What's that noise again?

[noserider]

Guys

I have felt a slight clunk but no noise associated with it occasionaly when I come to a complete stop. It's not during the stop but after I am already completely stopped. It's the sensation that others have described as feeling light a slight tap from behind by another vehicle. Only happens occasionally and is so slight that some might not notice it but I notice everything most of the time. Lots of experience with boats, planes and motorcycles has maybe helped heighten my awareness of impending failures. There is a thread somewhere on this but not sure how to search for this one. I seemed to remember the soloution was to add some grease to the undercarriage somewhere. Does this sound right and if do where do I add the grease and what kind?

Thanks in advance.

Ron

 

[Koz]

Lube the drive shaft.

Koz

 

[noserider]

Lube the drive shaft.

Koz

Thanks Koz

Where exactly do I do that and with what kind of grease. Also if this is so common, why does toyota not get this right the first time. If a little grease is needed does that mean they are not putting in the correct amount to prevent this or what exactly?

 

[Koz]

Thanks Koz

Where exactly do I do that and with what kind of grease. Also if this is so common, why does toyota not get this right the first time. If a little grease is needed does that mean they are not putting in the correct amount to prevent this or what exactly?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=975&highlight=grease+drive+shaft

Koz

 

[00328]

When I am completely stopped at a light I get a sort of thump when I let up on the brakes to take off, almost everytime.
Feels like something to do with the brakes to me, but they work great. Would this be the same thing?

 

[Pennywise]

When I am completely stopped at a light I get a sort of thump when I let up on the brakes to take off, almost everytime.
Feels like something to do with the brakes to me, but they work great. Would this be the same thing?

00328,

Same here. I feel the same thing when I let off the brake. This may sound strange, but it almost feels as if the front wheels need to pick up the slack to the rear wheels. I know it doesn't really make sense, but it seems there is too much play with something related to the transmission, but it doesn't seem to get much worse. This originally happened a while back and I read up about lubing the driveshaft. I did it and (maybe it's just a coincedence), but I don't remembering it happening after that. Within the past month or so, It came back. I wonder if the temperature has something to do with it?

Very interesting. I'm just happy that someone else was able to describe the same problem that I am having. Usually I tend to think it's all in my head.

Tom

 

[00328]

Yeah, I just got done reading the 11 page thread that Koz referenced, sounds like the same thing I got. Just noticed it the last couple of weeks.
Time to crawl underneath the truck with a grease gun. Actually two grease guns, each with a different type of grease.
Hope we get a warm day soon.

 

[Pennywise]

Yeah, I just got done reading the 11 page thread that Koz referenced, sounds like the same thing I got. Just noticed it the last couple of weeks.
Time to crawl underneath the truck with a grease gun. Actually two grease guns, each with a different type of grease.
Hope we get a warm day soon.

Too funny,

I just finished the same documentary on this particular problem as well. I never saw this thread, but there was another similar one that I read about greasing the fittings. There were actual pictures of the fittings for reference, but I can't remember who posted them. Anyhow, it looks that this is a common problem and like I said before, my clunk went away after the lube, and I had about 6 months of no clunk.

Tom

 

[noserider]

Guys

It seems that after reading all the comments on this thread and the other Koz provided a link to that at least 50% of the time the problem has resurfaced after the lube. Not a very encouraging fix

Ron

 

[00328]

No, it's not encouraging at all.
Seems like it's going to be one of those regular maintenance type items. Lube the slip joint at every oil change, PITA

 

[JB.]

No, it's not encouraging at all.
Seems like it's going to be one of those regular maintenance type items. Lube the slip joint at every oil change, PITA

I'd recommend reading Kanab's post again on page 5 of that thread. Worked for me at the time.

I lube underneath every oil change because I'm in the desert a lot. Manual calls for every 15k under normal road driving conditions. Unless you're in dirt a lot or towing, I don't think you need to bother at every oil change. If you do fall under severe service regularly, you just gotta expect extra maintainance.

