Clunk Fix with new TSB
I had this same issue on my 2008 Toyota 4Runner Limited V8 (GX470 w/Toyota badge). After 9months of arguing/fighting with the dealers and Toyota for a fix, I traded it in for a Lexus IS350. Wouldn't you know it, Lexus acknowledge their GX470 customers right away.....same ef'n car.....different stickers....different treatment. Love the capitalism in this country. Go to www.T4R.org, and see what those poor guys are dealing with...SAME ISSUE...NO FIX!
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: CA
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: IL
I regreased the rear driveshaft for the second time and passed few trips I could not feel or hear any clunk at all. I have quote from dealer at $288.40 for new 37110-60A40 shaft assy, list is $360.50
Will see how it drives on but right now I can't feel it, it used to be very obvious two months ago.
Will see how it drives on but right now I can't feel it, it used to be very obvious two months ago.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 6
From: VA
Members,
Appreciate some feedback on the topic. Is a test drive the only method of checking to see if a vehicle has the clunk issue? Based on reading the comments on this thread, the clunk occurence varies from owner to owner in frequency and severity. If you have the clunk and take it to the dealer and no clunk occurs when the dealer test drives it, then the dealer won't fix it (because he doesn't "see" the problem). Is there any other way of testing for the clunk?
Thanks.
Appreciate some feedback on the topic. Is a test drive the only method of checking to see if a vehicle has the clunk issue? Based on reading the comments on this thread, the clunk occurence varies from owner to owner in frequency and severity. If you have the clunk and take it to the dealer and no clunk occurs when the dealer test drives it, then the dealer won't fix it (because he doesn't "see" the problem). Is there any other way of testing for the clunk?
Thanks.
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: IL
My speculation:
The clunk has to be a play in certain part of drive shaft and there is only two places that I can think of. One is in splines and the other in universal joints.
Both of my u-joints looked good when I was under the truck but to check the play in splined shaft, you will need to use two pipe wrenches to apply enough torque against each other to feel it. I could not feel any play using bare hands after greasing all 3 grease fitting points. Too bad I didn't try it before greasing.
The clunk has to be a play in certain part of drive shaft and there is only two places that I can think of. One is in splines and the other in universal joints.
Both of my u-joints looked good when I was under the truck but to check the play in splined shaft, you will need to use two pipe wrenches to apply enough torque against each other to feel it. I could not feel any play using bare hands after greasing all 3 grease fitting points. Too bad I didn't try it before greasing.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 189
Likes: 1
From: DE
Just thought I would provide a current experience..
Car purchased about a year and a half ago. 2007 GX with KDSS CPO car. 72k miles now on truck.
When test driven it did not present with the problem. However it developed over the last 6-12months until i finally took it in last month. .
I made the appointment, dropped it off, it was done in 3 hours. No question asked. Covered under CPO warranty.
Climbed under and double checked I had a new shaft and all looks good, more importantly problem is gone.
Koons Lexus of Wilmington, DE
redrocks I had the same concern, since it doesnt happen 100% of the time. So I dont know how they confim. I will say I felt like if I was in a harder braking situation I felt like it was more likely to occur.
Car purchased about a year and a half ago. 2007 GX with KDSS CPO car. 72k miles now on truck.
When test driven it did not present with the problem. However it developed over the last 6-12months until i finally took it in last month. .
I made the appointment, dropped it off, it was done in 3 hours. No question asked. Covered under CPO warranty.
Climbed under and double checked I had a new shaft and all looks good, more importantly problem is gone.
Koons Lexus of Wilmington, DE
redrocks I had the same concern, since it doesnt happen 100% of the time. So I dont know how they confim. I will say I felt like if I was in a harder braking situation I felt like it was more likely to occur.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 67
From: EARTH
Members,
Appreciate some feedback on the topic. Is a test drive the only method of checking to see if a vehicle has the clunk issue? Based on reading the comments on this thread, the clunk occurence varies from owner to owner in frequency and severity. If you have the clunk and take it to the dealer and no clunk occurs when the dealer test drives it, then the dealer won't fix it (because he doesn't "see" the problem). Is there any other way of testing for the clunk?
Thanks.
