Weird noise when off roading

Anyone else have a strange noise when going over medium to large ruts or rocks or just bumps on a dirt road? Hard to describe the sound...it's like a squeak but sounds more like a goose honk . I don't hear it on the freeway since there's no flex at all. I feel it's either shocks, springs, or sway bar?

I have stock SR5 suspension. I hope I'm not the only one so I can diagnose the issue.

 

Off roading creates all sorts of noises. My springs are pretty noisy whenever there’s flexing of the axles involved.

 

Before you hit the panic button, try cleaning the two rubber stoppers for the hood and clean and lubricant the hood latch.

When these items get a little trail dust they make sounds that mimic a suspension issue.

I trouble shot these noises by standing on a side step and rocking the truck back and forth. Then I popped the hood latch and the noise went away.

After I’ve had a day of dusty trails, my 4Runner makes all kinds of weird sounds until I wash it in these areas.

 

I stupidly sprayed wool wax on the lower spring seat on the rear axle. I got a little squeak /groan/pop sound when accelerating or stopping. It went away when i sprayed the spring seat down with brake clean.

But i recently loaded it up with people and luggage and my other side started with the spring noises lol. If brake clean doesnt fix it, im probably going to take the springs out and clean it up

 

Thanks all, I'll try cleaning the hood stoppers.

 

If hood stoppers doesn't work, in my experience, common squeaks on our Toyotas come from the swaybar bushings, end links, and control arm bushings. I've had luck with poly bushings but still require grease over time especially if you wheel often.

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

I spray silicone on the rubber bushings ... I do it in November every year . I also spray the boots and my 2016 runner has the boots looking like new ..no noises .. many rubber parts are on the front in the suspension control arms ...

 

I’ve never really had luck with silicon sprays. I usually use WD40, which I realize isn’t the primary purpose of it.

On the hood latch and rubber hood stops, I’ve been trying “Boelube” which is a dry lube that Boeing Aircraft developed years ago.

Comes in a tube and it’s kinda like a soap/wax in a solid form. Very effective.