Clunk or thud noise when letting off brake

I have a 2008 Tacoma Prerunner 2WD. I have read many threads on this issue and not sure what to think or what it could be. I noticed the problem about a month after I bought the truck. I will try to explain it the best I can.
Whenever I come to stop, on occasion, after letting off the brake I hear thud or a clunk coming from the rear of the truck. If I come to a slow stop steady stop I dont have that problem. If I come to a faster stop then that is when the thud noise happens. Like I said it only happens intermittenly. It is not every time I come a stop. I have heard of greasing u-joints, slip yoke, or even axle warp. I checked the play in the driveshaft itself of foward and back movement, and get none of that. I still need to get under it and check play at the ujoints. Can I get some other opinions or suggestions. I would like to avoid taking it in the dealership and dealing with those idiots.
Thanks

 

Is there a good fix or just let it be? Will it cause anything else to go bad?

 

Ujoints are the most likly cause of noise like a thud. Easy to fix. If you ignore it or let it go to long it can cost you a drive shaft.

 

You are looking at the very common axle wrap. The most common "fix" is typically upgraded rear leaf springs.

 

If it's an automatic check your transmission fluid level. Mine was about 12 oz low and once I got it to the correct level the thud went away. Here are the instructions how to check...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/63851-how-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.html

 

check the TSB thread sticky... there's a TSB for this now, ...I just don't know if it's "worth it" to go through a dealership visit for...

 

I just looked up the TSB. It does not apply to my Tacoma. I am out of the 36 month/36,000 miles. Thanks for the info.

 

Just did transmission service (drain and refill) and clunk is gone. It is not axle wrap. It is slip yoke lube. Looks like it has to be lubed with transmission fluid so if you are low on trans fluid that is a problem.

 

Spare tire hanging loose and swinging then banging?

 

I have this same EXACT problem... Funny thing is it only does it when its warm out. It did it all last summer, but once it got cold it stopped. Now its like 60 to 70 degrees in NJ and it only does it when the truck warms up or its warmer out. All winter it NEVER happened and now its back intermittently until it gets hot out and then it will do it a lot, I'm lost.

 

Transmission fluid doesn't lube your slip yoke...

 

So how we call part of the driveshaft that goes into the transmission?

 

6+ months after and still no clunk on stop and letting off brake. Definitely who have this problem should start with simple transmission fluid flush.