Rear axle moving?

I've searched the forum with no luck. I think my springs are weak on my 04, but I'm not positive. The truck still has a rake to it and it isn't sagging.
1. I notice when I stop and let off the brake the truck clunks, and feels like it's moving around.

I used some U-bolts on the leaf pack forward the rear axle which seemed to help for a bit, but now it's back.

2. When I put it in reverse it looks like that the whole rear end is shifting a little.

I'm just wondering could a blown shock cause this excessive feel and movement? Or springs, or both??

My truck has 120k on it. thanks!

 

Sounds like either a broke leaf spring pack center pin or some insanely worn out shackle/spring bushings.

 

man that's kind of what I'm thinking, I checked the spring perch and bushing and they look fine from the outside, but ya know... It just reminds me of my old 70 Nova I had with a busted spring, just loose as hell... I'm going to order up some new springs soon! http://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_Springs_Toyota_Tacoma_2001_2002_2003_2004_s/1932.htm

 

get under it and have someone bonce it and rock it back and forth and side to side to see what and where its moving.

ya never know, it might be u-joints or hanger bearing making the noise

 

Yeah it would help to have a second set of eyes. She ain't squeaking just clunking and moving around. I just replaced the hanger bearing too. I just want to make sure to find out what it is so I don't spend money I don't have!

 

This is the classic description of axle wrap. The weak, worn out stock leaf pack is twisting with the application of the brakes and the clunk or thump or the feeling of being bumped from behind is the release of the spring bind (wrap) when the brake pedal is released.

If you do a search of this forum for 'axle wrap' you will find a whole lot more information that may help you fix your situation.

Here is a graphic description of axle wrap:

 

Ah, I got this problem too. Was wondering what that was. Just haven't got around to searching for it yet. Subbed.

 

Crawl under the truck (ebrake on, etc) IN GEAR

Grab the driveshaft and rotate it. How far can you turn it?

I had a 96 tacoma that had a good 1/2" rotation (slop) in the driveline at 100,000 miles. My leaf springs had 2 additional leafs and were pretty heavy duty - so I know I didn't have axle wrap. I would get clunks at stopping, starting, and even sometimes shifting into 5th gear if my rpm's weren't high enough.

If you have a decent amount of slop in the driveline - and old leaf springs (axle wrap previously explained) can cause a lot of different clunks at stops & starts.

 

get a friend to get in truck, block front tires, hold brakes and have power brake truck and watch the driveshaft where in bolts to the rearend and see how much everything is moving, forward and reverse

 

wow nice graphic! something tells me that's what's going on underneath my truck.

I checked, I have about 1/2 inch of play, not sure if this is normal "lash" or not.

I plan on bringing into my buddies shop on Tuesday to see what the hell is going on. I think there are some leaf springs in my future. I looked at them a bit ago and they are flat with some negative arc.

 

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This, sounds like classic axle wrap

 

I broke a leaf two months ago and had both leaf springs replaced. The replacements looked like they would have a significant amount of upward arch to them even when installed. My old set was basically flat on the truck so I was worried the truck would look like it was nose diving.

The new springs are basically flat on the truck and the ride height has been very minimally affected.

Clark

 

I have had the same problem for quite some time now. I have 95 tacoma with 176,000 on it, and it is lifted 3" on blocks. Also, the rear end seems to shimmy or "bounce around" a lot and the ride quality is very poor. Another interesting thing to note, i have noticed that there is some indentation on the body of the rear shock from the leaf pack hitting it.
I have replaced the center support bearing but through my research i have heard that the poor ride could be from rear wheel bearings, but i am almost positive it is from the leaf bushings. That is the only thing i can think of that would allow the axle to move that much, about a 1/4".

 

Worn out suspension components and lift blocks are contributing to that bad ride.
Logger, watch out doing the axle warp mod. I put the clamp on my old weak leafsprings and when lightly offroading it hit my rear passenger shock and busted up the shock body enough to leak.