AZSR5

New member- '99 4runner SR5:

Either when just coming to a stop or when letting off the brake to go, I frequently get a "clunk" or "bump" from either the tranny or torque converter. It isn't a noise, rather a physical "lurch". Is this a problem, or just inherent of the Toyota tranny/TC?

Thanks for any info!

HBoss

Hey AZSR5,

Lemme guess: you hear a clunk and see the gearshift move when it clunks. You've tried neutral and other things to try and figure out whether it's brake or tranny-related. Welcome to the club.

This seems to be inherent of the 3rd gens. I was able to get mine to clear up a little, after my regular 6 month chasis lubing & rear brake adjustment. But it doesn't take long for it to come around again. These were the recommendations I received when I asked a year ago, but like I said, it always comes back at some point.

If you brake lightly and come to a very light stop, that's the only time you won't get the clunk. But who drives like that all the time..?

P.S. Welcome to the forums AZSR5 !!!

Al

DH6twinotter

Hey! Welcome to the forum.

It seems like I remember a post a little bit ago about the same problem. If I remember correctly, the problem was something to do with the rear drive shaft.

Well, not sure if that was any help, but have fun.
DH6twinotter

AZSR5

Thanks for the info guys, good to be on the board.

Al, you nailed it. If I come to a gentle stop, it doesn't occur. The bump is "viscous" feeling, meaning I can feel tranny fluid buffering the mechanical lurch. Not driveshaft or brake related for sure, although I know the toyota brakes are known for the pads shifting in the calipers and making a clicking noise (when going from reverse to forward). It seems to have gotten worse after my 60k service which included a tranny fluid change.
Torque converter would be my bet, but I'm not a mechanic...

Hbum

Welcome.

As was said above, make sure your drive shaft slip joint is really lubed.

kctopher

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...ht=drive+shaft


Rob sums it up pretty well here...

AZSR5

Wow, thanks for the great link. I stand corrected.

My last vehicle was a supercharged '01 PreRunner and I did notice the same thing but to a much lesser degree. I will try having the slipjoint lubed and see if that does the trick!

HBoss

I felt the same way at first, but after doing the lubing / rear brake adjust it went away for a bit. If it were torque converter as we believe, it wouldn't explain how the maintenance above would make it go away for a while. That's the confusing part.

I've been living with it since I got the 4Runner and I know others have too. I can confirm I've heard someone from each year of 3rd generation owners have this problem, except 2001's.

It's so common there were articles written on it, indicating that the lubing and rear brake adjust would resolve it.

People have speculated that leaking rear axle seals, leaking gear oil on to the right drum brake may be a cause as well but I just had mine fixed recently & that didn't solve the clunk problem. Some people said they took it to the dealer, no dice.

This is an on-going, questionable issue that would be nice to solve, but quite frankly I've given up on it. I hate to say that, but I'm dry of ideas regarding this one.

Al

AZSR5

Thanks again for the feedback.

OK, is this slipjoint at the transfer case end of the shaft, or the rear diff end? Also, anyone know how much a grease gun w/zerk fitting costs?....

mr_fungle

Glad I found and registered for this forum! Bought my '99 4Runner SR5 in March and really enjoying everything about it - except this annoying "clunking".

Finally some answers to this phenomenon - although not really what I wanted to hear. I was hoping it would be an easy and solid fix rather than a temporary patch. Thanks for the advice, I am going to give it a shot!

MTL_4runner

It is not a patch at all.....just lube the slipjoint on the rear driveshaft and you should see the clunk go away.
This is just a general maintenance item which too few poeple keep up with.

arjan

Hey Mr_fungle,

glad to see you made it over here. There is a lot more info on our generation 4runners over here that on bc4x4. Hope you'll enjoy it here.

mr_fungle

MTL_4runner: Gotcha - it was just reading a few other threads that lead me to believe it will have to be done fairly frequently (every few months) - and I am just being lazy Thanks for the info!

arjan: I thought I recognized the name. Thanks for the welcome - I am sure I will find this place useful too. I frequent nsmb.com forums quite a bit and like the idea of sharing information related to our interestes. Any other mtb freeriders on this board?

mr_fungle

A bit of lube sure does wonders! The "clunking" rarely appears now, and when it does it is only about 1/4 of what it used to be. Thanks for the tips!

rimpainter.com

The one you are concerned with is at the rear diff end.

A good gun will run you about $15. Don't get the cheap ones - TRUST ME. I went through two of them and massive frustration before the guy at Checker finally GAVE me the best one they sold. He felt sorry for me and what I had been through.

If you are ever up near I-17 and Happy Valley Rd swing by and I will do it for you. Just let me know.

ALTN8R

I had the same problem.... but just pumped in a whack of grease on the rear slipjoint and now the clunks are gone.

LIYota31

what exactly do u have to do to grease the rear slip joint?....i have this problem...when im comming to a stop i feel a clunk.....i was really convinced it was the tranny...mine doesnt feel liek its comming form the rear though i could def be mistaken...anyone wanna explain hwo to grease that slip joint thanks...

rimpainter.com

Just put the grease gun head on each zerk fitting and pump the gun until the grease starts to ooze. That's it.

For those of you with Taco's, you may be experiencing axle wrap, which is a clunk when you come to a stop then let off the brake. The axle is settling in that case.

KING

Two-year old thread, guys.

rimpainter.com

I responded to a post from 12-05-02!! I wonder if he still needs help with greasing the drive shaft?