New Tacoma Dlb-Cab: Clunks into gear!!

[Copper]

Hello all!

I am new around here. I have a new 2002 Toyota Dbl-Cab SR5 Pre-Runner. I love the truck except every time you come to a stop, the tranny clunks. Also, when you start to move forward again, the tranny clunks again. Ever tow something an when you stop you feel the trailer catching up with you in a clunk? Feels and SOUNDS just like that.

So me being the good customer that I am I called up for a service check. The service dept guy told me that this is normal on all Tacoma DBL cabs, Tundras, Sequias, etc. That is is the two drive shafts separating when I move forward, and pushing together when I come to a stop (esp. a hard stop). They checked it out and also re-aligned the truck since my steering was WAY off and the steering wheel was not even centered.

Now that I have been driving the truck for about 1700 miles, the clunk is getting much worse. This can't be normal!!!

Anyone else have a idea about this problem? I love the truck but this problem is driving me crazy. Every stop and start I cringe at the expected CLUNK. It shakes the whole truck.


Sean

[BryanCCFSHR]

Bud,
You are experiencing axle wrap. It is a problem with all automatic Taco's. The best way to solve the problem is with an an ADD a leaf to lift the rear and stiffen it. That seems to resolve the problem, you would probably want to lift the front too so you are not out of level.
TOY dealers will tell you everything is normal, but the two piece drivesahft explanation has to be the most retarded response from a dealer I have heard yet.

[Copper]

Hi Bryan

Can you give me some more details about this? What are the part numbers for the products I need.... seems silly that I just bought this truck and that I have to spend more $$ on it just to get it to work properly.

Thanks!

Sean

[BryanCCFSHR]

I don't know a part # off hand but there are several options. Unfortunately this is aproblem with Tacos do to them trying to keep the rear soft for street comfort. I am going to refer you to a place that has more people to answer your question and get the parts #'s. It is best to do a lot of research before you do any modifications from stock. The AAL(add a leaf) Is a simple way to stiffen up the rear(gives from 1.5 to 3 inches of rear lift or compensates for a camper or regular towing) It is a leaf you install into your existing leaf packs to increase the spring rate. summitracing.com is a good place to purchase this part. Oh, also go to ttora.com to get more answers.

[TrdFlip]

i get that on my truck and i have a 00 prerunner ext cab, mine isnt so bad and i dont think its getting any worst. i guess i am used to it and i have 100k mile warranty so im really not worried about it....

[BOB ROSEVEAR]

I HAVE A 2001 TACO DOUBLE CAB AN I HAVE NEVER HEARD A CLUNK IN THE DRIVETRAIN......I TOW A TRAVEL TRAILER AND IT HAS BEEN UP IN THE SAN JUANS AND OVER TO MOAB SO IT HAS BEEN AROUND.......ALSO HAVE NEVER HEARD TI MENTIONED IN THE MANY 4WD MAGS I RECIEVE MONTHLY........I WILL ASK MY FRIEND AT TOYOTA AND SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY........ BOB IN AZ

[S Brake]

Originally posted by BOB ROSEVEAR
I HAVE A 2001 TACO DOUBLE CAB AN I HAVE NEVER HEARD A CLUNK IN THE DRIVETRAIN......I TOW A TRAVEL TRAILER AND IT HAS BEEN UP IN THE SAN JUANS AND OVER TO MOAB SO IT HAS BEEN AROUND.......ALSO HAVE NEVER HEARD TI MENTIONED IN THE MANY 4WD MAGS I RECIEVE MONTHLY........I WILL ASK MY FRIEND AT TOYOTA AND SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY........ BOB IN AZ

[AirMan8390]

I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab and have already put 12,000 miles on it and i have never heard any clanking problem. If it is getting worser I would ask to drive another Toyota of the same year on a lot somewhere and compare the two, then if necessary take it back and question the clanking sound again. Good Luck

[03 TRD Tac]

The TRD package offers a locking rear diffrential, could it be that the non-TRD Tac's are having a diffrential problem rather than it being a tranny problem?

