Guys,

I have a 99 4runner limited 4x4 with the 3.4 V6 & automatic about 95000 miles on the odometer. I'm hearing two noises that are probably related but I'd like another opinion.

1. I have a dip in the road that I'm forced to traverse kind of like an inverted speed bump. funny thing is its at the bottom of a hill, kind of a valley on the road. So, when I go over it, there is some downward pressure on the suspension. There is a significant clunk under the mid section of the truck. The downward pressure and drop in the road is the only way I can consistently reproduce the clunk. I was thinking transmission mount but it appears to be solid.

2. Also in the mid section of the truck there is a rubbing noise, almost like a belt. It is not coming from the engine. It only occurs when the truck is moving and my foot is on the gas enough to maintain speed. I don't hear it during acceleration or braking. It does not occur if the transmission is in park or neutral.

Is there a bearing or some sort of carrier between the drive shaft & transmission that could cause this?

thanks in advance to your guidance!

Jeff

 

have you greased your driveshaft lately?? there are 6-10 fittings.. i cant remember how many exactly.. you need to grease this every oil change or every other oil change. thats what i was told by another tacoma owner and his has 210k miles with no major issues at all!

 

That is the exact first thing that I thought?

 

most likely a bad u-joint and/or bearing