When I come to a stop in my '00 4Runner and I release the brake pedal to start moving again, I sometimes feel a "clunk" or "thump" in the drive train. This happens immediately after the pedal has started to be released. I don't have to touch the throttle to make this occur. If I hold onto the gearshift lever (automatic) when this happens, you can feel a sudden movement of the lever. It almost feels like something is shifting in the drivetrain when you come to a stop, the components are relieved of sme sort of pressure when the brake pedal is released.

It doesn't happen all of the time and doesn't seem to be dependant on how hard I am braking.

Any ideas on the cause and remedy?

Thanks, Vic

Sounds like axle wrap to me, but I've never heard of it on a 4Runner, but it's a well known fact that Taco are notorious for it. I've heard that one way to cure this is to squirt some new grease into the different points in the drive shaft, u-joint, etc. Here's a link from the maintenance section:

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/tacoma_4runner_30k/maintenancep4.html#driveshaft

Maybe that will help.

Thanks for the info and link. I'll try to lube the drivetrain to see if that helps.

Is it really necessary to get special grease for the different lube points or is a multipurpose grease ok. I do not offroad this truck.

BTW, what is axle wrap??

Thanks again.

Could also need a new u-joint. Put the ebrake on, pop it in neutral, adn crawl under and see if the u-joints are tight. There should be 1 or 2 inches of play from teh driveshaft while in neutral, but the u-joints should not be loose.

Vic,

My 2000 4Runner has done that since I drove it off the lot. I have never been able to determine if it was the rear axle wrap (binding) as has been indicated here or if it is the transmission actually shifting back into first-gear after coming to a complete stop. There have been a few instances when mine has not done it such as when I come to a stop slowly, sort of easing up to a stop. I guess I have just became used to it. I do keep my driveline greased every few months (driveshaft spline, u-joints, etc.) so lack of grease is not an issue for me anyway. I guess it would be nice to know for sure what is causing it because if it is transmission shift related then it should not be doing that. But like I said, no transmission problems that I have found on my 4Runner and it has been doing this since just about day one.

Ricochet

Hey Ricochet, my truck has about 50,000 miles on it now. I bought the truck about two years ago with 20,000 miles. This "problem" didn't start occurring until approximately 35,000 miles. My brother in law has a 2001 that does the same thing. The dealer can't figure out what it is.

My truck doesn't do it all of the time. I'd guess that it happens about 25% of the time. It normally occurs when I come to a sudden stop (but not too hard), but sometimes happens when I gradually slow down as well.

I'll still lube the joints and shafts but I guess I shouldn't be too optomistic that this will solve the problem.

Thanks for your input. Maybe someone else has some ideas????

Like someone else said, check for ujoint play.


And you 4Runner guys don't need to worry about axle wrap, as you have a coil sprung rear suspension which has upper and lower control arms which eliminate axle wrap. Axle wrap only occurs on leaf sprung trucks.

I had the same problem on mine. Started at about 90K. Dealer could not find anything after several visits. Believe it or not, it went way. I've got 114K on it now and the clunk is gone...go figure.

I have seen reports that this occurs when the sliding joint on the propshaft has too much grease, which creates a sort of fluid lock stopping the shaft from moving inward on the spline.

Do you have drum or disc brakes?