Loud CLUNK when approaching a stop

I've had this issue in my 2018, usually happened early in the mornings when its cold and I come to a gradual stop. I did some research on the issue which brought me to some older posts on here. The old posts I found mentioned driving in S-mode helps reduce the frequency of the dreaded clunk. I normally drive in this mode anyway and haven't notice it in a few days.

 

When you say driving in S mode, are you down shifting when you come to a stop?

 

Oh man i really want to know what the fix is! Did they say anything about the parts they ordered??

 

No disrespect. Have you owned a truck before this? Vehicles with leaf springs make a lot of noise.

 

I have the 2>1 downshift clunk also. Didn't happen till I got some miles on it. Some days it's just a clunk with a harsh downshift & other days it's a feeling like I just got rear ended it pushes forward.

This has been an issue on other gen trucks as well. I have tried S Mode with ECT on & it helps. Doesn't seem to do it in 4WD at all. This could be a bigger issue if it creates an accident on slick roads but I haven't had that problem & I haven't heard anyone report that either

 

Less exciting, went by for details today and it's T-SB-023-18. Rear axle out of round. They "hope" this fixes it. Confirmed they'll have it a couple of days

Owned, no. Driven quite a bit, yes. Had a work truck for a summer. I have also compared previous and newer years of Tacoma - no issues there.

 

No, I just put it in S mode and bump it up to S-5 and just drive normally.

 

Mine does the downshift from 2-1 clunk on cold mornings when the engine isn't up to operating temp like others said. I noticed if I try to slow down with the longest possible stopping distance the clunk is not as severe. But its weird, always after the first clunk, it won't happen again while I'm on the current drive. I really hope this isn't something that will bite us in the ass down the road...

 

https://toyotatalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Tacoma-T-SB-0023-18.pdf

That TSB is for non-TRD models. Either way, let us know the results

 

Mine feels like stalling a manual with the downshift, loud clunk and whole truck shudders and lurches forward from 2-1, had tsb and fluid checked made no difference. Using ECT is the opposite, upshifts feel like you're power shifting without the clutch. Hard upshifts, these are deff worse when cold. But there all the time. Makes the truck annoying af to drive most days. Toyota service is useless.

 

I didn't read the entire thread so I apologize if it's covered. But is your spare tire solid?

Also, the symptoms sound a lot like axle wrap. I got so used to it in my second gen, it felt weird when I rode in a car that didn't have it.

 

I got the same "clunk." I look forward to your results. If it turns out to be TSB or Recall related, I would appreciate it if you would get the TSB and/or Recall number for the fix. It would help a lot of us when we go to the dealership. Thank you and good luck.

 

It happens with a bunch of Toyota trucks. Both of my 4th gen 4 runners did it. A couple of my friends tacomas do it. Mine does it.

Good luck, the dealer here wont do jack

 

I'm taking my truck in today for this as well. It happens when decelerating through 10 mph while the temp gauge is pointing at the first hash. I have an 18 TRD or.

Does not happen at startup or when at full temp.

 

This for the most part for me too! But it does happen after it reaches operating temps very intermittently. I can never seem to recreate the issue and i always forget to pay attention enough to diagnose when it happens again. Annoying. Also, has anyone been able to identify if its happening when 2nd to 1st? I experienced that its more from like 4th directly to 1st or 3rd??? Or maybe i have no idea because the truck shifts so many times under 2,000 rpms.

Would love to hear the results of this.

 

If you don't need a bed go T4R. I went Taco to 4runner love it. Yeah, miss my tacoma but also like being able to keep things dry and still toss fly fishing & hunting equipment in the back.

 

I am in the midst of dealing with Toyota for my axle wrap issue. The dealer is in consistent contact with me and they cc me on e-mails they send to the regional office. The corporate office is claiming that it is an isolated issue and they will cover the repair with a replacement rear axle assembly. (that was relayed to me 1/9) The dealer has not received authorization to order my axle yet (2/22). My service advisor said that as long as it is considered an isolated issue (and not service bulletin) they could issue a lemon repurchase if the issue should persist after two more repairs. I used to be a Toyota technician and saw this issue starting in the 2nd gen. I often found more than one condition caused this issue. (some of them were caused by the customers) I have never heard of a complete axle replacement to remedy "axle wrap" though. Maybe now technicians don't have to re-build axles at the dealer. I will post my resolve.

 

I'm pretty confident that this issue is in the ECU tune. OVTune was working on it & when it went away the fix caused a different issue. He then worked back & forth with the tune to resolve both issues but was a lot of work & fine tuning. Sounds like he got it all shifting smoothly now.

I just wish Toyota would quit ignoring the issue. So many stories on here about Toyota acting like it's the first time they've heard of it.

A guy I work with has a brand new dually Chevy that was having shifting issues. He took it to the dealer & GM sank $12,000 worth of parts & labor only to find out all they needed to do was reflash the ECU programming from their latest TSB!

 

I clunk too.

 

This is the most clear example of how sensitive third gen owners are.

This is the "tacoma thud" and its been around since the 1st gens. I'm on my 4th tacoma and every single one does this. But back in the day the advice on this forum was "its not an issue just get used to it" or at worst "tighten the bolts, maybe add some weight", but either way it was never considered some unacceptable "issue"... Now people circle jerk about how terrible it is, exact same scenario only difference is the owners.

See for yourself:
"i think its a normal noise"
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/thud-when-stopping.277381/

"axle wrap its normal"
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/clunk-or-thud-noise-when-letting-off-brake.32807/

"tacos are notorious for it" "almost all first gens do it"
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dreaded-thump-clunk.10096/

"very common"
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/single-pop-or-clunk-when-coming-to-full-stop.272733/

Now look at this thread "I'm trading in for 4runner" "possible lemon law" "could cause an accident"... I miss the old TW I think I need to just go back to a 2nd gen and hang out in that section

Real advice: don't get your hopes up boys you'll drive yourself crazy trying to "fix" this when literally every generation of tacoma does this. As explained in threads above back when men knew these were TRUCKS the answer was simple, from the moderator chris4x4:

"axle wrap. Because Toyota uses longer rear leaf springs at a softer spring rate for ride quality and off raod capability. This is common"

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but mark my words you can try as hard as you can but any "fix" will only be temporary... get used to it or buy a Ridgeline