Dreaded "thump/clunk"

Center Support Bearing. Just got it in the mail. What gets me is that when I filled the yoke up with grease the gearshifter (auto) stopped moving back and forth when I would hit bumps in the road. I don't think axle wrap would be a factor when going down the road.

 

how bout some pics or a diagram. i'd like to fix my thump/clunk too. also some info on where you guys are buying replacement parts would help. thanks

 

x2
I've got the same "bump/thump" issue and would like to take care of it myself...

 

I'm with OBXTucker and have the same problem although it's not after every stop or after hard stops. It's more of a bump down into gear is the best way I can describe it and I have an 08 with only 5k miles. I see most of the posts on this thread are from Gen 1 trucks but is this common on the Gen 2's? What's the best fix?

 

Well, before I dove in to changing the bearing I went down to my local autozone and picked up a set of helper springs for $25. Bolted them up and the thump is gone. So it definately has to do with the leafs which some people had stated. I wasn't discounting their input, I just wanted to see for myself what the fix was.

So there ya go. A cheap fix. Enjoy and get rid of that clunk hehe. Oh and it stopped about 90% of the gear shift handle movement.

http://www.amazon.com/Superior-11-1...41?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1215620839&sr=1-1

 

Well, then I am lucky too. Had the thunk since I bought it, lubing the driveshafts and universals did NOTHING for me. Addded 3 leaves to the rear springs...and walla...thunk gone. In my case it was axle wrap.

 

So I went to Autozone and picked up a set of these...do you have a photo of them installed, or can you tell me how exactly they go on the leaf spring? It appears like the overload spring is in the way of the helper spring installation, but I could be looking at the instructions (which are pretty short on information) wrong...thanks!

 

quote=SRFIVE;187193]Well, then I am lucky too. Had the thunk since I bought it, lubing the driveshafts and universals did NOTHING for me. Addded 3 leaves to the rear springs...and walla...thunk gone. In my case it was axle wrap. [/quote]

Did you replace the OEM springs, or add to them? What did you put on?

Thanks.

I got the helper springs from Autozone, I put them on as best as I could figure (instructions are crap), they don't seem to be doing anything at all but rattle. The rattle is worse than the occasional clunk. They're going back to Autozone unless I can figure out how they're supposed to be on.
Crude drawing of how they are on, not doing anything as far as I can see:

The helper spring (in red) is tight with the u-bolt in the front, but is only attached by the hanger in the rear and is not touching the leaf in the rear, so it rattles every time you go over a bump. Also, I can't see how this will do anything if only one end is tight to the leaf spring...I don't get it...

 

same here.......my stock springs were worn slap out....just replaced them with a set of wheelers 5 pack leaves.......and axle wrap is no more!!!

 

So is the axle wrap something that gets progressively worse as the rear leaf springs wear out?

 

yeah, definitely. as the rear springs wear, they tend to flatten, and when you come to a stop, or taking off on occasions, the rear end will dive when braking and that causes the drive shaft to slide, basically causing the axle to "roll", and it definitely gets worse over time.

 

I don't get the THUNK when I'm stopping, but when I let off the brake it'll happen now and then. When it does it feels like the truck lurches forward a couple inches and then takes off smoothly. Would that also caused by axle wrap?

 

^ yes

 

yah, definitely.

 

think http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/85250TA.html would help?

 

This link states:

Description

Tuff Country add-a-leafs are an economical way to lift your Toyota Tacoma. Designed to be added to the existing rear leaf springs. Once installed the add-a-leafs add additional arch to the existing leaf springs which will add height and weight capacity.


How much 'height and weight capacity' is added by these add-a-leaf springs? Anyone used these?

 

yeah, those aal's would take care of the axle wrap.

 

I will see if I can get some installed pics. They are still working great for me.

 

In comparing my rear leaf springs on my '02 X-cab to an exact duplicate truck out in our work parking lot, it seems mine have completely lost whatever arch they once had, and are actually sagging a little on one side...

My question is, do you think it would be worth my while to have a local spring shop rebuild the OEM springs (re-arch and add another long leaf), for around $275 installed, or would I just be that much ahead to go ahead and order a set of new springs from a vendor online? Those are running in the $450 ballpark, plus I would have to install, which is no big deal...what do you think?