[husky1]

I had (notice I say had) the same problem with my 03 DoublCab V6. I work at an Audi dealership in the parts department and have access to plenty of technicians. After being told by my local Toyota dealership that this problem is normal amongst Tacomas and Tundras I decided to try to locate the problem myself. What I found after talking to many Tacoma owners and the dealerships here is that the problem is common, but it is repairable. Here's what we found when we put the truck on the lift. I had a technician get inside the truck and we lifted it off the ground. While underneath, we had him get it up to speed and stand on the brakes. From underneath its obvious what the thump is. You can clearly see the slip yoke move in and then hang-up(bind) on the way out after the brakes are let off. Because my truck only had 5000 miles on it and was still under warranty I took it back to the dealer for the fix. All that was done was to drop the shaft and lube the slip-joint with some good quality grease. The technician who was doing the work assured me this would not solve the problem but did it anyway to keep me happy. Oddly enough, when he pulled it apart he found what little grease was in there had dried up. He cleaned and lubed it up and we took it for a drive. Hey! no more clunk! I've put a couple thousand miles on the truck since then and have not had a problem since. In closing let me say-The transmission clunk is normal in the Tacomas and Tundras but dont think you have to live with it, as it is repairable. Since my repair I have also found similar posts at www.tundrasolutions.com., just search for transmission clunk. Hope this helps!

[Melt]

my friends 4 runner does that shit ... dealer has been complete assholes about helping him out.

[03 TRD Tac]

Originally posted by husky1
I had (notice I say had) the same problem with my 03 DoublCab V6. I work at an Audi dealership in the parts department and have access to plenty of technicians. After being told by my local Toyota dealership that this problem is normal amongst Tacomas and Tundras I decided to try to locate the problem myself. What I found after talking to many Tacoma owners and the dealerships here is that the problem is common, but it is repairable. Here's what we found when we put the truck on the lift. I had a technician get inside the truck and we lifted it off the ground. While underneath, we had him get it up to speed and stand on the brakes. From underneath its obvious what the thump is. You can clearly see the slip yoke move in and then hang-up(bind) on the way out after the brakes are let off. Because my truck only had 5000 miles on it and was still under warranty I took it back to the dealer for the fix. All that was done was to drop the shaft and lube the slip-joint with some good quality grease. The technician who was doing the work assured me this would not solve the problem but did it anyway to keep me happy. Oddly enough, when he pulled it apart he found what little grease was in there had dried up. He cleaned and lubed it up and we took it for a drive. Hey! no more clunk! I've put a couple thousand miles on the truck since then and have not had a problem since. In closing let me say-The transmission clunk is normal in the Tacomas and Tundras but dont think you have to live with it, as it is repairable. Since my repair I have also found similar posts at www.tundrasolutions.com., just search for transmission clunk. Hope this helps!

wow thanks man. if i seem to come across the problem, ill definatly take this into consideration

[Rob G]

I tried to use this solution but it appears to have caused a new problem. I added grease to the zurk that goes to the slip joint until grease started to come out of the slip joint. Clunk is gone but now it is hard to get my truck into and out of park. I am worried this may be damaging something and I would like suggestions on what I should do about it. Thanks for your help!

-Rob Glaser

[kberger]

I have the same exact clunking problem on my 99 4x4 tacoma. It drives me crazy and no one seemes to notice it but me. I NEED it to stop. tell me if you figure it out.

[Rob G]

The suggestion of greasing the slip joint does work! At first, I had put too much grease into the slip joint and it was pushing on my transmission making it hard to get into and out of park but I was able to easily fix this buy depressing the little ball in the zurk with a small screwdriver to allow the excess grease to escape. Now I am happy to report that I no longer have the clunk or the difficulty getting the transmission into and out of park! The zurk you need to add the grease to is in front of the last universal joint before the rear drive shaft goes into the rear differential. Hope this fix works for you too! Good luck and post here if you have any questions.

-Rob G.