service rep from the headquarters tell you that your warranty is no longer valid for your whole suspension because of it even if it’s another part. Specially when you have the extended warranty. Hence I will be going to talk to them next week about a refund on that since they will not honor it. And troll your an idiot if you think it’s impossible that people have issues with it other then what they deem normal
Also, temp is having little effect on mine as it is doing it even in the 50 plus range.
I actually have had strangers ask me what’s wrong with my truck when parking in public lots because they heard it walking by. Not the comments you want to hear getting out of a new truck
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BadTrainDriver
New member
What info do you have to back up these comments?
Mine is also degrading over time. Primarily concentrated to the rear, but warmer temperatures and time to allow the shock body to "warm up" no longer alleviates the noise. I've actually started noticing it at higher speeds too. I was taking a few secluded roundabouts last weeks and as the weight shifted in the turns (~30mph) my rear suspension sounded really angry with its situation.
I'm not sure what South Dakota's law states, but here in Ohio I've eclipsed the Lemon Law threshold. Since during my last visit I was told directly that Toyota is done trying to fix the problem, I may be turning my truck in for a full refund. The only thing I'll be out is what I've spent on mods, unless I can find another '19 4R. Not interested in TSS on this platform. If I want that, I'll move back into a German vehicle.
WHAT IS NOT COVERED
This warranty does not cover damage or
failures resulting directly or indirectly from
any of the following:
• Fire, accidents or theft
• Abuse or negligence
• Misuse—for example, racing
or overloading
• Improper repairs
• Alteration or tampering, including
installation of non-Genuine
Toyota Accessories
• Lack of or improper maintenance,
including use of fluids and fuel
other than those specified in the
Owner’s Manual
• Installation of non-Genuine Toyota Parts
• Airborne chemicals, tree sap, road
debris (including stone chips), rail dust,
salt, hail, floods, wind storms, lightning
and other environmental conditions
• Water contamination
Going to an off-road park would be considered abuse. So Toyota telling me to take it and enjoy the TRD Pro suspension, opens the door for me to void the warranty did to misuse or abuse. A verbal recommendation never trumps a written obligation.
Edit: missed the first bold statement. Directly from the Toyota Master Tech, who is also an off-road enthusiast. These are not "actual" Fox shocks, they are re-branded.
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nb rob
New member
there are a number of features in your 4runner that are explicitly stated as for use in off-road conditions only both in the manual, and on the sun visor.
4LO, for example, is for off road use only. So is multi terrain select, so is crawl control, your differential locker, etc.
These are marketed as offroad vehicles with available functions that are only to be used offroad.
If there were a warranty issue, there's more than enough to hold their feet to the flames. Taking an offroad vehicle offroad does not constitute misuse or negligence. Racing or overloading are different altogether, and the burden of proof would be on them.
4LO, for example, is for off road use only. So is multi terrain select, so is crawl control, your differential locker, etc.
These are marketed as offroad vehicles with available functions that are only to be used offroad.
If there were a warranty issue, there's more than enough to hold their feet to the flames. Taking an offroad vehicle offroad does not constitute misuse or negligence. Racing or overloading are different altogether, and the burden of proof would be on them.
100% agree in principle, but I also work in the automotive industry. Off-road can be interpreted very differently. Off-road can be as simple as any unpaved road surface with state/local maintenance, or it could be an ORP or literally forging your own path out in the woods.
For me, I'm not going to take my OEM-built off-road vehicle out to test capabilities until I figure out why it can't handle sub-standard surface roads. It's not worth the potential risk of being caught in a warranty loophole. Also, it just doesn't make sense to me to take an under-performing vehicle and place more undo stress on the very components that are in question. Based on my experience in the auto industry professionally and my personal experience with Toyota, I'm not willing to enter that fight.
If I were you guys, I'd dump that suspension before lemon law-ing the 4Runner.
I'm really happy with my Eibach Pro Truck Lift Suspension (4 shocks 4 springs). It's quiet, it's comfortable, taut in the curves on road, nose dive is gone, body roll is gone. No clunks or weird noises on or off road. Has it's own million mile warranty.
I'm sure one of the other brands would be good to go as well - Dobinson, Kings, Icon, etc.
