Driveshaft play? Something feels loose when taking my foot of the brake after a stop

[aleks77]

I tried to search for similar problems but no luck. When I come to a full stop, and then release the brake pedal and just start to accelerate there is a feeling of like a disconnect, like the driveshaft is slightly loose. Toyota mechanic said the shafts need more lube so he lubed them up and it kinda got better but after a couple weeks it's just as bad...I'm not sure how often the driveshafts have to be greased up but the truck only has 90,000 miles. Or maybe this is just how these trucks are? It doesn't feel like a serious problem more of a nausence.

Thanks for any input!

 

[NCrunner2012]

I tried to search for similar problems but no luck. When I come to a full stop, and then release the brake pedal and just start to accelerate there is a feeling of like a disconnect, like the driveshaft is slightly loose. Toyota mechanic said the shafts need more lube so he lubed them up and it kinda got better but after a couple weeks it's just as bad...I'm not sure how often the driveshafts have to be greased up but the truck only has 90,000 miles. Or maybe this is just how these trucks are? It doesn't feel like a serious problem more of a nausence.

Thanks for any input!

My truck does the same thing. I'm assuming that something in the driveshaft is beginning to fail. I haven't had time to look into it any further. Input would be nice!!

 

[that$pit]

throw some more grease in the zerk fittings, im guessing the yota tech didnt get it all the way,

 

[hurt4x]

Mine does the same thing, All of the u-joints and slip joints have been greased and I have no play or noticeable wear in the u-joints. It doesn't bother me that much, but I would like to know the cause

 

[aleks77]

I'll get more grease in there and see what happens. Where does the grease go, like does it slowly seep out over time? Should I be careful not to over grease it?

 

[nghiS4]

4Runners.org - Lubing Your Driveshaft

 

[chuck norris]

Lube the rear driveshaft slip zerk and cycle the suspension to distribute the grease. The clunk is the driveshaft sticking and then releasing.

 

[aleks77]

4Runners.org - Lubing Your Driveshaft

Awesome thanks for the write up, how much grease should I be putting in? Until it starts to seep out?

 

[JWaldz]

Another tip is that 4wd driveshafts are 2 piece. The yoke slips out the end of the driveshaft (slip yoke). The splines on the yoke need to be greased as well. You'll have to disconnect the driveshaft from the rear diff flange and then it will come right out.

 

[Swede]

Have a look at your rear upper and lower control arm bushings as they are often worn out causing the rear end to slop around when you accelerate and brake.

 

[aleks77]

Have a look at your rear upper and lower control arm bushings as they are often worn out causing the rear end to slop around when you accelerate and brake.

Ill check it out, altho with only 90,000 miles these should be in good shape i imagine.

 

[Swede]

Yeah your mileage isn't that high that's true. Normally though, if you have a worn drive shaft, you will get vibrations from it. You also may have excessive backlash in your rear differential as well which can cause that loose feeling.

 

[JohnsD90]

Ill check it out, altho with only 90,000 miles these should be in good shape i imagine.

90k city miles is different than 90k highway, but even so this trucks are on average like 14 years old, I wouldn't be surprised that bushings are going despite low miles.

 

[aleks77]

So im noticing more and more of a problem, now what happens is on a flat surface when i have the truck in Drive and let go of the brakes, it doesnt move, i give it gas slowly and it only starts to move after 1100 RPM...and this happens 50% of the time, other 50% of the time when i have it in Drive and let go of the brakes it just starts rolling....not sure if this is the brakes seizing up or can this be the driveshaft not engaging or something....driving me crazy!

 

[Swede]

Do you have an automatic transmission or manual? If it's an auto then there may be a problem with it. So are you saying that there is a delay in the vehicle from moving forward after you put it in drive? When was the last time you checked your a/t fluid (assuming you have an a/t)?

 

[Skidmarcx]

I have a slight feeling of "disconnect" as well and I believe it to be the rear drums releasing... they are rather large and drums are known to have a delay in comparison to disc brakes

 

[trdrun]

I have the same thing. I don't know if I would attribute the delay to the brake drums though. Has any one tried to re-create this on neutral, say heading downhill starting off a full stop with brake pedal depressed w/ tranny in N?

 

[BrianSD_42]

I tried to search for similar problems but no luck.

OP,

I know you mentioned searching on this topic but I want to share my method of search because I think it would have helped.

Use the link in my sig to do an advanced search. Follow the guidelines and try the key word driveshaft.

Btw the answer is.... Lubricate your Zirk fittings on the driveshaft. At least I think that is your issue. I used to have the same 'driveshaft clunk' and this solved it. It's been several years now and no clunk.

 

[aleks77]

Do you have an automatic transmission or manual? If it's an auto then there may be a problem with it. So are you saying that there is a delay in the vehicle from moving forward after you put it in drive? When was the last time you checked your a/t fluid (assuming you have an a/t)?

Don't think it's the tranny, just changed the fluid to redline synthetic, a Toyota tech did it. The problem is when I'm in drive sitting at a red light, light goes green I release the brakes but the car doesn't move until I give it some gas.

 

[Alphabet]

I have a 05 dbl cab tundra that does the same thing. It usually happens especially when I come off the freeway to stop at a light ,then when I disengage the brake I get a hard "clunk" almost like I got hit from behind. This is actually more common than you think in many Toyotas. My cousin is a master tech for Toyota and he says it's completely normal caused by the driveline "binding". As soon as the brakes are released the drive shaft unwinds so to speak. Lubeing does help but it's more of a temp fix. Although don't neglect to check the trans mounts also.