I just noticed this today, and need some help to identify what to fix.

I am getting a weird bouncing drag in drive and reverse at about .0025 MPH. I just noticed it today while backing up super slowly. When I mean slow I mean foot on the brake because idle is too fast.

Here are some notes to help diagnose:

1. Only in D and R, will not happen in N while rolling either way.
2. D will idle past it right away, while when I use R, it will hold it still until I press the gas to get past it.
3. No work has been done to the drivetrain, just lubed it about 2k miles ago.
4. This jerking is accompanied by a "clank" when shifting form R to D, but no other gears.
5. There has been no decrease in power or gas mileage.
6. I am pretty sure that it is a brand new problem, becuase we do a lot of idleing around in the driveway to get our 4 cars into a 2 car area.



If any has any input that would be super fantastic and much appreciated!

 

U joints?

 

Update: I just drove it again, and couldn't duplicate it. I did, however, notice that when I am slowing, and the yota is downshifting pretty hard from 2nd to 1st. Not sure if they are related.

 

Update: I finally got her on flat ground to jerk around the drive shaft. It has about 1/2" of play, but not in the u-joint, it is spinning where it goes into the rear diff. What does this mean?

 

The drive shaft will move like that.

I suspect it might be something as simple as needing an ATF change.

 

I thought about flushing it this weekend, but after draining it and seeing the shape of the fluid, I changed my mind. I am under the impression that once it gets dark you should just drain and fill.

I just filled it after draining, and after a little ride around block, it slipped pretty bad in 1st coming off a stop.

 

Did you ever have this problem return?

Had the same problem few months ago when the transmission was cold. The problem only happens in reverse and just as I start to move. Feels like the rear wheels just started to slip, except it sounds wrong.

The fluids has always been changed, u-joints are tight.

I believe the problem is in the transmission, think I have a reverse clutch slip. Guess I can't complain with 188k on a 99 4Runner limited.