Hey folks

This is my first post on the board, so here it goes:

I bought a '99 4Runner this summer, and I am loving it. Automatic SR5 all stock and in very good condition. My only beef is a weird clunking noise from the transmission area. It was barely noticeable when we first got it, but is driving me nuts these days. It happens pretty much every time I come to a full stop - either at the moment the car stops, or when I accelerate again. The entire transmission goes "clunk" and the whole car jolts. I can also see the gear shifter and 4x4 shifter jerking as it happens. My mechanic first though it was the transmission mount as he claims he can see the tranny moving front to back. After waiting for 2 months for a new one, it made no difference when replaced (in fact, he said it was almost worse) so I am back on the old one. He is stumped but does not think I am damaging anything else by driving it like this - but it is driving me crazy every time I come to a full stop...

I am no car mechanic by any means, but have a basic understanding of them - so any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Grease all the fittings on the front and rear propellor shafts with lithium moly grease, particularly the splines. Your splines are dry.

Mr. Fungle,

Brian R. is on the right track. My '99 had the *EXACT* same problem. It was dry splines on the propeller shafts. Be sure to lube both front and rear and use enough grease on the splines. They take quite a bit. Be sure not to over do the u-joint bearings, however.

By my count, there are I think 7 grease zerks on the drive line "system" (front and rear). 2 are for the splines others are for the u-joints (mine has the double-cardan u-joint on the rear shaft).

If you are doing this yourself it will take about 15 min. to do the job.

This fixed my problem *INSTANTLY*.

Good luck. Let the forum know if this fixed the problem or not.

Jim B.