Brake Clunk?

[morphius909]

Hey Folks,

I am well aware of the brake "bump" issue with the brake booster, so I know it's not that issue.

Basically, when at a stop, sometimes i hear/feel more like it, a slight clunk feel when I let go of the brakes.

Is this normal?

According to the dealer I talked to (while setting up my appt for a rattling driver side window + 1st change oil), he said yes.

Any experience with this?

Thanks!

 

[Run'n'Gun]

yes it is normal, it will go away if you grease your driveshaft. It is due to the slip yoke design of the driveshaft. There are zirk fittings several places on it especialy at the joints where it meets the transfer case and diff. If you keep it greased real well it won't do it as bad, but as that wears off it will start again. about 2000-3000 miles or so and it will get worse if you don't keep it lubed. There are several threads about that problem here, do a search about the clunk noise and driveshaft and you should find them.

 

[morphius909]

Okay found them. Wow, been a problem since 2002 and still no resolution for any of the affected vehicles (Lexus, Tacoma, etc). Wierd!

 

[Run'n'Gun]

yeah, it's more of an annoyance than a problem, it's design works well, it just makes that f@#$@#ing noise. There is a fix for the Lexus 470, but they won't do it for the t4r unfortunately unless you want to spend some dough which could be used for other stuff. I would suggest that when you get your oil changed, see if they will grease the zirk fittings on the drive shaft where they meet the x case and diff. Or if you are like me and change your oil yourself, get a grease gun and do it then. It will slowly come back though. More of a pain in the ass than anything, although it is a reminder to change your oil when it starts coming back.

 

[Boston_Runner]

The clunk TSB for the GX470 cost almost $2000.

 

[sbbamafan]

Is this the noise I hear (thud I feel) occasionally when I let off the brakes after sitting at a light for a couple of minutes? Then you can't make it happen again. It feels kind of like somebody hitting the rear bumper with something. Does the stuff written above also apply to 2WD models?

 

[Run'n'Gun]

yup. It happens to me more often if I brake harder than normal.

 

[TRZ06]

yeah, it's more of an annoyance than a problem, it's design works well, it just makes that f@#$@#ing noise. There is a fix for the Lexus 470, but they won't do it for the t4r unfortunately unless you want to spend some dough which could be used for other stuff. I would suggest that when you get your oil changed, see if they will grease the zirk fittings on the drive shaft where they meet the x case and diff. Or if you are like me and change your oil yourself, get a grease gun and do it then. It will slowly come back though. More of a pain in the ass than anything, although it is a reminder to change your oil when it starts coming back.

So Lexus says. trust me, they DO NOT have a permanent fix.

My buddy that has a GX470 and they did the "fix" on it and it is back after 2,000 miles. 1 more repair attempt and the lemon law will apply.

Don't buy into the line that they have a final fix, they don't.

 

[Boston_Runner]

Thats not the result I been reading in the Lexus forum. I own a GX470 and had the clunk TSB done 2 years ago and the clunk have not come back. According to the forum, the Lexus TSB fixes the clunk in 99% of the cases. Your buddy's GX must have other problems beside the clunk.

 

[nc211]

If you pop it into neutral upon stopping, it prevents it about 99% of time. It releaves the stress of the driveshaft.