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

[pmecucci]

Banging during stop, or acceleration

Just bought a 2007 4runner Limited 4x4 V8. Noticed about after 2500 miles the clunking noise started when coming to a stop or just after letting off the break to accelerate. VERY Annoying. Took it to the dealer for its first 5,000 mile change, thinking it was a break issue, I asked them about it. A tech drove the car with me in it, and told me thats normal, and its just the way the transmission works. After I left the dealer, I came to my first stop light, made a comlete stop, then "clunk" felt like the transmission finally dropped into 1st gear. Any advice as to what I can do? I see lubing, using other parts etc... is there someone to take it to in San Diego area that knows about this, and will help?

Thanks all,
Paul

 

[TeryT]

UPDATE: 8k miles on the new drive shaft the dealer replaced at 70k and still no clunck! I gave it a couple shots of Mobil 1 synthetic grease at the last oil change. :driving:

 

[pmecucci]

Thanks for the heads up, just called the Toyota Customer hotline thing, and got my case number. supposed to hear from the district service manager in a couple of days. There is a service bulletin according to the woman I spoke with. She said, there were enough complaints to put out a bulletin, but not enough to do a recall. We'll see what the district service manager says. I just bought the thing heck a few months ago. Lets see how much they care about their customers. If you guys havnen't called yet and have this issue, CALL!

Toyota Customer Experience Center 800-331

 

[TeryT]

We've been bangin' the drum for some time (and yes, there is a TSB), but even though about eveyone complains, I don't think many call in to actually do something about it!:awais: :bash: :dammit:

 

[claydoctor]

Talked to a service manager today on a Camry issue and while I had him on the phone, told him I was really getting weary of the intermittent getting bumped- in- the ass situation at 43K on my 4-Runner. Mine has had the shaft lubed by them about 3 times. He said only thing to do is call that 800 number as w/o instructions from Toyota their hands are tied. This is the 2nd or 3rd service manager I have talked to who denies any knowledge of the Lexus TSB. They all seem surprised. What surprises me is that some lawyer with a 4-Runner hasn't cleaned their clock with a class action suit. Poster above says there is now a service bulletin??? What does it say?

 

[pmecucci]

Good question, I called back and am having them fax me a copy of the bulletin. They called it a "Driveshaft Assembly Replacement" bulletin. They couldn't e-mail it, so I had it faxed to my office, when I get it, if it relates to this topic, I'll post it here.

Paul

 

[centralparunner]

I just called and they did not know about any TSB's and of course, suggested I work with the dealer...yah.

I am looking forward to the bulletin, or any information to get this moving along.

With the air suspension, it not only binds and releases at the lights, but also when making any adjustment to the height!

It is a shame, as I like the car otherwise but am very disappointed with my first Toyota experience.

 

[TeryT]

I'm sorry, I mispoke. The TSB is for the Lexus. My dealership replaced the driveshaft, after seeing the Lexus TSB. No clunks in about 8,500 miles!

See here for Lexus GX 470 TSB. It's the 3rd message down.

If your dealership has any questions, tell them to call Jon Jones, service mgr. at Right Toyota in Scottsdale AZ. I can give you more info if needed.

 

[claydoctor]

I'm sorry, I mispoke. The TSB is for the Lexus. My dealership replaced the driveshaft, after seeing the Lexus TSB. No clunks in about 8,500 miles!

See here for Lexus GX 470 TSB. It's the 3rd message down.

If your dealership has any questions, tell them to call Jon Jones, service mgr. at Right Toyota in Scottsdale AZ. I can give you more info if needed.

Gee, you had our hopes up there for awhile.

 

[pmecucci]

Hey guys, attached is the TSB that the woman I spoke with was referring to. I don't think it has anything to do with what we're expiriencing. I can't wait to hear from the district person.

I talked to my dealership today. Toyota of El Cajon (san diego) and she said "we really care about you and want to make sure this gets fixed" we'll see about that.

hope to hear from someone tomorrow.

Paul

 

[TeryT]

Hey guys, attached is the TSB that the woman I spoke with was referring to. I don't think it has anything to do with what we're expiriencing. I can't wait to hear from the district person.

I talked to my dealership today. Toyota of El Cajon (san diego) and she said "we really care about you and want to make sure this gets fixed" we'll see about that.

hope to hear from someone tomorrow.

