I'm a long-time viewer, and this is my first question. I have a 2011 Toyota Tacoma that I bought new and it now has 160k miles. The ride has gotten really bad. There is a loud clunking in the back when I go over bumps that I can't track down. Last fall I replaced the struts with new KYB OEM replacements. The fall before that I replaced the rear shocks. I did have it rust-proofed when I bought it, so the frame is in great condition. What should I check next?
clunking means something is loose. Check all the suspension and shock mounts.
Did it not make the suspension feel much better once you replaced the front struts and rear shocks?
I did that to my 2005 Matrix, and it made it ride much better over bumps and such, and just general driving. It still isn't a Lexus, but it brought it back to how the ride likely was when it was new.
Keeping in mind that a Tacoma isn't the softest ride, even from factory new.
When did the clunking start? I know that the Guy that did my rear Shocks the first time, didn't do it right and there was a sound that some might say clunk when going over bumps, not really noticeable on decent roads. I didn't notice it the first few days because I was on really good roads, with virtually no bumps. I did notice something that I would call a rattle, like somebody left some bolts laying on metal clanking.
I took it to the mechanic I should have the first time, and he said the last guy didn't put in the "bushings" in the shocks, that they were a pain to get in. Once I did that it runs fine.
