Drive shaft noise or U joint noise (LEXUS 4/06 TSB page 18) aka Driveshaft thump/bump

[tomstoyota]

darn thing posted twice.

but on a different note, if you take your Runner in for oil changes just ask your service writer to have the tech give it a squirt of lube before your pick it up.

 

[JManAlexVA]

driveshaft noise/thud/etc.

I have a 2005 Sport with V-8 (all wheel drive) with almost 9,000 miles. I brought mine back to the dealer this week with the complaint that it recently has been making a "thud" sound in the driveshaft when I come to a stop or release the brake pedal after coming to a stop. After the technician and the service manager inspected and test drove my truck, the conclusion was that the double-U joint does not always allow the driveshaft to line up exactly after a stop. This apparently happens more frequently with a hard stop. The dealer claims there is nothing wrong and that this is normal in an all wheel drive vehicle. I'm skeptical of the diagnosis, but have no basis or technical info to counter their point.

Has anyone filed a complaint with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on this? Their website is www.nhsta.dot.gov. Complaints may be filed on-line, or via telephone at 1-888-327-4236.

 

[4runnerman]

...

Does anyone have the toyota customer service number?

I wanna talk to someone, since the dealer is most likely going to give me the run around....

 

[msanta]

I greased my entire shaft a few times and the noise is virtually gone! I hardly notice it! I gotta give it a few more pumps this next oil change

 

[naseeb]

I greased my entire shaft a few times and the noise is virtually gone! I hardly notice it! I gotta give it a few more pumps this next oil change

couldn't stop laughing the first time I read it. :jester:


on a serious note, I had this problem last year and posted to this topic. Haven't had to re-lube since then. Maybe over-doing it isn't good for the shaft.

 

[kdmello]

Hi guys, my clunk thunk problem has been fixed, or at least I do not notice it now. The service manager at the dealership told me that he replaced my drive shaft with one that had been machined differently. He said there is no TSB for this fix but the new 4runners have the new drive shaft.

Do any of you guys know about it?

 

[MatKimChi]

Happy new year!

Around 8000 miles, my 05 v8 4wd begins to behave the same as you guys described. Hopefully toyota comes out a decent solution soon.

 

[TeryT]

Happy new year!

Around 8000 miles, my 05 v8 4wd begins to behave the same as you guys described. Hopefully toyota comes out a decent solution soon.

Opps! I thought the fix with this was to install a drive shaft from an 05! Guess that's wrong!!!

I just sent an e-mail to my local dealer service manager. We have developed a sort of relationship, and he seems like he's consciensious, etc. I asked if he could shed any light on this, and told him of the supposed replacement fix ala GX470.

Stay tuned.

 

[Xandarin]

The slip joint, where the driveshaft spline mates with the transmission output shaft spline is dry (unlubed), and binding. It is lubed via a grease fitting. Have the dealer give it shot of grease. I believe the service interval is every second oil change.

Hey so that Slip Joint, is the maintainance the same for a 1996 limited 4runner? And I looked but i cant seem to find any greese fitting. My truck does the same thing. Thanks

 

[naseeb]

There are two grease fittings at the slip joint. You need to look hard, or just feel around for it. They look like little stubs. They may be camoflaged from all the dirt.

I had the same problem with my 98 4wd and lubing every 10K miles or so has solved the problem permenantlly. I remember hearing that thunk sound /jerk feel everytime I came to a stop, now its completely gone.


Most dealer techs cannot find the fittings so you are not alone.
One tech(maybe new on the job) told me that was the first time he heard about even having to lube.

You can email me at
[email protected] if you have any more questions. Let me know how it goes. I may be able to take a few pics when I get a chance if you can't find them. The fiting are on the shaft, so they do spin( change location) You may need to move the car forward/back a bit to see them? That may have been your problem in the first place.

 

[00328]

I have an '05 V8 4X4 with about 6k on it and have been feeling this thump for the last few weeks. I thought it was something with the rear brakes until I ran across this thread.
Guess I need to spend some quality time with my shaft and some lube.
Sounds like the slip joints get the moly and the u-joints get the regular?
If this is so common, why hasn't Toyota addressed this issue?

