Rattle suspect

[Montana Cruiser]

1st -While under my 80 tonight draining the oil, I noticed a rubber/plastic block (Maybe 3"X3"X3") just to the outboard side of the center diff and inboard of the exhaust on the passenger side of truck. Running up through the center of the block was a bolt with a large washer which appeared to go up into the frame,in my case, the bolt-head and washer hang about a 1/4 inch lower then the block itself.

2nd - I have been trying to track down a squeek or rattle I hear every time I hit a sharp bump or abrupt breaks in the pavement. I have checked shocks and mounts, driven without the spare tire under there and still cant find it. Its a quick sound and sorta sounds like a bad bushing somewhere in the suspension that is partially allowing slight metal to metal contact when I hit a bump.

Sooooo, 1. What is the black rubber/thing? 2. Should the bolt be hanging down below to allow movement? (I cant move the block under my own power by the way) and if its not suppose to be this way, I wonder if this could be my mysterious squeek?

My initial thought was this was some sort of "cushion" for the center diff for some lateral travel??

Thanks for any insight!

 

[turbocruiser]

Hi MC, basically that black block, the 'dynamic dampner' you are looking at is a counter-balance, counter-vibration, object that has been standard on many models of Toyota. The way you describe the bolt is the same way mine looks on my cruiser and my old runner. I heard of someone removing it from the vehicle and it caused lots of vibrations and wiggles. HTH.

The squeek is harder to diagnose but I would make sure your driveshafts are lubed up, that there is not some mud stuck in the control arms or the sway bars or even between the body mounts. If it only squeeks on harder jars, it is definitely around something that moves and responds to motion that is harsher than just spinning down the road. Look first at the things that go up and down, then start looking at everything else. HTH

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Hi MC, basically that black block, the 'dynamic dampner' you are looking at is a counter-balance, counter-vibration, object that has been standard on many models of Toyota. The way you describe the bolt is the same way mine looks on my cruiser and my old runner. I heard of someone removing it from the vehicle and it caused lots of vibrations and wiggles. HTH.

The squeek is harder to diagnose but I would make sure your driveshafts are lubed up, that there is not some mud stuck in the control arms or the sway bars or even between the body mounts. If it only squeeks on harder jars, it is definitely around something that moves and responds to motion that is harsher than just spinning down the road. Look first at the things that go up and down, then start looking at everything else. HTH

Turbo - Thanks for the info, I'm glad someone knows what that block is, I was getting worried after no response. I THINK the sound is coming from the rear of the truck, so thats where I was focused in on, but I'll give everything another look and update.