Clunck/kick when stopping-driveshaft?

I have around 38,000 miles on my 4runner. Lately Ive been feeling a quiet “clunk feeling” or kick from the 4runner right as I come to a stop. Not always though.

It seems like this is a common issue related to the insufficiently greased slip yoke. I’m betting it’s the cause of this clunk feeling.

I’ve greased my driveshaft zerks regularly since new, but I’ve been light on the slip yokes. But after reading the warnings, I didnt want them to fill them too much and lock things up or blow out a seal. Anyway, it looks like I have been undergreasing them.

Anyone have any tips on getting the grease just right on the slip yokes?

 

I have this every once in awhile, typically after coming to a hard stop when a light changes unexpectedly. I also have greased everything properly; I think it's inherent in the car.

 

If you hear a rear clunk when making a turn or coming to a stop check that the jack isn't loose in its mount.

 

use the slip yokes Moly-Lithium Grease ...........
EP grease u joints .........

 

Grease your u joints

 

I will be buying some of the moly grease for the slip yoke. I’ve been using the regular grease on it. The manual allows for either on the slip yoke, but the stuff with extra moly makes sense.

 

So I decided to really pump these slide yokes up. Basically, I pumped what must have been 20 pumps with a mini grease gun until I started to see the slide yoke expand/slide out just a tiny bit. That was my indication it was physically pumped full.

Then I removed the zerk to relieve the pressure. It immediately splooged out a few ounces by itself from the pressure of an air pocket. Then I bounced on the bumper a bunch to compress the suspension and the slide yoke and got a few more squirts out. Put the zerk back on.


I did the front slide yoke, but was afraid of pumping in as much because I wasnt sure how much expansion in the yoke I could see. Still pumped a bunch in, and a good amount splooged out when I took the zerk out. So I’m pretty sure it’s not overfilled. I should have cycled it with the engine on from neural to drive a few times to flex the yoke, but I forgot. Should be fine with as much as came out the zerk hole.

I’ll update if I feel any more kick/thump when stopping. Or if I blow out the plugs on the shafts. Lol

 

the grease yokes and u joints are pumping the 5 pumps of the grease gun ..
now you did 20 pumping OH ! take the grease fitting off then put the rag on it ... then run it a couple of miles put the grease fitting in it ..

 

I did remove the zerk. Probably a few ounces of grease came out on its own from the pressure. Then a bit more as I flexed the rear axle up and down (I dont think it would compress more driving based on how hard I was jumping on the bumper). Hopefully I let out enough.

Once it’s dry out, I’ll go under and inspect again. If the plug came off the end, I guess I’ll be removing the driveshaft and figure out how to put a new one on lol. If not, I’ll take the zerks out and go for a drive.

I swear these things must gave been dry from the factory. The polished portion that plunges past the swiper seal has always been bone dry (it even has some surface rust) even though I’ve put 4 or five pumps of grease every 10k miles or so. Is that section supposed to show some signs of grease coating after going in and out of the swiper seal?

 

I remember reading on the other forum that a person with an early model 5th Gen had the rear drive shaft clunk and it was replaced under warranty due to a recall.

I haven’t seen any posts on this forum regarding the recall. Most members here seem to have later models.

On my 97’ Tacoma and my current 5th gen, I typically just put a few squirts in the yokes and squirt grease in the u joints till it starts to ooze out, once a year, maybe. Never had a problem.

 

Just updating the status of the slip yoke on the rear driveshaft. It looks like I filled it up completely, judging from the bit of grease that came out of the swiper seal. I checked the plug on the end, and it’s also fine. Looks like taking the zerk out to get the extra grease out (to avoid hydraulic lock as the yoke slides) was enough to keep the cap from blowing off. Since I did this, no more clunk!

 

Glad you were able to get the noise removed!

 

I am starting to feel this clunk some times when coming to a complete stop from moderate speed.

My 4R has only 700 miles on it…

Wth

 

I was the new time 4runner ... inspected it and the slip yokes/u joints grease it ... every years grease it ...
use the slip yokes Moly-Lithium Grease ...........
EP grease u joints .........
the rotate the tires and the brakes inspecting it .. cleaning the pins and the lube brakes ..
the silicone spray rubber is a great rubber sealer ...

50K miles a great job ... no damage of those parts ...