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

[moocowjr]

zirk fitting???

i've looked everywhere for the zirk fitting and no luck what so ever. i have a 2wd 03 t4r, is anybody having this problem on a 2wd? i've looked under a 4x4 and the zirk fitting was very easy to find, but i cant seem to find the one on a 2wd. if anybody can help.... thanks.

 

[RickyCRX]

2WD models don't have the grease fittings and my V8 2WD just started doing it in the last thousand or two miles... It does it pretty consistently, now. I have 83.5k miles on it, so it didn't start doing it until after 80k.

Ricky

 

[claydoctor]

My 2006 Sport now has 27,000 miles and the thump while sitting seems to have resolved. Now it has a new wrinkle. Instead of getting the thump 15-20 seconds after coming to a stop at a light, I get the thump when I take my foot off the brake when the light changes.

 

[RickyCRX]

That's EXACTLY when mine does it...when taking your foot off the brakes.

 

[tedcool]

This is the shite...

I've had the problem since new. I've poked around the web for some recommendations, and I found that GM uses teflon grease for the driveshaft splines on duramax diesels. More looking turned up a recommendation from Dupont - they are using Krytox GPL 217 pfpe teflon thickened grease on their Nascar splines. This stuff is pretty amazing, and really expensive. I'm going to try and get the Toyota regional tech rep to use me as a guinea pig to test it out - much cheaper than a new driveshaft. If your feeling wealthy and tired of waiting for Toyota, check out McMaster-Carr
.

 

[cyclops24]

I was also told that Ford/Lincoln/Mercury has a blue lube for this exact issue. Apparently the Ford Broncos had driveshaft binding. They have put this grease on there and it acts as a buffer so it no longer causes a thump that can be felt. I was quoted about $65 to do the job. Might be worth a try for cost.

 

[rx900]

Re: This is the shite...

I've had the problem since new. I've poked around the web for some recommendations, and I found that GM uses teflon grease for the driveshaft splines on duramax diesels. More looking turned up a recommendation from Dupont - they are using Krytox GPL 217 pfpe teflon thickened grease on their Nascar splines. This stuff is pretty amazing, and really expensive. I'm going to try and get the Toyota regional tech rep to use me as a guinea pig to test it out - much cheaper than a new driveshaft. If your feeling wealthy and tired of waiting for Toyota, check out McMaster-Carr
.

Sad to say, I don't think it works. I've had mine coated with Teflon before this final driveshaft, and only the NEW UPDATED driveshaft coated with TEFLON are the effective ones. Coating it will give you about 2-4k miles of enjoyment the most.

 

[moocowjr]

well..... i called my local dealer and since i only have 51k on the truck, they said to bring it in and they would replace it under warranty. so i hope this fixes the problem.
i also talked to a friend of mine who is a toyota tech and he said that it was a very common concern, specially in so cal due to the weather changes. he said the dealer pulled a t4r from the new car lot and removed the driveshaft. they found the spline almost dry... hardly any lube. so he said to fix the problem, they use wd40, triflow or anything to remove rust and a wire brush to clean the splines and pack the transmission end with drum brake grease or anything thick and high temp. it usually fixes it 80% of the time. the other 20% is replacing the shaft.

 

[greasefingers]

My 2003 has been doing this since the first day off the lot. I squeeze in 3 to 4 pumps Mobil synthetic grease (the red stuff) every 15,000 miles, in each of the 6 Zerks. It has NO made difference. I have 72,000 miles on her now. I threw-in the towel. I realize that this will never change and I can live with it. I do not believe that it is detrimental in any way. I pretend it is normal and will not think about it anymore.

After the first month I pumped in 10 shots for the slip-yoke because of the thumper-like driveline

 

[Border411]

Just to let you all know I greased the fittings on my 4wd the first time I changed my own oil with Mobil One Synthetic Grease. It has been about 15k miles, and I have not had any of the clunking issues again!

Be advised: It took A LOT of grease to fill up the shafts! I did the front until i saw the shaft actually being forced out due to the pressure of the grease in there, and the rear I did until my arms got tired!

 

[toybox]

Be advised: It took A LOT of grease to fill up the shafts! I did the front until i saw the shaft actually being forced out due to the pressure of the grease in there, and the rear I did until my arms got tired!

I thought there was some kind of warning about overfilling the slip yokes. I think the consensus was that 5 or 6 pumps should be enough without overfilling. That pressure you saw forcing the shaft sounds like what the warning was about IIRC.

 

[tedcool]

Good info!

