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

[TechWrench]

Re: New Drive Shaft

Just got back from the dealer where they replaced the drive shaft under warranty. They said the splines were worn. They didn't replace anything else (control arms, bushings, etc.). I asked how the splines got worn. He said from towing & heavy use.

When I asked why the GX470 got the new control arms, the reply was something about how much more people pay for a Lexus.

Driving around this afternoon, I didn't hear a clunk - so I'm cured! :awais: (Actually, time will tell.)

I hope they are right, but IMHO, I kinda doubt their 'worn splines' claim. Do you know if they replaced the drive shaft with the same part number that came out, or a replacement part number?

 

[claydoctor]

Each time I get my e-mail saying there has been a new posting, I hope to open it and see.."Toyota has just issued the following TSB.....Hope springs eternal.

 

[TeryT]

Re: Re: New Drive Shaft

I hope they are right, but IMHO, I kinda doubt their 'worn splines' claim. Do you know if they replaced the drive shaft with the same part number that came out, or a replacement part number?

Does anyone know the original part number (and I'll check)?

 

[jimsi]

Set up an appt with the dealership to fix the clunk

I've shared the Lexus TSB with the Toyota dealership and made an appt for a couple of weeks from now to try and fix the problem. The service rep shared the TSB with the techs and the techs want to see the vehicle but responsed with following comments:

1. The rear suspension control arm in the GX is totally different than in the T4R...Is this true? He commented that the T4Rs do not have these parts in the rear suspension.

2. Could be the transfer case. They have replaced a transfer case that produced a 'clunk' before

3. Could be a U joint

4. Could be the brakes (The rear brakes were checked 2 months ago and reported as fine with 95% left).

5. Or it could be the driveshaft...have to see it first.

I've taken my sales person for a ride and reproduced the problem with him and he seems to have gone to bat for me with the service manager...I'll let you all know what my outcome is.

Question for the group:
Are part numbers 37110-60A40 (Shaft Assembly, Propeller (DLC)) and 04006-09160 (Rear Suspension Control Arm Kit) Toyota or Lexus part numbers?

 

[TeryT]

Re: Set up an appt with the dealership to fix the clunk

I've shared the Lexus TSB with the Toyota dealership and made an appt for a couple of weeks from now to try and fix the problem. The service rep shared the TSB with the techs and the techs want to see the vehicle but responsed with following comments:

1. The rear suspension control arm in the GX is totally different than in the T4R...Is this true? He commented that the T4Rs do not have these parts in the rear suspension.

2. Could be the transfer case. They have replaced a transfer case that produced a 'clunk' before

3. Could be a U joint

4. Could be the brakes (The rear brakes were checked 2 months ago and reported as fine with 95% left).

5. Or it could be the driveshaft...have to see it first.

I've taken my sales person for a ride and reproduced the problem with him and he seems to have gone to bat for me with the service manager...I'll let you all know what my outcome is.

Question for the group:
Are part numbers 37110-60A40 (Shaft Assembly, Propeller (DLC)) and 04006-09160 (Rear Suspension Control Arm Kit) Toyota or Lexus part numbers?

1. Knowledgeable people on here have said the 4Runner & GX470 are the same in that area

2. No

3. No

4. No

5. Yes - My clunk is gone after they replaced the driveshaft, but most everybody's experience says it will come back without the control arm replacement. Also know it is the drive shaft as when I lube it it will go away for a little while (a few hundred miles+) - many, many testimonies on here to that fact!

Part # for my drive shaft replacement was Toyota #3/110-6A480.

 

[TeryT]

UPDATE: Two weeks and about 700 miles since the driveshaft replacement - no clunk yet.

Anybody wanna start a pool as to when it will return?

 

[zig]

Does anyone know if Toyota has changed these parts in production yet? I would think that if they know a positive resolution that they would go ahead and fix it before they get more complaints.

I'm past the warranty and would really like a cheaper option to getting this thing fixed. I don't mind buying aftermarket control arms, but that drive shaft is going to be expensive! :bash:

 

[jimsi]

Re: Set up an appt with the dealership to fix the clunk

Took my T4R in on a Wed and the tech has a call into Toyota Canada to look for repair direction (I'm guessing asking about the GX470 fix) and still no update as of end of day Friday.....any wagers on what the answers going to be? You think a longer delay is better or worse for me? I sure hope it's not just grease the drive shaft and it's at least replace it or even better replace it and the control arms with parts from the GX470TSB

I've shared the Lexus TSB with the Toyota dealership and made an appt for a couple of weeks from now to try and fix the problem. The service rep shared the TSB with the techs and the techs want to see the vehicle but responsed with following comments:

1. The rear suspension control arm in the GX is totally different than in the T4R...Is this true? He commented that the T4Rs do not have these parts in the rear suspension.

2. Could be the transfer case. They have replaced a transfer case that produced a 'clunk' before

3. Could be a U joint

4. Could be the brakes (The rear brakes were checked 2 months ago and reported as fine with 95% left).

5. Or it could be the driveshaft...have to see it first.

I've taken my sales person for a ride and reproduced the problem with him and he seems to have gone to bat for me with the service manager...I'll let you all know what my outcome is.