Appreciate some feedback on the topic. Is a test drive the only method of checking to see if a vehicle has the clunk issue? Based on reading the comments on this thread, the clunk occurence varies from owner to owner in frequency and severity. If you have the clunk and take it to the dealer and no clunk occurs when the dealer test drives it, then the dealer won't fix it (because he doesn't "see" the problem). Is there any other way of testing for the clunk?
Thanks.
old Part P/N 37110-6A480. This replaces with the New Shaft P/N - 37110-60A40.
To claim under this TSB program, you should have Power Train Warranty - 70,000miles. If not you can buy this part from Sewell as CL members get a good discount, and I can send you the method which I have done and till date it has been absolutely fine. All you need so is some basis tools, and truck jacked up having decent space to work around.
Now The problem I have seen is not in the spline, that is seem like that the Axle is now having a larger dia compared to older Shaft.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 6
From: VA
97JZA80 & Mann777,
Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely check out the part #, which I'm assuming will be present on the drive shaft. I'll also check out "hard braking" to see if that causes the clunk to occur.
I have a 2006 CPO GX470 with almost 60K miles on it. I sincerely believe I also have the clunk issue. Understanderbly, if dealership doesn't find the problem, why change/fix it.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely check out the part #, which I'm assuming will be present on the drive shaft. I'll also check out "hard braking" to see if that causes the clunk to occur.
I have a 2006 CPO GX470 with almost 60K miles on it. I sincerely believe I also have the clunk issue. Understanderbly, if dealership doesn't find the problem, why change/fix it.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 67
From: EARTH
Take the copy of the TSB to the dealer and you must tell him that the Clunk appears on many occassion and sometime do not. At least they would believe you, if you are not able to repeat that symptom while on test drive. Here is the copy.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 6
From: VA
Well, kick me in the butt! I have a copy of this TSB that you posted earlier and sure enough it has the old part #. When I get home today, I'll check. I guess if I don't have the same part #, then the problem is something else.
Thanks, Mann777!
Thanks, Mann777!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 67
From: EARTH
There is a Sticker with the Part Number mentioned on it. Here is the link with the image and the DIY which i had posted. Also Since you are having this issue, do you fall under the category as per the TSB affected VIN models which are production change information on the TSB, if in case you are not able to see the P/N. The VIN check would be done by the Service Engineers at Lexus. So not to worry. Here is the image link attached
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...ew-tsb-45.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...ew-tsb-45.html
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 6
From: VA
There is a Sticker with the Part Number mentioned on it. Here is the link with the image and the DIY which i had posted. Also Since you are having this issue, do you fall under the category as per the TSB affected VIN models which are production change information on the TSB, if in case you are not able to see the P/N. The VIN check would be done by the Service Engineers at Lexus. So not to worry. Here is the image link attached
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...ew-tsb-45.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...ew-tsb-45.html
Thanks again. Can't wait to get home to check.
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: IL
I'm driving my wife's GX for second day now and out of about 40 stop & go cycles, I could noticed slight thump twice. If the play is not in twisting motion, then there is only one more move that this shaft makes. It will have to adjust its lenght with up/down motion of the suspension.
If this linear motion is not smooth, it will make clunk at the time of braking (when the nose of vehicle goes down/rear up) or on takeoff (nose will lift up/ rear goes lower).
I can clearly hear this same or even harder thump when I adjust the vehicle height thus extending drive shaft.
Mann777,
would you remember how hard it was on your old and new drive shaft to push the flanges together or stretch them apart? Did you have to pull on rear yoke of driveshaft to adjust to lenght between fanges at the time of installation?
Now, I finally have original GX service manual with propeller shaft overhaul procedure, I may just try to take it apart to see, what part is binding up on it. Worst case, I just put it together, as it was before (till now with 8 years and 258K miles on it).
If this linear motion is not smooth, it will make clunk at the time of braking (when the nose of vehicle goes down/rear up) or on takeoff (nose will lift up/ rear goes lower).
I can clearly hear this same or even harder thump when I adjust the vehicle height thus extending drive shaft.
Mann777,
would you remember how hard it was on your old and new drive shaft to push the flanges together or stretch them apart? Did you have to pull on rear yoke of driveshaft to adjust to lenght between fanges at the time of installation?
Now, I finally have original GX service manual with propeller shaft overhaul procedure, I may just try to take it apart to see, what part is binding up on it. Worst case, I just put it together, as it was before (till now with 8 years and 258K miles on it).