 

[TeryT]

My local dealer's service mgr. told me that the problem usually goes away after the new drive shaft fix & is warranteed up to 60k miles.

 

[r2ellis]

05 rear thump

I have an 05 V8 sport with 30,000 miles and it is doing the same clunk / thump sound in the rear end. I have carried it to 2 different Toyo dealers for repair and they couldn't duplicate it. After seeing all of the replys on here I am going to print your replys and carry it to the dealer. I thought mine was the only one doing this and I was just about ready to trade it.

 

[r2ellis]

Re: 05 rear thump

FYI, I carried my 05 to Hibbett Toyota in Gallatin TN yesterday and carried copies of this as I posted before. They didn't know what I was talking about but said they would look into it. Well, they did find the grease fitting and it seems to have worked, no bumping the rest of the day. They told me that if I had had it lubed at Toyota that they would have greased the fitting, yea right.

I have an 05 V8 sport with 30,000 miles and it is doing the same clunk / thump sound in the rear end. I have carried it to 2 different Toyo dealers for repair and they couldn't duplicate it. After seeing all of the replys on here I am going to print your replys and carry it to the dealer. I thought mine was the only one doing this and I was just about ready to trade it.

 

[4RunnerRon]

Hi guys, my clunk thunk problem has been fixed, or at least I do not notice it now. The service manager at the dealership told me that he replaced my drive shaft with one that had been machined differently. He said there is no TSB for this fix but the new 4runners have the new drive shaft.

Do any of you guys know about it?

I have an 06 with 600 miles and I noticed tonight that, once I stopped for a red light, I felt a little bump from behind, as if a car behind me tapped the bumper. That wasn't the case, so I'm guessing it may be the same clunking/binding issue discussed here. Perhaps Toyota didn't fix the issue yet?

 

[TeryT]

I have an 06 with 600 miles and I noticed tonight that, once I stopped for a red light, I felt a little bump from behind, as if a car behind me tapped the bumper. That wasn't the case, so I'm guessing it may be the same clunking/binding issue discussed here. Perhaps Toyota didn't fix the issue yet?

This turning into something of a nuisance - actually the biggest one I have with my 4Runner. I will be taking it in soon.

 

[GYoter]

The last time i went into the dealer for my seat movement issue(which they fixed no questions with a new seat rail assembly) i asked them to lube the driveshafts. He looked at me and said "why do you need that." :bash: Duh.... "it klunks" i said, is that normal on these? He then said something like "they all have some sort of issue." Indicating that its not just the 4runners. I dont think they care enough about it to really address the problem.

But that aside, lube the crap out of it about every 5000 with the oil change and it should go away. Mine is starting to do it again and its probably been about 7000 or since i lubed it last. Super easy fix, not worth a trip to the stealer IMO.

 

[TeryT]

The last time i went into the dealer for my seat movement issue(which they fixed no questions with a new seat rail assembly) i asked them to lube the driveshafts. He looked at me and said "why do you need that." :bash: Duh.... "it klunks" i said, is that normal on these? He then said something like "they all have some sort of issue." Indicating that its not just the 4runners. I dont think they care enough about it to really address the problem.

But that aside, lube the crap out of it about every 5000 with the oil change and it should go away. Mine is starting to do it again and its probably been about 7000 or since i lubed it last. Super easy fix, not worth a trip to the stealer IMO.

Yes, I thought so too, but I have "lubed the crap" out of it on a couple occasions - the noise now never goes away (FYI - I have 52k on mine).

 

[00328]

I lubbed mine real good and it helped a little, but still does it.
It IS a nuisance. I now have about 7k on it.
I never noticed it being a 'sound' as much as just being able to 'feel ' it.

 

[GYoter]

Yes, I thought so too, but I have "lubed the crap" out of it on a couple occasions - the noise now never goes away (FYI - I have 52k on mine).

heh, well so far ive found it to work but im only at 19k. Thats not promising that it becomes more persistant with more miles.