Thump / clunk drive shaft issue

F

FooJet

New member
I recently purchased a Toyota certified 08 4Runner. I'm experiencing the "thump /clunk" feeling when braking and occasional when I let go of the brake just before stepping on the accerator. I'm taking to the dealship to have it addressed hopefully under warranty.

Do anyone have any addition information that I may use to strengthen my case as to why this issue should be addressed under warranty? I'm looking to have a permanent solution performed by haing the drive shaft replaced, and not a temporary solution, greasing the drive shaft.
 
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This is a known issue on all 4runners, use the search for more info. Its annoying but the solution is to lube the shaft...its a routine mx item so good luck getting the dealer to replace something that is working fine. Lubing it every 5-10k keeps the thumps to essentially zero.
 
Synister said:
This is a known issue on all 4runners, use the search for more info. Its annoying but the solution is to lube the shaft...its a routine mx item so good luck getting the dealer to replace something that is working fine. Lubing it every 5-10k keeps the thumps to essentially zero.
Click to expand...

I've searched the forum which is how I found the solution. Have you experienced the same issue? If so how has lubing helped?
 
We all experience the thump! Lubing the slip-yoke on the rear driveshaft at regular intervals seems to helps. My thump has been returning more and more frequently so I'm going to take the driveshaft out, pull it apart, and completely degrease/re-lube everything. I'm thinking that will help a lot.
 
Yeah, my vehicle starts to thump pretty consistently after hard braking around the 7k mi mark so I usually lube it in conjunction with oil changes / tire rotations very 5k. What works for me is to get the weight off the rear axle so the suspension is fully extended. This allows the slip yoke to fully extend. It usually takes a good dozen or more pumps of some quality moly grease (type is specified in the manual) until the slip yoke just begins to move. Lower the vehicle back down and your good to go. A little grease will seep out under the load but at least this way all the threads see some grease. Doozi's method works great too but is more involved but will likely give a slightly longer maintenance interval. Good luck.
 
Toyota fixed my clunk via the TSB replacement of driveshaft and there's no more clunk.

Wow, Perseverance Furthers says the I Ching and lucky for me that the service manager and I are good friends.

Took about forty five minutes including the factory accelerator pedal 'fix' and woila...

Six years of dealing with Toyota re: the dreaded clunk issue and...

It's gone!

Zero cost too! :guitar2:
 
This has been one mystery to me, I have the factory drive shaft from 2003 and no issues, I lube my drive shaft every 10-15k or if i think about it after it's been along time.

I did once pull my rear drive shaft from the diff and just slid it apart, i forgot about the fact that it's a balanced shaft and didn't align it when i re installed it just lined up the splines. It made a bunch of noise at that point which made me remember oh yeah those things are aligned and balanced..

To make sure its aligned you just ensure that both ujoint ends of the shaft are mirrored images.. as in the arm's of the u-joints on the shaft side of the Universal joint connections are parallel to each other. as well the u-joint arms of the pinion side of the universal joint connections are parallel to each other as well. the pinion sides will be vertical and the shaft sides will be horizontal or vise versa. hope that made since.

still find it odd though that not everyone experiences this issue
 
FooJet said:
I recently purchased a Toyota certified 08 4Runner. I'm experiencing the "thump /clunk" feeling when braking and occasional when I let go of the brake just before stepping on the accerator. I'm taking to the dealship to have it addressed hopefully under warranty.

Do anyone have any addition information that I may use to strengthen my case as to why this issue should be addressed under warranty? I'm looking to have a permanent solution performed by haing the drive shaft replaced, and not a temporary solution, greasing the drive shaft.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this tends to happen with most 4runners. It happens with my '04 SR5 and my mother's 04 Limited. Lube the shaft (I've always wanted to have to say this ;P) and you should be good.
 
I thought this clunk was just a thing after 130,000 miles. I always grease my shafts but this time I pumped a tun in the slip yokes. No more clunk! SWEET DEAL
 
I originally thought (and posted) about this issue believing it was my transmission. However, after reading these posts, I noticed I have the same issue. Is there any particular lube recommended? I am not too mechanically inclined so any help is appreciated. Thank you.
 
