Clunk after semi hard/hard braking

[NCrunner2012]

Hey guys,
After a quick stop, I let off the brakes to go again and I get a clunk. It happens right as soon as I let off the brakes. If I have my hand on the gear selector I can feel it jolt(same with the 4wd selector). I crawled under and tried to shake the transmission. Everything feels tight. Could it be shocks recoiling after a hard brake?

I was just curious to hear you guys' ideas.

Thanks!

 

[Stallion Motors]

If the rear end is hanging up I would check both axle seals.

Tom

 

[rjaudi]

I would first grease your driveshaft before anything else.

 

[994runner21]

I'm currently having the same exact problem. Putting in gear and letting of the brakes does it, and when getting on the brakes hard. I notice my sway bar bushing against the frame are completely worn down, i bought the front set for about $10 at the auto store. Putting them on tomorrow. Also going to go through and grease all my greasable fittings on my drive shafts. I will post tomorrow and let you know if any of that helps. I had also talked to a former toyo tech i work with, he said it could be the retainer pin that holds the front CV axles to the front diff. I'm going to try a couple of things one at a time so i know what one fixed it, and i will post as soon as i figure this out.

 

[Baja Runner]

Grease fittings with lots of grease. : )

 

[NCrunner2012]

So what all needs grease exactly. None of my front suspension has grease fittings from what I can tell, so that leaves the driveshaft?

 

[994runner21]

yeah more than likely your suspension wont have grease fittings unless they are aftermarket (moog) but you can look around on your front and rear driveshaft you will see grease fittings. Harbor freight or walmart will have a grease gun with the snake end (not the hard one) for easy access to all grease fittings. be sure not to over fill them sqeazing grease out of your seals.

 

[NCrunner2012]

Ok Thanks man. Ill get on that. It's really not that bad, but I hate worrying about it.

 

[994runner21]

Yeah, im on the same page. It don't seem like a major noise, its more annoying to me. I'll post tomorrow after i attempt a few things.

 

[footy14]

Any update to this post from anyone on fixing this problem? I'm experiencing the exact same clunk on my 99 limited. Thanks

 

[notarex]

I would love to know the answer to this as well

 

[NCrunner2012]

I haven't been able to narrow it down, it seems to be getting better though

 

[Four-CLT]

I had the same clunk. It would happen typically after hard braking or braking while on an incline. I greased the drive shaft today and no more clunk.

 

[fourwd1]

So what all needs grease exactly. ?

The splined slip joint on the drive shaft. When it's dry it causes your clunk.

 

[Blanco]

This is common...3rd Gens, 4th Gens. Lube your shaft/joints. Mine was thunking and chirping and then I got underneath with the grease gun. Problem solved.

 

[notarex]

Clunk is gone after greasing my shaft. I'm curious to see how long until it returns.

 

[Four-CLT]

I believe the consensus is that if you regularly lubricate the shafts then you shouldn't have problems with the clunking. Some folks say at every oil change, but that may be a bit conservative. Is there an interval spelled out in the service manual?

 

[footy14]

Greased up all the drive line zerks, and the clunk was gone immediately. The truck even shifts a bit smoother now as well.

 

[nevada]

The splined slip joint on the drive shaft. When it's dry it causes your clunk.

yup. this.

under hard braking, it compresses that joint, but since its dry, it sort of "sticks", the clunk is it releasing.

pulling and separating the shaft to clean all the gunk, and old grease out would help it last longer between required greasings.