Driveline Clunk/Thunk on acceleration with updated driveshaft?

There was a running change on the Tacoma to a zerkless rear drive shaft. I am told it was to address driveline clunk/thunk or "lash" (sometimes described as a hit from behind feeling) on acceleration. The symptom can be intermittent and is often worse after brisker stops or harder acceleration. This is ditinct from the fuel sloshing phenomenon. Many who have driveline lash mistakenly attribute it to fuel slosh. We have the updated shaft on our DCSB 4x4 but lash is just as bad if not worse than our second gen was. Wondering what the experience of others is?

 

I greased the only 2 zerks I have (in the front) and it helped some. Still occasionally get a clunk, but it's not as noticeable as it was before I greased the bone-dry front. There was nothing aside from assembly grease in there and it took 7-9 good pumps for it to purge.

 

The clunk is probably from your “slip yoke” mine was doing it too. I removed the driveshaft to replace the carrier bearing and noticed the I really needed to rebuild the whole thing. Bought 3 u-joints, center bearing and a zerk fitting to install into my slip yoke. I couldn’t be happier. It’s a time consuming process but really an easy job. If you want more information hit me up. Where my truck is lifted I also milled some spacers for my center bearing getting rid of any vibration. I used 1” Diameter aluminum round stock drilled a 3/8” hole through the middle and milled them down to a length of .75”. This made my driveshaft almost straight. I also used much longer bolts due to the spacer. It Works great!
Tools used:
•14mm wrench
•14mm shallow socke
•Wobble head
•3” extension
•Impact
•Air chisel (6$ harbor freight)
•Needle nose pliars
•Pick or small screwdriver
•Lightweight string to use as a straight edge between center diff and rear diff.

If you’re going to install a zerk you will need a tap, the fitting and the right size drill bit. I highly recommend this, I didn’t even take the slip yoke apart just installed a zerk and pumped it full after removing any metal shavings with a shop vac. I no longer have the clunk when taking off from a redlight after braking hard. I can also take pics if needed.

 

Toyota Tacoma: where you have to rebuild your drive shaft, right out of the factory, to keep it from doing something it shouldn't.

 

You Sir are my hero.... this IS the problem a lot of people are having and your fix is 100% what is needed..... So far I do not have the clunk, but have the 5 zerks that I grease frequently..... If I develop the clunk, it's another zerk for my truck....

Well done, would love to see the pics as always....!! Well done man... 2 thumbs up...

 

@My650sux
If you have a write up with pics on that procedure I think you’d help a bunch of folks out! (Self included). It’s one of those things that I would personally like to do, but am nervous to tackle as I’m not sure where to place the zerks, and i don’t want to over grease...or use the wrong grease i hear that is problematic on the drive shaft as well), etc.

 

I think it's more a symptom of the pinion wrapping up(accel.) or down(decel.) due to weak springs.

Watch the rear leaf at 4:23; clunk at 4:25.

 

Normal.

 

I noticed a little while ago that I sometimes get a clunk in the driveline when slowing down or stopping quickly. Should I install different universal joints with zerks? Or is there an easier remedy...?

 

The clunk is coming from the slip yolk, not the u-joints.

Either way, I'd recommend installing a zerk on your slip yolk and Spicer u-joints with zerk fittings. As soon and my u-joints are toast (probably won't be long since there's no way to grease the damn things and I actually use mine off-road a LOT) I'll be putting greasable Spicers on mine.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-2016-and-2017-tacomas.521461/#post-16544912

 

I can replace u joints easily enough, but how does one go about tapping a hole in a slip yoke for a zerk fitting. I assume I would just drill it out, tap it and thread in the zerk, but where on the slip yoke should it be located... I'm very handy, but I don't know everything Thanks guys

 

Likely something I'd go to the driveshaft shop to get done, as they will have to balance the D/S after the mod....

 

can anyone help me figure out if this is the problem I had? One day I was driving around 30-40 mph and had to quickly stomp it to avoid an accident and it felt as if my acceleration lagged a little then made a loud clunk noise and began accelerating again? I know The throttle lag is normal but I have Never heard the clink before. Is that normal?

 

I offroad frequently and I am now having this same issue. When I stop and then accelerate within the first few seconds of the acceleration I hear the clunk clunk sound and then it goes away at all speeds and only happens when I stop and go. When I power wash the fuck out of the truck it goes away for a bit and comes back. Leading me to believe it is exactly what is talked about here.

I am doing some heavy research about this, but tbh I am still mechanically challenged. Is this something I can do? Any one have a good right up for this?

-Replacing the U joints/lubing them up
-Lubing up the slip yoke
-Installing the zerk

Its weird the sound appears to be close to the front driver side area. The majority of steps I found online were about taking actions in the rear of the truck. I feel as though I can feel it right under my feet. Is this something I can trust the yota mechanics to do right? I am out of my normal area (San Diego) for a few months and do not have my normal shop to refer to.

Most important, is this something to be really concerned with? I am driving across the country, NJ --> San Diego in a few months. Do not want to cause a lasting issue.

 

I believe this thread is about the clunk sound happening when we accelerate from a complete stop. Does it happen often for you or was that the only time?

 

Having same issue seems to be front driver and under my feet. Did you find the problem?

 

Hey, I have not yet. Toyota refused to look at it for under 200 bucks an hour. I wanted them to just check the front u-joints but they refused to do it under warranty. So problem has not been solved. But the sound I hear/feel is in the same spot. I am having a shop check all of the bolts and everything in Icon suspensions on September 20th. I am hoping something is just loose. But I still believe it is something else. Have you had any luck?

 

Hey do you have upper control arms? I think I finally found my issue, I think the ball joints are shot and are adding some play in there. Still waiting on fixing them and seeing if it resolves the noise.

 

Thread revival !! 2008Access cab 4x4 Just had carrier bearing replaced because it looked crusty I have 115000k . Now I have the thunk thunk thunk noise at take off but no noise at higher speeds . Pissing me off because I had no noise before . Taking it back to the shop that did the work tomorrow to check everything out .​