What a difference - no more freakin driveline clunk

On my 95.5 Tacoma V6 5-Speed 4x4, I never notice this because it's a manual. However on my new to me 2002 Tacoma V6 4x4 TRD Limited, I do. I greased the crap out of the driveline like I had done on my Tundra and 4Runner, but to no avail. It was better, but still felt loose. The leafs probably are aging, even tho the truck only has 75k miles on it.

So I found a post on here referencing something on a Titan forum about a Superior Lift Spring Clamp Kit. I work for AutoZone in a way, so I swung by a picked up a pair for $16.99 minus my discount. Woot. They took about five minutes to install per side (in the rain no less) and the clunk is gone. The truck rides stiffer but feels more settled without that dang driveline clunk and I notice a lot less binding feeling from the u-joints on heavier acceleration. Just install the brackets over the overload and the rest of the spring pack on the front side of the spring, tighten them down until the lower plate bends and you're good to go.



Now people will stop asking me what's wrong with my truck. haha.

 

Nice !!!!
Thats what Toyota is going to use to fix the leaf spring recall on the 2nd gens with .

 

^^^what am i looking at?

 

It's a great temporary fix for sure. I have the same issue and installed the exact clamps. The clunk went away for several months, but unfortunately the springs keep getting weaker and now the loose clunk feeling has returned. Not to rain on your parade, just letting you know springs are in your future! Glad you got it sorted out for now, that damn clunk is so freaking irritating.

Seriously?

A set of leaf spring clamps from Autozone. You install them over the leaf pack to reduce excessive flex or axle wrap caused by shit leaf springs.

 

im pretty sure he is talking about the sig picture lol

 

Ah I see, he's referring to Gear Cruncher's pile of transmission parts in his sig pic...got it!

 

Yeah. The springs were shit when the truck was new, but if I get another year out of them then I'll be happy. They are not really sagged - look about the same as the springs on my 95.5.

It will give me a little time to figure out my new suspension strategy.

 

I'm in the same exact situation, mine don't look that bad either, but I'm on hold now just weighing all my options. These clamps sure make a difference though, the truck felt way better after I put mine on last summer.

 

Where did you place your clamps on the overload? I'm pretty close to the end and I'm thinking after driving on the highway for about 70 miles after installing them that I might move them another inch or two closer to the axle housing. I just want the clunk gone, but it's riding a bit rough. I'm going to two my little Valco boat tomorrow, so I'll move them back a bit and see how my fishing trip goes.

 

I placed mine as close to the axle as possible without hitting the passenger's shock. I didn't want to clamp the ends of the overload springs. Figured it would ride rougher if I did.

 

I did the same thing about a year ago to my 2004 with stock leafs. It was perfect for maybe about 3 months then slowly started back up again. I have to say it has helped depress much of it but it still remains. Best bet is to get a new leaf pack like i will eventually.

 

Greasing the driveshaft helped a lot (with a focus on the slip joint). I'll move them a bit tomorrow and see how it rides.

 

Does getting a leaf pack or the AAL from Icon help with the clunk?

 

Not necessarily....that would depend on where the clunk is coming from.

Every situation is different.

 

Axle wrap clunk. Some are saying the clunk came back after putting the clamps on. So would adding AAL help eliminate the clunk? Or would I need to replace the leaf pack? Also, Truck has a camper and i can see the rear sagging.

 

Yes and Not Always. New aftermarket leaf packs will most likely resolve any axle wrap issue. AAL may or may not help, it depends on how worn your original pack is.
There's literally hundreds of topics on axle wrap here.
I see your dilemma though, it's the difference of several hundred bucks. Once I round up the cash I'm going with either the heavy duty replacement pack from General Spring or OME Dakars.

 

I moved the U-bolts five inches from the end of the overload spring and it helped the ride. The clunk is gone pretty much for the time being. If I had to do it over again, I'd place them at 4" from the end of the overload on my particular truck.

I'm going to look at lifting the truck down the road (mildly), so I'll address it with new springs at that time. It makes a big difference for $17 though.

 

Yeah I've been searching through and found the thread on the clamps. I guess I'll do more research into getting new leaf packs. There's been this heavy ass camper on the truck since day one so I think the leaf pack is the way to go. Mahalo's!

 

My leafs were so bad, even these didn't really dial it all out. AALs (for lift) got rid of it for a few months. A bud built trac bar is pending install- figured a new rear pack would be great and all, but pushing boost and planning to push even more boost in the future, might as well put a trac bar in to help out whatever leafs find their way back there.