Tons of squeaking - how to lubricate chassis (1 Viewer)

[indy2guanacaste]

The scoop: 06 lx 470 w. OME. Has only seen pavement once is last three months. Roads, where I live, are dirt/gravel, super dusty and rugged. Weekly average speed is 12 mph, it crosses low rivers about once a week. When windows are down and I am rolling through town, and she is squeaky as all heck to the point of embarrassment. Does anyone have the main pivots or suspension links that I need to have lubricated? If so, please e as descriptive as possible as I will need to translate into Spanish for a mechanic since I don't have a lift or grease gun.

 

[2020 Rocks]

Ball joints will squeak like that when there is no longer any grease in them.

 

[indy2guanacaste]

Ball joints will squeak like that when there is no longer any grease in them.

@4WDBetterthan2feet Thanks. Do the ball joints have zerk fittings?

 

[2020 Rocks]

@4WDBetterthan2feet Thanks. Do the ball joints have zerk fittings?

I don't believe so. There is an upper and lower ball joint. If I'm mistaken about the zerk, I'm sure someone will chime in. Outside of OEM, the 555 brand of ball joint comes highly recommended as a proper substitute.

 

[indy2guanacaste]

I don't believe so. There is an upper and lower ball joint. If I'm mistaken about the zerk, I'm sure someone will chime in. Outside of OEM, the 555 brand of ball joint comes highly recommended as a proper substitute.

@4WDBetterthan2feet Is it not possible to lubricate?

 

[2020 Rocks]

Check out the FAQ, I think some have greased it by slipping a needle under the rubber part, but if the boot is torn on the ball joint then you would have to replace it.

 

[2020 Rocks]

There is also a thread in the FAQ about replacing bushings. Your squeaks could also be worn bushing on upper and or lower control arms as well as sway bars.

 

[suprarx7nut]

There are tons of potential squeak points. I would grab a can of silicone lubricant (maybe there's a better type?) and hit every bushing I could just lying on the ground. Then go for a drive. If it still squeaks, keep looking.

Realistically, on a 14 year old rig that spends a ton of time in dirt and water, you've probably got a handful of squeak points that could use new rubber or grease.

The OEM ball joints are not serviceable replaceable (although a needle might work to shove some grease in there or you can reboot).

Some squeak points I can think off off hand:
Sway bar links (4 links, each with a couple cushions)
Each rear link (panhard, upper and lower control arms)
Body mounts
rear shock bushing/mount
spring perch
upper spring mount
front shock mount
control arms (upper and lower, each with a couple bushings and a ball joint)
diff mounts (3 total)
engine mounts (2 total, I think?)
etc....


I'd find a good mechanic that could investigate.

 

[abuck99]

If bushings or ball joints on a 100 series are squeaking they’re telling you its time to replace (or someone used poly bushes and didnt lube em’ right).

Youl’ll also want to follow the OM or FSM guidlines for your type of heavy offroad/water crossing usage: that is frequent lubrication intervals of driveshafts and ujoints among other things.

 

[RootMeanSqr]

Upper and lower front ball joints can be "serviced", just not with a zerk. Toyota sells boot kits that come with rubber boot and new grease. If your squeak is from the ball joints, check the condition, make sure there is no play in them, if they are just dry, you can re-grease them. Get a new boot kit which is fairly involved as you have to remove the whole knuckle to replace the boots, or as others have mentioned, get a needle tip for your grease gun and try to work some in there.

But, as others have mentioned, there are lots of potential squeaking opportunities.

 

[CloudCity]

If it is the body bushings getting squeaky then grab a can of Fluid Film, shake it well, and spray them up. It's non-damaging to rubber as a natural product and works as a penetrating fluid so will work it's way in there and lubricate the parts.
You can also get some AT-205, which is an internal leak stopper that works by swelling seals slightly, so wipe or spray on the bushings. I would think it's more a matter of lubricating rather than the rubber being dry goven your explanation so I'd try the Fluid Film option first. Luckily it;s winter so the barn smell (it's made of oil from sheep's wool) won't be as noticeable for the week or so it usually sticks around.

 

[AlpineAccess]

Where is the vehicle located?

 

[badlander]

Dry air lift bags can cause all kinds of horrendous squeeks, creaks, and groans and the noise seems to get transmitted throughout the vehicle which makes it not obvious as to where it is coming from. Mine became so bad after a few hours of driving on a very dusty forest road that I actually thought one of my cv axles went south. It was freeking me out for a couple of days until as a last resort test I let the air out of the lift bags and guess what - no more noise.
Silicone spray took care of that issue.

 

[indy2guanacaste]

There is also a thread in the FAQ about replacing bushings. Your squeaks could also be worn bushing on upper and or lower control arms as well as sway bars.

Roger that, thanks again!

 

[MongooseGA]

If you're doing many water crossings, you'll want to stay on top of your driveshaft and U-joint service as well. They don't really make any noise (in my experience) but dry shafts or U-joints can lead to vibrations and clunking. They're super easy to do without lifting the truck (well, maybe unless you still have running boards). I do mine at every 5k oil change interval and after every water crossing. Takes about 10-15 minutes to do all of them.

 

[indy2guanacaste]

There are tons of potential squeak points. I would grab a can of silicone lubricant (maybe there's a better type?) and hit every bushing I could just lying on the ground. Then go for a drive. If it still squeaks, keep looking.

Realistically, on a 14 year old rig that spends a ton of time in dirt and water, you've probably got a handful of squeak points that could use new rubber or grease.

The OEM ball joints are not serviceable replaceable (although a needle might work to shove some grease in there or you can reboot).

Some squeak points I can think off off hand:
Sway bar links (4 links, each with a couple cushions)
Each rear link (panhard, upper and lower control arms)
Body mounts
rear shock bushing/mount
spring perch
upper spring mount
front shock mount
control arms (upper and lower, each with a couple bushings and a ball joint)
diff mounts (3 total)
engine mounts (2 total, I think?)
etc....


I'd find a good mechanic that could investigate.

Thank you for this thought out list @suprarx7nut

 

[indy2guanacaste]

If bushings or ball joints on a 100 series are squeaking they’re telling you its time to replace (or someone used poly bushes and didnt lube em’ right).

Youl’ll also want to follow the OM or FSM guidlines for your type of heavy offroad/water crossing usage: that is frequent lubrication intervals of driveshafts and ujoints among other things.

Roger that @abuck99

 

[indy2guanacaste]

If you're doing many water crossings, you'll want to stay on top of your driveshaft and U-joint service as well. They don't really make any noise (in my experience) but dry shafts or U-joints can lead to vibrations and clunking. They're super easy to do without lifting the truck (well, maybe unless you still have running boards). I do mine at every 5k oil change interval and after every water crossing. Takes about 10-15 minutes to do all of them.

@MongooseGA I know where my main drive shaft link is, buyt not sure of the others?

 

[indy2guanacaste]

If it is the body bushings getting squeaky then grab a can of Fluid Film, shake it well, and spray them up. It's non-damaging to rubber as a natural product and works as a penetrating fluid so will work it's way in there and lubricate the parts.
You can also get some AT-205, which is an internal leak stopper that works by swelling seals slightly, so wipe or spray on the bushings. I would think it's more a matter of lubricating rather than the rubber being dry goven your explanation so I'd try the Fluid Film option first. Luckily it;s winter so the barn smell (it's made of oil from sheep's wool) won't be as noticeable for the week or so it usually sticks around.

@CloudCity thanks amigo, i am beginning to think I am chasing a ghost, nothing has stopped the sounds yet.

 

[indy2guanacaste]

Where is the vehicle located?

@AlpineAccess near Nosara CR