Hi my 4runner is a Limited with a V6 no rear electronic locking differential and I was running in 2wd mode. If I am accelerating in the rain from a stop and I run over a man hole cover and on rear tire slips could I hear a bang sound from the rear when my tires regains traction. In the past couple of years this has happened to me twice. The previous time I got this bang sound I believe one of the rear tires slipped on a wet road when I accelerated from a stop and ran over a cobble stone / brick like cross walk. Is this bang sound upon tire engagement normal. Everything else with the drive system appears to be OK. If I run in 4wd I never seem to get this bang sound when I run over similar road conditions. Thanks for all your help.

I have never experienced this and I wouldn't think it normal. To me it sounds like something in your suspension. Could be any number of tbings. Spring. Shock. Sway bar. Panhard bar. Basically as you unload ( lose traction) and then suddenly reload (gain traction) something back there is banging together. I don't suspect the driveline as much because you have relatively constant pressure on that. But as your tire suddenly regains traction, it is as though that torque is being transfered back to the vehicle and there is a loose bushing or something that is allowing metal-on-metal contact as the sudden acceleration force is transmitted through. Perhaps when in 4wd, with half the torque being put through the front drivetrain, or possibly you don't lose traction at all, this noise isn't created, as the abrupt forces at the rear aren't near as strong.

Thank you for your reply. Being your limited is a V8 is it always in 4wd even though the center differential is not locked ? With a V6 limited you can select 2 wheel drive. I have never have had this bang sound when 4wd. Only in 2wd with drive on the rear wheels only. Thanks for all your help.