Climb14er said:
Toyota fixed my clunk via the TSB replacement of driveshaft and there's no more clunk.

Wow, Perseverance Furthers says the I Ching and lucky for me that the service manager and I are good friends.

Took about forty five minutes including the factory accelerator pedal 'fix' and woila...

Six years of dealing with Toyota re: the dreaded clunk issue and...

It's gone!

Zero cost too! :guitar2:
Click to expand...

I officially hate you (not really... :tongue1:)... I have been trying to find a way to get my extended warranty to honor the TSB even though its technically out of "factory warranty" according to the TSB (yet the TSB came out last summer and pretty much blatantly ruled out half the 4th gens without even bothering to extend the warranty period since it expired in like '08 according to the TSB :mad2:)
 
BlackWorksInc said:
I officially hate you (not really... :tongue1:)... I have been trying to find a way to get my extended warranty to honor the TSB even though its technically out of "factory warranty" according to the TSB (yet the TSB came out last summer and pretty much blatantly ruled out half the 4th gens without even bothering to extend the warranty period since it expired in like '08 according to the TSB :mad2:)
Click to expand...

I don't know the situation you have with your clunk but from early on, the service manager and local/regional Toyota reps have known about the issue in general and my experience. I never bugged the service manager and we did on occasion talk about what was going on.

My assumption was that Toyota covered the 'fix' under my extended warranty with the TSB adding additional 'credence' to the factory covering the fix. I never asked the manager who was covering what.

The clunk is still 'quiet' but I need to say... I didn't authorize the technician to cut my accelerator pedal to satisfy Toyota's lawyers! They freakin cut it anyway while it was in for the replacement of the driveshaft.

After they cut the pedal, I told the service manager that the service advisor should have 'advised' me re: to sign a waiver and leave the pedal alone. They never did that!

The service manager then immediately ordered me a new replacement for the butchered accelerator pedal. I hate the replacement as well and I told 'em that I want an original accelerator pedal installed.

They're looking (I won't hold my breath) for an original accelerator pedal when one of the 4th gen 4Runners are being traded in and need to have the pedal replaced anyway. Again, I'm not holding my breath.

So, yes... I got the clunk fixed and I believe you might be able to as well.

And definitely, DO NOT have them butcher your accelerator pedal to satisfy the lawyers when there wasn't a problem to begin with.
 
Actual TSB

BlackWorksInc said:
I officially hate you (not really... :tongue1:)... I have been trying to find a way to get my extended warranty to honor the TSB even though its technically out of "factory warranty" according to the TSB (yet the TSB came out last summer and pretty much blatantly ruled out half the 4th gens without even bothering to extend the warranty period since it expired in like '08 according to the TSB :mad2:)
Click to expand...

Having some difficulty locating the actual TSB with all the details. Could you help me out?
 
New member...please help

Not mechanically inclined so bear with me.

Took 2001 4runner 2 wheel drive to reputable shop to repair the rear seal of the drivetrain. While being repaired, noticed extreme wear to the front u joints ( ready to break)

Here is the kicker... They could not get the driveshaft disconnected from the transmission ( tried even prying it off).

Why cannot the driveshaft be removed?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Scott
 
Sorry to revive an old thread but I can't seem to find an answer to this:

Will the clunking cause other damage in the car, or is it okay to live with long term?
I just purchased a 2003 v8 sport with 150,000 miles and the previous owner says he lubed the driveshaft religiously, yet a significant clunk persists during full stops. I will of course keep lubing the slip joint, but am I doing any further damage by driving it as is? Should I go ahead and get a new driveshaft? I don't want to have to get new axle seals or a rear end later on.. but if it doesn't hurt anything then I'm fine with living with it.

(Btw it has a 3" spacer lift with some Bilsteins, so that could exacerbate the clunk..?

Thank you!!
 
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