Question for the group:
Are part numbers 37110-60A40 (Shaft Assembly, Propeller (DLC)) and 04006-09160 (Rear Suspension Control Arm Kit) Toyota or Lexus part numbers?

 

[G.I.G.]

Does anyone know if Toyota has changed these parts in production yet? I would think that if they know a positive resolution that they would go ahead and fix it before they get more complaints.

That has been my question exactly!

This thread started in 2003. I hate to hear about people still having this problem. That's exactly why I don't buy the first model year of any new car/generation but there has been 4 model years without much, if any, resoltion it sounds like.

I have a '07 4R 4x4 V8 coming strait from Japan next week. Should I be expecting this same problem right out of the gate??? I really hope not.

 

[rx900]

That has been my question exactly!

This thread started in 2003. I hate to hear about people still having this problem. That's exactly why I don't buy the first model year of any new car/generation but there has been 4 model years without much, if any, resoltion it sounds like.

I have a '07 4R 4x4 V8 coming strait from Japan next week. Should I be expecting this same problem right out of the gate??? I really hope not.

If your 4wd V8 4R has the new driveshaft design like the new GX470s rolling out of the factory, it SHOULD not have it. I can't believe up to now that most of your guys' Toyota dealers won't follow the Lexus TSB!

 

[jimsi]

My latest update

Toyota Canada has come back with taking apart the driveshaft and trying some type of teflon grease (the dealer has the stuff on order) to fix the problem. I'll let all of you know what the outcome is....not looking that good so far :bash:

 

[G.I.G.]

If your 4wd V8 4R has the new driveshaft design like the new GX470s rolling out of the factory, it SHOULD not have it.

Will there be a way to verify whether I have the new driveshaft design or not, either visually or by VIN #? Have you heard that 4runners are shipping with this new design? I guess I'll just have to find out when I get it.

Anyone have an '07 that is having this problem?

 

[jimsi]

Re: My latest update

Got the drive shaft lubed with teflon grease that the dealer got from FORD. Toyota Canada instructed them to use teflon grease XG-8PTFE. So I googled the grease and this is what I found on a Ford TSB

Bump or Clunk when Starting from a Stop, 4X2 Vehicles:
This may be due the slip yoke on the driveshaft not slipping smoothly. Separate the slip yoke from the driveshaft (index for reassembly) and lube the splines with Motorcraft P/N XG-8 PTFE (Teflon) grease.
TSB 04-26-6
(4X4 vehicle can be fixed in the same manner, although not covered by this TSB)

I guess the folks at Toyota Canada know how to use google too. I'll see what happens over time with this stuff (it comes in a 3 oz tube, so I guess it's not a grease gun application thing)

Toyota Canada has come back with taking apart the driveshaft and trying some type of teflon grease (the dealer has the stuff on order) to fix the problem. I'll let all of you know what the outcome is....not looking that good so far :bash:

 

[rx900]

Will there be a way to verify whether I have the new driveshaft design or not, either visually or by VIN #? Have you heard that 4runners are shipping with this new design? I guess I'll just have to find out when I get it.

Anyone have an '07 that is having this problem?

To be honest, I have no clue. I just PRESUMED because my Lexus dealer told me that they released this new TSB when they "struck gold" when they tried a new driveshaft in the 06s they produced, so I would presume since the 4Runner and GX share the same components they probably are using the new driveshaft in the new 06s, and most likely the 07 4wd V8 4Runners. Don't quote me on this, but I would think this is the most sensible thing they would do.

 

[toto]

For what it's worth, Lexus re-issued this TSB with a new number. It's now DL002-07, issued May 29, 2007. The new TSB supercedes DL001-06.

I don't see any real difference between them. DL002-07 applies to 2003-2007 GX470's - no specific VIN's. Work is covered by the powertrain warranty, which is a bit longer than the bumper-to-bumper warranty.

The solution is still to replace the drive shaft and both upper and lower control arms: P/N 37110-60A40 for the "Shaft Assembly, Propeller (DLC)", and P/N 04006-09160 for the "Rear Suspension Control Arm Kit".

In response to the earlier question about whether these are Toyota or Lexus part numbers, I'll bet that the shaft is for both, but the control arm kit is "Lexus Only" since it's probably specific to the TSB. (Toyota and Lexus share part numbers - they're all Toyota parts. But Toyota will flag some as "Lexus Only", meaning they have no application on any Toyota-branded products. If a part is "Lexus Only", a Toyota dealer can't order it or touch it.) If you can find the 4 part numbers for the 4 control arms, then I would think those would be available as Toyota parts like the shaft.

 

[nc211]

I'm on, great, thanks mods'. What's up Dens! Peek-a-boo...