 

[Boston_Runner]

I am guessing all of you guys who complains about the cluck have the V8, you guys might want to be careful about not over greasing the drive shalf. It can cause more damage than good. The 4runner v8 shares the same drive train as the GX470, and there have been many complains about the cluck on the GX forum. Below is a post by a Lexus master tech which explains the problem:

As a owner of an 05 GX and a Lexus master tech, here is the unoffical word that I have gotten from the tech department---a revised rear driveshaft is still under development---I have worked on GX's 03-05 experiencing the clunk, and yes mine does it too---the problem lies with the slip yoke on the end of the driveshaft (end of the shaft slides in/out on splines)---the clunk comes from the splines that are machined onto the main part of the shaft and the yoke sticks as is slides---has to be at the right height to make it happen---first there was a service bulletin with an updated shaft---still makes noise with new shaft--then there is an un-offical field fix that involved cleaning/smoothing out the splines--50/50 chance if it worked---as of right now, when a GX comes in with a clunk complaint---we submit VIN and customer info to Lexus tech center and they are building a case for correction---still have yet to see new "updated" shaft (2nd time), but i will keep everyone posted--I have access to all Lexus service bulletins if needed (Lexus service bulletins are public type documents---there was some lawsuit that made it illegal to keep service bulletins from the public eye--if you go to a Lexus dealer and ask for a copy of a bulletin, they should give it to you
hope this helps answer some questions
Jason

 

[Bluto]

I am guessing all of you guys who complains about the cluck have the V8, you guys might want to be careful about not over greasing the drive shalf. It can cause more damage than good.

How do you known when there is enough grease? I could see the grease come out of the spiders. I gave the yokes 12-15 pumps and stopped.

I have 2 of these and AMSOIL grease (moly and non-moly):

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/atd-5002.html

The pistol & hose style is almost necessary. I was suprised by the quality. I got them at a friend's shop.

 

[00328]

I am guessing all of you guys who complains about the cluck have the V8, you guys might want to be careful about not over greasing the drive shalf. It can cause more damage than good. The 4runner v8 shares the same drive train as the GX470, and there have been many complains about the cluck on the GX forum.

Are there more specifics about the damage that can occur?
How do you cause damage by over lubrication.?
I would be nice, but I doubt Toyota is going to replace all the drive shafts or slip joints involved once they come up with a real fix. That would be mega $$$$$.
The only option we have is to keep'em lubed.

 

[Boston_Runner]

Sorry, I am not a auto mechanic, I dont know all the specifics. I mention the over greasing issue because I read a post on yota tech. I dont remember if the poster was refering to this drive train lube fitting or not.
As a general practice, one should always try to not over lube. I know that in ball bearings, it can damage the seals and cause contaminations. I am not sure if this lube point have any seals associate with it.
I think by the time Toyota comes out with the re-design drive shaft, it will be just in time to put it on the next generation 4-runners. So I guess you are right, the only option we have is to keep'em lubed.

 

[Koz]

I THINK the problem with over lubing is; the drive shaft is telescopic and by injecting grease from the fitting there is no inner seal on the drive shaft. Therefore you could put an excess of grease into the shaft and cause an imbalance.

Koz

 

[JB.]

The overgreasing potential is only with the slip-yokes. It has to be able to slip back and forth and if it's too full of grease, it can't. I don't know if excess grease is able to find its way out in significant quantaties there, but I gave mine about 15 shots the first time before I found out. Bulldog-yota, who always looks into things very thoroughly, recommends frequent lubing of the slip-yoke with just a few shots rather than many. The spiders just get messy if you give them too much. No apparent damage was caused by the initial 15 shots of lube in the slip-yoke.

 

[Bluto]

The overgreasing potential is only with the slip-yokes. It has to be able to slip back and forth and if it's too full of grease, it can't. I don't know if excess grease is able to find its way out in significant quantaties there

I read you can remove the zerk and bounce the back of the truck to get the excess out. But I don't know how much bouce my 170lbs can do.

I figure after 1 year, and a lift, 15 shots is fine.

 

[00328]

Was 15 shots enough to feed the clunk/thump so it would go away?

 

[Bluto]

My clunk was rare. But everything just feels smoother. I did the grease, read diff, front diff, and transfer case fluids at the same time.

I've washed the clothes I wore, twice, and can't get the gear oil smell out.