lex8000

I’ve got squeaks and rattles coming form the rear. This piece is loose and appears to be missing a bushing. I can’t find this on suspension schematics. Can someone tell me what this is?

I paid a body shop to diagnose rattles thinking it was my damaged bumper but they didn’t help. Looking under I found this. Also pulled on the sway bar bushings- they feel fine to me.

MattRX

It’s just a damper for the rear diff, I’d just pull it off if it's making noise. The rear trailing arms usually are the culprit on these 3rd gen RXs.

Clutchless

What he said. It is probably the rear trailing arms that need replacement because their bushings are shot. I replaced mine with the Mevotech ones from Rock Auto. About $68.79 each.
That piece in the photo is just a vibration damper.

MEVOTECH CMS861146 Supreme Info
Rear Right; Trailing Arm
MEVOTECH CMS861145 Supreme Info
Rear Left; Trailing Arm

lex8000

Thanks. I'll have the trailing arms replaced. I don't have a proper jack and stands and stuff to do that myself. I'm assuming it needs to be lifted.

I've also read that the bushings on the sway bar can cause a clunk. As I said mine feel tight but are those something that can be replaced while the car is on the ground?

Finally does the rear diff damper do anything useful? Seems weird I can just pull it but I'm not a mechanic.

MattRX

I've replaced the trailing arms on my other two cars (2002 Highlander, 2008 RX350) but not my '14 RX, but the car does need to be lifted, the wheels have to come off, and the bushings need to be either pre-loaded or with the car on the ground before torquing to prevent premature failure. You can do the sway bar bushings on the ground without even lifting the car, but I highly doubt those have gone bad. They seem to last nearly the life of the car on these.

For the rear diff damper, it's supposed to make movements from the rear diff more smooth in addition to the bushing. My Highlander has one, but my 08 RX350 does not as there is not enough room for one due to a spare tire in the way. I do not notice it, and probably would not the difference if I took it off the Highlander - both cars are extremely smooth.