Tacoma center driveshaft boot torn. Causing rear end thud upon full stop/acceleration.

Why wouldn’t you try and get it warrantied? If your regular dealer is a good one, they’d understand that it could have happened easily from something as simple as heavy snow. That shield is badly designed and bound to catch on stuff from the road when driving normally.

 

Yup currently working on that with the service manager

 

Sometimes, especially if you’re a good customer and do repeat business they will goodwill the repair. But don’t get your hopes up lol

 

They said they may warranty or would do a 50 percent off parts/ labor repair. I would repair myself at that point.

 

Happened to me, in the exact same way. Bent heat shield, sliced the boot, and all it took was heavy snow. Ok really heavy snow, that also bent the plastic gas tank skid 90 degrees down right at the forward fasteners.

Just received a new boot and fastener but like others im just gonna cut off the bent piece so it doesn't inevitably happen again. Also replaced the gas tank skid with a 4x4 innovations 3/16 skid that tucks up into the frame, so no more snow ramming up there

 

Good idea. I just re greased mine

 

I just got a 97 4x4 Taco n hearing that thud as OP describes it... you got a resource for a more in-depth description/fix. I'm looking to jump into it soon, yet don't know how late is "TOO LATE." Seems to drive fine, no whirrs or whistles, no crunching, etc. What do you figure?

 

Pull off driveshaft clean and grease spline. Put new boot with clamps on. Very simple. No more thud here.

 

That happened to me too, never even did any off-roading but maybe some snow grabbed and bent it? It was warranty'ed by the dealer because I only had 15k miles and no evidence of off-roading under my truck.

They replaced the whole shaft because of rust and noise coming from it.

 

Went down under last night and snapped these pics... the clean area looks to be what gets exposed as the shaft moves.

Still think it’s a simple clean/re-grease fix?

...either way, Imma be picking up a gun and some lube tonight to squirt into the U-joint zeros, so we shall see.

...lemme know what these pics tell you though, as I’m quite curious!

 

Yep same idea pull it apart clean and grease

 

That spacing tho......what’s up with it?

 

Wont be covered by warranty... Tab doesn't bend on its own... You would need more people to report it as a problem... like, a lot... usually starts on a forum and........ You know what... they may fix it lol

 

Fixed it myself. glad I did. Easy if your mechanically inclined

 

Right on! Yeah, about 98% of vehicle problems are this way lol

Glad its fixed

 

I've seen it on just about everything. Not long ago a buddy with a '96 Bronco asked me to look at his 'thud' and this is what fixed it. It was just a 'try' based on a common complaint.

 

I just had this happen, same reason with the heat shield too.

How serious of a repair is it? I didn't notice any grease coming out of the rip.