I'm about to buy an 05' V8 4x4 with 51k miles tomorrow. On the test drive, I noticed the thunk. I'm coming from a 95' LS400, with 133k miles. I'm very DIY type of guy, and rebuilt the entire suspension with Lexus oem on my LS. I do my own oil changes, always drain and fill the tranny fluid with oem toyota during those changes. I'm curious, after reading this thread, if I simply add the lubing of the driveshaft to the oil routine, should i be good to go? The car was clearly taken good car of, garaged, I've crawled all over it from top to bottom. I saw no signs of worn bushings, no signs of abuse. Trailer hitch never used, as no signs of scrapes or scratches in the metal.

It sounds like to lube the shaft, it takes about 30 minutes, correct? No removing of any heat sheilds, or other parts to get to the lubing spots. Basically, while the oil drains, if I lube the shafts, I should be able to "manage" this issue pretty well, until Toyota finally jumps in and fixes this for good.

By the way....rx900 is Jesus over in the Lexus forums.... Some might even call him a ladies man! :girl:

there goes the neighborhood, right Dens....

 

[TeryT]

I'm on, great, thanks mods'. What's up Dens! Peek-a-boo...

I'm about to buy an 05' V8 4x4 with 51k miles tomorrow. On the test drive, I noticed the thunk. I'm coming from a 95' LS400, with 133k miles. I'm very DIY type of guy, and rebuilt the entire suspension with Lexus oem on my LS. I do my own oil changes, always drain and fill the tranny fluid with oem toyota during those changes. I'm curious, after reading this thread, if I simply add the lubing of the driveshaft to the oil routine, should i be good to go? The car was clearly taken good car of, garaged, I've crawled all over it from top to bottom. I saw no signs of worn bushings, no signs of abuse. Trailer hitch never used, as no signs of scrapes or scratches in the metal.

It sounds like to lube the shaft, it takes about 30 minutes, correct? No removing of any heat sheilds, or other parts to get to the lubing spots. Basically, while the oil drains, if I lube the shafts, I should be able to "manage" this issue pretty well, until Toyota finally jumps in and fixes this for good.

By the way....rx900 is Jesus over in the Lexus forums.... Some might even call him a ladies man! :girl:

there goes the neighborhood, right Dens....

Doesn't seem to be as simple as just lubing it. Many have done that diligently (me included) and still have had the clunk. My new replacement drive shaft (done by Toyota - but no control arms) still isn't clunking, with about 3k miles on it. But others who have had it done says the clunk has returned.

 

[nc211]

TeryT, thanks for the reply! This one I'm looking at wasn't that bad, and seemed to go away after about 5 minutes. Carfax show the car was leased for 18 months, and had the 51k miles put on it. It was clearly used as a highway cruiser, as the normal wear and tear parts that go out about that time, are not there yet. I don't think the car was in city driving with a lot of stop and go, which maybe why the thump wasn't very bad. I don't know man, it's a crap shoot at this point. Seems like every car I've looked at in attempts to replace the LS always have something wrong with them. I guess this is the 4runner's glitch. I think I can live with it, just modify my driving habits a little. Funny thing is, I had to replace the driveshaft on my LS too, for vibration issues due to the U joints on the rear section binding up...not cheap! As long as this thump doesn't interfere with the car while in motion, I'm fine with it. My wife actually like it, said it let her know the car was stopped, and reminded her that it was a truck, not a sedan. I just want something quiet, smooth on the road, can take bumps well, and Home Depot friendly.

Quuestion: On the LS, you can drain the tranny pan, which will drain exactly 2 quarts. Then pour in two new quarts, and you're good. Is the 4runner the same? Easy to drain the fluid, and how much usually comes out with the drain method? I ask, because I still have a full box of Toyota Type IV fluid, hoping to use it in the 4runner.

Thanks Tery! :beer:

 

[TeryT]

They went to a sealed tranny in 04, using a "permenant" fluid not compatible with Type IV. You can't even add or drain, but it's supposed to be good for 100k I think.

Where do you live - I'd take the Type IV off your hands!

 

[michael90630]

OK - I am ready to go with greasing my '07 4Runner. I was hoping th '07 4Runner 4WD will not have this issue but unfortunately it does. I have taken it to my local Toyota Dealer without much luck. They basically said they did not find the issue after test driving. And if Toyota Motor Corp. does not think this is an issue - they cannot do any repair or replacement. I followed up with logging a call and case number with Toyota Customer Service.

So I have no other re-course but to try solving the issue myself, even if it is temporary, by greasing it. I have read thru this forum and others in Lexus and there are lots of information. Before I start doing it myself, I have a few questions below -if anyone can help, it will be appeciated:

1) I found 6 nipples (or is it zerts??) on the driveshafts. Do I grease all six with the same type of grease?

2) How much grease is adequate? I have seen posts of 5-6 pumps to 25 pumps or sqeezes. How do I make sure I am not over-filling?

3) Which grease - what type should I use? There are so many - I have recorded Motorcraft PTFE, Amsoil Synthetic (part no.??), Mobil 1 Synthetic, Krytox GPL 217 Pfpe teflon etc.

4) When I checked my driveshafts over the weekend, I noticed some rust. Do I need to clean up the rust before greasing?

5) What type of grease gun should I purchase? I have seen 3,500 PSI and 5,000 PSI. What size of gun is recommended?

Thanks in advance.