Clunk when going from 4h to 2h

[4runnerQC]

Hello, I'm new to the forum!

I have a 2011 SR5 with 99500km (62000 miles) on it. For maybe a couple weeks, I've notice a clunk noise when going from 4h to 2h, not too loud but I can feel it through the truck. I've never noticed it before in the almost 5 years I've had the truck. 2h to 4h goes in nice like always.

It's been really really cold here during that time, but even after letting the 4runner sleep in the garage I can still hear and feal it.

I have an apointment friday at the dealer but I just want to see if I'm crazy or if anybody had this issue before. I only have 500km left on the warranty so I don't want to miss my chance if there is a real problem.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Orc]

Driveline bind. Don't use 4x4 on any sort of pavement where it's not totally covered by deep snow or slippery packed snow/ice. Any sort of contact with dry payment binds the system. Realisticly even wet pavement with slush will cause a bind. If you can hit the gas normally and not lose traction don't use 4x4. Stopping or going very slow in 4x4 will also cause a bind since you have more traction at low speeds. Eventually this will cause a parts failure if you do it enough or decide to go wild in a dry parking lot in 4x4.

When your in 4x4 the front tires when turned even slightly will turn at a different rate than the rears and bind the drive shafts and cause wheel hop in a turn.

A bang when coming out of 4x4 is a sign you're doing it wrong.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

It is most likely the oil being cold. Let it get good and warm and try it.

 

[4runnerQC]

That's what I was thinking at first but even after a night in the heated garage and driving to work it was still doing it. it's not a loud clunk and a passenger would probably not hear or feel it, just me when I'm shifting out of 4h.

I only use 4x4 on snow and ice and I'm always carefull so it shouldn't be driveline binding.

 

[dekeman]

Search driveline clunk on this forum. See if the sound described by others matches what you hear.

 

[4runnerQC]

Search driveline clunk on this forum. See if the sound described by others matches what you hear.

Thanks, looks like it may need greasing. I'm taking it for service on friday so we'll see. I will avoid using 4wd until then.

 

[team_gforce]

I dont think greasing will help much. I have noticed this clunk in both my '14 4runner 8k miles and my 06 tundra 135k miles. Have also noticed it in other toyotas i have owned that had ADD. When you switch from 4H to 2H, the ADD fork is trying to disengage the sleeve that connects the CV axle to the differential. If you have a slight bit of bind in the driveline, it cannot do it with ease. If you coast a little, goose the gas pedal a touch, turn the steering side to side; it gives enough play in the system to allow ADD to disengage, usually with clunk. Generally i have noticed this at low speed, i.e. parking lots. I usually use 4H on the drive to work then shift out when i get to the parking lot. If I'm smart i do this while still on the street and there is no noticeable noise/clunk. If i wait until I'm already in the parking lot, thats when the clunk happens, since I'm already starting to turn the wheels around the corner.

Rolling/coasting in a straight line is the best time to make the switch and avoid the clunk. You dont notice it while going from 2H to 4H because everything is turning and the sleeve engages smoothly once everything lines up just perfect.

 

[8086bruce]

My 07 and my 15 clunk going in and out.

 

[derekp]

My 2013 does the same. When I asked the dealer, I got the "it's normal" answer. I get that answer from them a lot. Mine doesn't make the noise all the time but it does more than I'd like.
I miss the lever shift 4wd system from my 02 Taco, it never had a prob shifting in/out of 4wd.

 

[team_gforce]

I miss the lever shift 4wd system from my 02 Taco, it never had a prob shifting in/out of 4wd.

I agree that the manual shift lever in the first gen Taco seemed smoother, but i still noticed a small clunk. Even the '14 Runner has the manual shift lever and it clunks as well, so not isolated to only the electric switch operated 4x4. Think back to the old manual hub 4x4's and how difficult it was to turn the hubs back to free sometimes. It's essentially the same situation, just a little bind in the system. As long as you arent under hard acceleration or have the steering wheel turned sharp, it shouldnt hurt anything to shift on the fly. That's what this system is designed for.

 

[STX4Runner]

Driveline bind. Don't use 4x4 on any sort of pavement where it's not totally covered by deep snow or slippery packed snow/ice. Any sort of contact with dry payment binds the system. Realisticly even wet pavement with slush will cause a bind. If you can hit the gas normally and not lose traction don't use 4x4. Stopping or going very slow in 4x4 will also cause a bind since you have more traction at low speeds. Eventually this will cause a parts failure if you do it enough or decide to go wild in a dry parking lot in 4x4.

When your in 4x4 the front tires when turned even slightly will turn at a different rate than the rears and bind the drive shafts and cause wheel hop in a turn.

A bang when coming out of 4x4 is a sign you're doing it wrong.

I don't disagree with you that using 4x4 on dry pavement is not a good idea, but if you've been to Moab you know the dry sandstone has great traction and I've had no problems running 4LO all day with the tires barking through every turn.

 

[Orc]

I don't disagree with you that using 4x4 on dry pavement is not a good idea, but if you've been to Moab you know the dry sandstone has great traction and I've had no problems running 4LO all day with the tires barking through every turn.

Lol sounds like a good time. I have no doubt you do but I still hate to get wheel hop from turning in 4x4 and it probably doesn't do it any good. Sounds like you're testing the durability for us!

 

[STX4Runner]

Lol sounds like a good time. I have no doubt you do but I still hate to get wheel hop from turning in 4x4 and it probably doesn't do it any good. Sounds like you're testing the durability for us!

It's a ton of fun, and why I bought the 4Runner. Like I said, I don't run 4x4 on the pavement as there's no reason to, but the system is plenty durable. If you think about it, the tires are going to lose traction WAY before your drivetrain fatally binds up. Anyway, sorry for the tread hijack.