***UPDATE***Rear Clunk - Costing a lot more than thought

[tuborg_15]

After watching the video I went out and checked my front drive shaft "slop" and it's not too far off what his showed. I have an '03 V8 AWD, not too worried about the "slop" if it's not good it will show up in future, but no problems now that I can tell.

So you don't get any clunk when you step on gas after releasing breaks? And you have almost similar slop? That's strange. I hope it's only small problem. Don't want to spend a lot of $$$ right now..

 

[rdruss]

So you don't get any clunk when you step on gas after releasing breaks? And you have almost similar slop? That's strange. I hope it's only small problem. Don't want to spend a lot of $$$ right now..

Occasionally, but I always thought it to be rear drive shaft splines needing some lube.

 

[Abush]

So you don't get any clunk when you step on gas after releasing breaks? And you have almost similar slop? That's strange. I hope it's only small problem. Don't want to spend a lot of $$$ right now..

I have the same clunk and the same amount of play. 2004 V8 370k kms.
I thought that much play was normal , hope it's just a small problem. Keep us updated I'm curious now too.

 

[Hunter61]

My '04 V8 has play in the front driveshaft too. Not as much but it's there

 

[tuborg_15]

What a difference

Sorry for the late post. With two little kids and Job I didn't get time till last week to go to the dealership. I had to bear that clunk for this whole time.
So, I went to the dealer, told them my concern and left my 4Runner with them for the day to diagnose.
They called me and told me that my U-Joints needed replacement and also the rear propeller shaft was installed backwards??? I gave a go ahead for the repairs thinking the problem lies with the front driveshaft and differential.But by now I was so sick and tired of hearing that clunk, I was ready to try anything that'll fix it.
The dealership called me again around 3pm saying that it is taking more time than they initially thought and they will deliver the vehicle the next day. The service tech told me that the u-joint flanges had been severely cleaned out. So they had to peen flanges to grip new u-joints better. But they will not charge me for the extra work. Only what they quoted me originally.
So the next day I went to take my vehicle still dreading that clunk.
I sat in my vehicle started it..put it in drive...and slowly started driving..And man o man , I don't remember it driving so smooth. NO CLUNK...I did a stop and go, gear shifts, everything.. No Clunk...and its driving like new now.
Its been two days today and its an awesome feeling to drive it without any clunk. But still at the back of my mind I expect a clunk at every stop. Hopefully It will go away soon... So happy now.

 

[oldboy]

Something to be said for taking it to the experts… cograts!

 

[Unner]

Glad you got it worked out relatively easy and are back up and running. Goes without saying, but don't go back to the mechanic who replaced the U joints before or installed the driveshaft backwards...

 

[AuSeeker]

Sorry for the late post. With two little kids and Job I didn't get time till last week to go to the dealership. I had to bear that clunk for this whole time.
So, I went to the dealer, told them my concern and left my 4Runner with them for the day to diagnose.
They called me and told me that my U-Joints needed replacement and also the rear propeller shaft was installed backwards??? I gave a go ahead for the repairs thinking the problem lies with the front driveshaft and differential.But by now I was so sick and tired of hearing that clunk, I was ready to try anything that'll fix it.
The dealership called me again around 3pm saying that it is taking more time than they initially thought and they will deliver the vehicle the next day. The service tech told me that the u-joint flanges had been severely cleaned out. So they had to peen flanges to grip new u-joints better. But they will not charge me for the extra work. Only what they quoted me originally.
So the next day I went to take my vehicle still dreading that clunk.
I sat in my vehicle started it..put it in drive...and slowly started driving..And man o man , I don't remember it driving so smooth. NO CLUNK...I did a stop and go, gear shifts, everything.. No Clunk...and its driving like new now.
Its been two days today and its an awesome feeling to drive it without any clunk. But still at the back of my mind I expect a clunk at every stop. Hopefully It will go away soon... So happy now.

Glad you got it fixed!
Thanks for the update, I'm sure it will help someone else in the future!

That being said, I would recommend not using the mechanic that told you it was the diff and transfer case to do any work on your vehicle, now and in the future, he apparently doesn't know enough about these Toyota 4Runner to be trusted to find the real problem.

 

[rdruss]

Actually, nice to hear that a dealership accurately diagnosed the problem and fixed it beyond your expectations. That's what they are supposed to do!

 

[tuborg_15]

Glad you got it fixed!
Thanks for the update, I'm sure it will help someone else in the future!

That being said, I would recommend not using the mechanic that told you it was the diff and transfer case to do any work on your vehicle, now and in the future, he apparently doesn't know enough about these Toyota 4Runner to be trusted to find the real problem.

Yes, That's what I was thinking. How come he failed to notice the rear propeller shaft installed backwards?? And the axial play in u-joints too?
He has been a good mechanic till now, but I think I'll leave the big stuff for the experts...