Drive shaft noise or U joint noise (LEXUS 4/06 TSB page 18) aka Driveshaft thump/bump
- Thread starter rorad
- Start date
AndroT100
Member
TeryT said:
I have the new shaft. I got it early after purchasing my 03 SE 4x4 V8 in Sept. of 03. I now have about 28500 miles on the vehicle.
The clunk is still happening.
You can read my earlier posts in this thread and others about this situation. I investigated it pretty thoroughly and spoke at length with the Toyota engineer that hand delivered my new drive-shaft for installation.
This is a problem they have been having for years and years in a few generations of 4Runners. It does not have any deleterious result except that you have the experience of the clunk.
The Toyota engineer said specifically not to pack the location with greese. Period. It is harmful to do so as the force of the impacts that do occur are then transfered to the casing of the transfer case or transmission...can't remember just now which. He said there have been cases of cracked casings because of over-lubing.
Basically the new shaft provides for a lower frequency of clunking...it does not eliminate it....but the clunking isn't causing any other problems and the parts last for hundreds of thousands of miles.
MrTom
Member
Even though the "Clunking" is said to cause no damage, unless you trade in the vehicle to a Toyota Dealer or sell to a diehard 4Runner person you may have problems selling it in the future. To someone who is not informed of the issue, the "clunk" on test driving will present a big RED FLAG of concern. If I did not know about it from personal experience, I definately would not believe what the owner said and would not purchase it!
AndroT100
Member
MrTom said:
Yes, definitely a good point, but what truly can be done?
Some may be successful in getting their money back from Toyota for their Runners and turning them in through lemon laws...but this will be a small number. Toyota has made improvements but not solved the problem by changing the alloy of the slip-joint so it will not get hung-up as much and clunk. In a court of law, they (Toyota) would would probably show that many vehicles they produced have the problem, that it causes no ill effect while driving or danger and that they are making strides to eliminate it. I don't think Toyota would be forced to buy-back all the vehicles affected. They probably would have to disclose the issue to potential buyers and lose some sales! My own experience is that I tend not to even notice it when it is happening now...obviously there are many that don't notice it.
Please understand that I sypathize with you as we are both experiencing the same problem. I went to great lengths to get my new drive-shaft. I was one of the first to complain and get it done, but I am not worried about what is happening as I understand what it is, nor am I worried about selling the vehicle....so many are being sold all the time and in spite of this issue demand for these vehicles is high.
This all said, I do recommend to everyone that notices this issue that they should do all they can to get it addressed by Toyota as they see fit.
Bluto
New member
Just a FYI. The spider joints will fling out excess grease. It will result in a burning smell when it gets on the exhaust. I change my gear oils and greased everything at the same time. I was a little worried I did something wrong and a diff was burning up. A trip on the creeper confirmed it was just grease on the exhaust.
Cthusker
New member
I have an 05 V8 and have yet to hear that clunk in about 12,000 miles. I'm very AR about my cars and believe I would have noticed something like that immediately. Are people saying that every 4runner has this problem? Doesn't it seem strange that not everyone is reporting this problem? I don't have any anwers but believe me... if something was clunking as described I'd have heard it the first time it happened....AndroT100 said:
FYI (FWIW) I just sold a Jeep that had the exact same problem -- a clunk when stopping (or sometimes starting) from the rear of the drivetrain when warm.
So I gave the Jeep dealership hell and had them tear apart the rear diff twice. First time they said the rear diff side gear had been installed wrong, so they replaced it. But no change. Second time they installed some shims to the side gears. Still no change. They then said the only other potential solution would be to replace the drive shaft itself. After talking to some other Chrysler owners who reported the same problem, even after a new driveshaft, I just decided to live with it.
Some 45K miles later it was still doing it but it had got no worse and I had no other problems. When I evetually sold the car and the buyer noticed the clunk, I simply showed him all the work that had been done to try and cure it, and that reassured him.
So I gave the Jeep dealership hell and had them tear apart the rear diff twice. First time they said the rear diff side gear had been installed wrong, so they replaced it. But no change. Second time they installed some shims to the side gears. Still no change. They then said the only other potential solution would be to replace the drive shaft itself. After talking to some other Chrysler owners who reported the same problem, even after a new driveshaft, I just decided to live with it.
Some 45K miles later it was still doing it but it had got no worse and I had no other problems. When I evetually sold the car and the buyer noticed the clunk, I simply showed him all the work that had been done to try and cure it, and that reassured him.
4RunnerRon
New member
I'm sad to say that my 06 does the driveshaft thunk, too. It's usually on a very light scale, but it's kind of depressing that my brand new vehicle with only 1700 miles began displaying this characteristic so early on. I will definitely be lubing the fittings when I do my first oil change. Other than this annoyance, I'm really happy with my purchase.
Thai
Elite Member
There is a NEW TSB out for the clunk on GX:
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212350
Hopefully, this is the definitive fix.
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212350
Hopefully, this is the definitive fix.
I have this problem as well. Getting worse now with 7400 miles on the clock. I guess I will try and lube it up. It was barely noticeable before and intermittent but now everytime I come to a stop, a few seconds later there is a hard clunk downshift. I love this truck but that is just unacceptable. I wouldn't even think about taking it to the dealer cause they couldn't even get my steering wheel straight when I bought it and it had an off centered steering wheel. These techs are worthless and will tell me "normal behavior".
Thai
Elite Member
Here is the actual TSB for GX470:
http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Lexus/1146812400000_1147676400000_DL001R-06/index.html
You may want to print this out and show it to your service person...and kindly push him to report it to Toyota regional office.
Good luck.
http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Lexus/1146812400000_1147676400000_DL001R-06/index.html
You may want to print this out and show it to your service person...and kindly push him to report it to Toyota regional office.
Good luck.