Sad to say, I don't think it works. I've had mine coated with Teflon before this final driveshaft, and only the NEW UPDATED driveshaft coated with TEFLON are the effective ones. Coating it will give you about 2-4k miles of enjoyment the most.

What kind of Teflon coating or grease did you try? I've seen tests of a great many greases, and Krytox really is special.

I wasn't aware that the new driveshaft has a factory Teflon coating. It seem like we are all heading in the same direction regarding the fix...

 

[oua]

dealer pulled a t4r from the new car lot and removed the driveshaft. they found the spline almost dry... hardly any lube.

That is probably the biggest reason why these shaft are so problematic. I said this before and I will say it again. I only wish I new about this grease the shaft maintaince begining day 1.

so he said to fix the problem, they use wd40, triflow or anything to remove rust and a wire brush to clean the splines and pack the transmission end with drum brake grease or anything thick and high temp. it usually fixes it 80% of the time. the other 20% is replacing the shaft.

Those 20% that didn't make it - probably wore beyond the point of no return.

 

[tedcool]

Ford Grease - Shouldn't cause too many problems...

Might be worth a try - $7.00 for 3 oz tube...

Product......Motorcraft PTFE Lubricant
PN.............D2AZ-19590-A
Spec..........ESB-M1C111-A
Size...........1-lb.

or

Product......Motorcraft PTFE Lubricant
PN.............XG-8
Spec..........ESB-M1C111-B
Size...........3-oz.

Features
o Good general-purpose grease
o Tough Teflon coating provides nonstick surface
o For use with driveshaft slip yokes; especially where grunt-type noise
is experienced
o Useful in eliminating squeaks between plastic parts

 

[greasefingers]

Re: Good info!

What kind of Teflon coating or grease did you try? I've seen tests of a great many greases, and Krytox really is special....

Krytox is very special. You could not afford Krytox. I use it in a chemical lab. It

 

[a77boy]

My '97 4runner did this for years, I never thought much of it being that a buddy with the same year and specs had the same problem. My gear shifter would also move. I did ultimately pump a bunch of grease into the fittings and it subsided. And yes,, you have to keep pumping till you see the grease squirt out of the spline and u joints,, all will be good :

 

[rx900]

Re: Good info!

What kind of Teflon coating or grease did you try? I've seen tests of a great many greases, and Krytox really is special.

I wasn't aware that the new driveshaft has a factory Teflon coating. It seem like we are all heading in the same direction regarding the fix...

good question, idk. the dealer was the one that kept greasing my GX. they greased it up like 3 times, kept coming back, gave up for a year, new shaft came out and had it done for the last time.

Yes the new TSB (which seems to be slowly fading away) consists of a new Teflon coated driveshaft, and the other stuffs (control arms, etc.)

But since Toyota won't use the TSB on the 4Runners, I'd highly recommend greasing. If I had a V8 4wd 4runner, I'd be doing the same, and would be expecting it right away.

 

[pilotman]

I am really not happy.

I have a 2007 SR5 4WD with 3k miles on it, babied during break-in.

Now when I accelerate from a moderate stop (anything other than a grandma type stop) I get the rear end clunk.

I thought this was fixed a while ago?
:wtf:

What should I do?

Has anyone actually gotten a Toyota dealer to use the Lexus TSB?

This is my first Toyota, bought this for reliability only. Really not happy at all. I have been a Honda man up to this point, and BMW and have not had this problem even in a domestic....

Does this affect reliability, or is it just a noise? I can't imagine it doesn't affect long term reliability, it doesn't sound good...

 

[Thai]

I do not think that anyone has gotten their Toyota dealership to do the Lexus TSB. The parts for the Lexus TSB is also in short supply...thus, 4runner owners are not priority at this time. IMHO, there is no hope of Toyota ever fixing this problem for 4runner owners.

The rear end clunk, so far, has NOT affected reliability or durability. It is an annoyance more than anything. I would grease up your driveshaft every oil change and learn to live with it.

If it bothers you a lot, then i would consider BUYING the parts in the Lexus TSB and have your dealer/mechanic do the swap. Again, it's gonna be hard for you to find the parts but it's worth a try.

Good luck.

 

[pilotman]

Thanks for your input.

Question 1: Are the GX470 TSB parts directly compatible with the 4Runner? (I thought the parts are exactly the same).

Question 2: Any idea how much the parts will cost? (Is it a new driveshaft and something else?)

Question 3: Isn't anyone surprised that a 2007 model that I bought just a few months ago doesn't have the new driveshaft? I thought this was fixed at the factory now, but maybe only for Lexus vehicles?

Thanks again.