Hi guys, my 88 3.0 has just started making a "clunking" noise when putting it in reverse from P. It also makes a clunking noise if I brake hard and come to a full stop. Sometimes it does not do this when braking to a stop but will do it as soon as I take my foot off the brake and start rolling forward.

Any suggestions? I am thinking u-joint but want to hear what others have to say. If it is the u-joint, can you explain the process to change this?

thanks

Mark

 

sounds like a loose or bad u-joint, crawl under there and grab the driveshaft and try to turn it, and mesure the amount of play it has.

another thing that fits your discription happened to my dads ranger, (not sure if its common/possible on toyotas) the bolts for his brake caliper fell out, and the caliper was just hanging on the rotor, so everytime he hit the brake, the caliper would jolt forward and bang into one of the mounts for the dust covor thing. the reason i say "if its possible on a toyota" is maybe if the caliper bolts fell off, the whole caliper would just fall off.

also, with the engine running, put it in neutral and let it sit for a few seconds, and then drop it into "D", if it clunks then, it pretty much eliminates any problems with the calipers

 

mine does the same thing only when braking kinda a hard coming to a complete stop. the second i remove the brake pedal, it goes CLUCK once and its all good. this started after i did the zuk mod and it looks like what people call it "axle wrap" i know when i come to a complete stop, put it in N release brake, than back to drive and take off, i dont get any CLUCK. mine might be different than yours so back to u joints

 

thats odd you get axlewrap that easily? does it have to do with the springs messing with the axle geometry?

good chance to jump on one of these

 

Toyotech, my issue sounds VERY much like yours. I have noticed that if I put it in N as I am coming up to a stop, it does not matter how hard I brake I do not get the CLUNK and I dont get it when I drop it into D and take off?

 

if you put it in neutral while coming to a stop, you dont have any pressure on your driveshaft, so that makes sense.

as youre stopping in drive, youre engine is pushing on your shaft, while youre "brakes are pusing it the oppisite way"

still sounds like a problem within the u joints, slip yokes, and maybe even your pinion? maybe....

 

so I went out to the garage and crawled under the truck. There is definitely play (a little slop) when I turn the drive shaft.

Based on that, does it mean my u-joints are bad? should I replace both at the same time? I have never dropped a drive shaft before.

Is this a difficult job to do? Any special tools needed? If someone has step by step instructions, I would sure appreciate it. I searched for it and could not find.

thanks!

 

4 bolts/nuts at each end...undo one end than the other..
replace both you joints at once.
go to youtube, tons of video's on actually replacing the u joints..
I use a socket and hammer

 

the reason i think no one else is having my issue at stop with the zuk mod is: not to many 1st gen runners are auto. 5 speed was standard back than the auto was an option, usually special order. my dad who is the original owner went all out and got every option possible lol. with a 5speed you come to a stop and your clutched in or in N so it takes care of any preload on the drivetrain imo. the springs i used raised my truck a good amount. took care of the sag and raised it another 2-3 inchs.

i should go check my u joints, never once did i think that could be it.