Paul

Take them the Lexus TSB linked above, and also have them contact my dealership's service manager (also as mentioned above). Tell them my dealership already went through regional regarding this, and therefore replaced the shaft. PM me if you need any more info.

 

[multirc]

Same problem 2007 SR5 4WD

Hello, I have been experiencing the same exact problem since I drove the truck off the lot with only 12 miles on it. I took it to the service center about a month after to address another problem and told them about the "clunck". When I picked up the truck, they told me that they checked it and the transmission and all were operating normal. Well, to me that was wierd. I bought the story since this is my first truck and thus far, I'm like "no, this does NOT feel right.

Thanks to you all for posting this, I feel better knowing that it is not a serious issue and that everybody is experiencing the same problem. I would at least think that after 2003,2004,2005,2006 they would have rectified the problem.

I would like to know if all 2007's have the same problem? I did a search and came up with the older generations.

Thanks for any input.

Regards,

Ron.

 

[pmecucci]

same problem

I'm meeting with the district service guy tomorrow morning at 10:00am to find out what they'll do about it, or not. Will post and let you guys know what they say. Mine is a 2007 also.

 

[michael90630]

multirc

I also have a 2007 SR5 V6 4x4.

The dealer did exactly the same thing when I told them about the issue. Suppsedly they test drove it for 9 miles and the technician/mechanic found everthing to be normal. So nothing was done.

I came back and called Toyota Customer service with the same complain and got a case number. When they said this is normal behavior, I requested that they send me "in writing" that this is normal behavior for this model year and make of Toyota vehicle. In response to this request they seemed to back-paddle and said well if I sent them the whole problem in writing, they will respond in writing also. Since than I have not yet sent the written complain yet back but intend to do so very soon.

In the meantime I went back to the same Stearlership and asked that they lube the drive-shafts. It's been more than a week since it was lubed and what I have noticed is the "clunk" does happen in every few stops but it is not as pronounced i.e. milder than it used to be. I did make sure that the drive shafts were lubed by checking all of them - front and rear immediately after I picked up my truck.

 

[pmecucci]

Dealership Visit

Ok guys, had my

 

[claydoctor]

I agree class action suit is the only way to go. Surprised that enterprising lawyer-4-Runner owner hasn't done anything about filing one. Another tactic may be for everyone of us to write letters to Consumer Reports and J. D. Power and copy the letters to Toyota. Lubing shaft is worthless. Last time they did mine, I got the bump the same afternoon.

 

[TeryT]

Good post about a very frustrating issue. At least they were honest about it.

I am just waiting for the new shaft they put on mine to start clunking again. It has been about 8,000 miles now. I lubed it at the 5k mark, so we'll see.

The funny thing about mine was they said it had worn due to towing a travel trailer . . . I guess they thought they had to come up with some reason.

 

[russr]

i work for a dodge / jeep dealer and we had the same problem on the wj/grand cherokee and the xj / cherokee what we had to do at first was lube lube lube and then they replaced shafts still came back then we foamed fill the really bad ones kinda like the stuff you use to seal around your windows at home.
that worked but you had to send the shaft out to be rebalanced
and the final thing that worked was chrysler came out with a new driveshaft that had a big weight attached almost looked like a crank balancer... but it worked. it absorbed the shock .. lots of times it had to do with the ride hight and how you stopped
but the big weighted shaft fixed the concerns.. well it really just covered it up but customers were happy they didnt feel anything and nothing got hurt.. help this helps you all out

 

[KGB4187]

I told the dealer about the noise and all when I was getting an oil change, he said the rear U-joint cant be accessed. Apparently its normal. They also didnt air up the tires. Im going back tomorrow because the MAINT light is on.

 

[TeryT]

I told the dealer about the noise and all when I was getting an oil change, he said the rear U-joint cant be accessed. Apparently its normal. They also didnt air up the tires. Im going back tomorrow because the MAINT light is on.

What's he talking about - "the rear U-joint can't be accessed?" Did they go with a no-zerk settup on the newest 4Runner? First I've heard about this!

Well at least he knows it's something to do with the driveline! Maybe dealers' management are finally becoming aware of a problem most everyone else has known about for many years - even apart from the 4th gen 4R.