Clunking when on/off gas

Hey all,

I've done lots of searching on this issue and although there are similar threads, I can't seem to find a definite answer especially for newer models.

I just bought this new 6-speed '21 Tacoma, I've got it up to about 950 miles so far. When I let off the gas, or get on the gas at speed there's often (but not always) a noticeable clunk or jerk. Usually it's barely noticeable, but sometimes it's a very obvious, annoying, and concerning.

Sometimes, when I'm just barely on the gas, it'll do it repeatedly (I assume) in response to the slight movements of my foot going down the road.

It occasionally happens when my foot is already off the gas and I've been braking for a while also, usually seems like this is a harder jerk. I can't say for sure, but so far I think in this instance it only happens when I'm braking with the clutch engaged.

It's hard to tell where exactly it's coming from, but could all of this just be a dry slip yolk? Seems like when people talk about the slip yolk, it's usually when coming to a complete stop, which is not really my problem.

Admittedly, this is my first manual 4-wheeled vehicle and my first 4-wheeled RWD vehicle so this could all be chalked up to inexperience. For all I know this is completely normal!

Thanks!

 

I asked the dealership, they claim it's just Tacoma, totally fine.
This apparently isn't just Tacoma, my Mazda would do it as well, just very tiny bit sometimes, Tacoma is way more noticeable

 

I say just tune the bad boy. Search the threads and look up someone in your area to tune it for you.

 

find a less traveled road whereby U can get repeatable results

notice speed + rpms on tach where the issue is Most prevalent

what gear most often U hear / feel the clunk

 

When I had the 6MT I could feel some play in the differential gears when on/off the gas. Could it be that's what your feeling?

 

I too have a 21 manual. The drivetrain in this truck is super clunky. Seems like the gear mesh in the transmission is out of spec and the backlash is excessive to give you an idea what I hear and feel. Nothing like my 02 with a manual which is pretty quiet. I'm not to worried about the noise.

 

Thanks everyone!

Ah glad to hear I'm not the only one! It can be a bit annoying, but I suppose as long as it's relatively normal I won't worry too much. Maybe I'll mention it at the 5,000 mile service as well just to see what they have to say.

Some day I plan on doing the OVTune I just wish it wasn't so expensive!

I'll be sure to do that and make note of which gear/rpm. Right now I'd have to say it happens in all gears and is relatively RPM-independent, but I'd have to do more experimenting to be sure.

To be honest I wouldn't know how to tell the difference! I suppose I could jack up the back end and see if I can turn the wheels any while in gear?

Thanks for that, once again I'm glad I'm not the only one! In my mind that points to it being normal or at least not something worth worrying about much. Either way, I may have a go at greasing up the slip yoke to see if it improves. At the very least I figure that can't hurt since many folks have said they come pretty dry from the factory.

 

If you're interested in feeling the play in the drive train, put the trans in neutral and set the parking brake. Climb under the truck and rotate the driveshaft back and forth by hand. All of the movement in the driveshaft is excess backlash in the diff gears which can be felt when on/off the throttle. My money is that you're feeling the backlash play which is pretty normal.

 

Okay I just tried this and yes, there is some play. Although I'm talking about maybe an inch or less. Funny then how such small amounts of free movement can cause things that sometimes seem so drastic. Thanks for your help!

 

All manual gearboxes will have a little slop in them due to the way the gears "mesh" together. If this is your first manual trans vehicle it can seem clunky compared to the smoothness of an auto

Honestly i wouldn't worry about it, its a brand new truck. Drive the hell out of it and enjoy it

 

Ha yeah you're right! I'm the guy that tends to hyper-focus on anything that could possibly be wrong with something new. "What's that noise?" should probably be my catchphrase. I'm just glad I learned early on about the self-cleaning injector tick, else that just might have driven me insane!

 

Like many of us, when the significant other is talking and you don’t hear nothing vs when your truck has the slightest of rattles your all “What was that?! Windows up radio/ac off!”!

 

Your hearing the high pressure fuel pump for the direct injection system. The injectors actually spray directly into the cylinder instead of spraying at the back of the intake valve. To overcome compression pressures they need super high fuel pressure in the rail. The high pressure pump is really heavy duty and you can hear it hammer away when the engine is running.

 

.010 in several places adds up .............

 

I drove a 2016 TRD sport that we took in on trade. Figured since it was a MT I’d try it out and see why people rave about them on here. It was super clunky when shifting. I hated the feel of the clutch. I thought maybe because this truck seemed beat to shit, it was just that particular truck. Either way glad I went with the auto as much as I dislike that half the time as well.

 

Was spotting my buddies 21 Manual Tacoma on a trail. The transmission sounds like a box of rocks. From outside the truck it sounds terrible. Truck has like 300 miles on it.

 

my '19 does this too. Took it in toyota and they said its normal.

 

Normal ... it’s just a characteristic of the truck

 

Don't mean to thread jack a somewhat old post, but I have an AT and notice the clunk feeling sometimes as well.
Seems when I'm cruising in traffic around 40mph or so,let off the gas and coast a bit, when I tap the gas I feel it kinda clunk as if it's catching up some slack in the gears or driveshaft or flux capacitor.

Could this be abnormal for an auto?

 

There can be some lash in the driveline, but on a new Taco, it would be good to check the leaf spring U bolts. That caused a clunk for me in the higher gears.