I just bought my 99 4Runner about three weeks ago and have been annoyed by a clunking noise coming out of the rear end when I brake. It is as if the rear suspension is binding up when I brake. I got under the rear and made sure that all the contro arms are tight and lubricated, looked at and shook the drive shaft to see if the u-joints were bad (lubricated while I was there) and still it is clunking when I brake at lights and stop signs.

Does anyone else have this happen and if so how did you fix it.

 

do you have any lift blocks?
been spinning any donuts?

in our tahoe, while spinning donuts in the rain, two tires caught dry pavement and it through the truck up on two wheel, almost rolling it. it happened two seperate times, both times it poped the center pin on the leaf springs out of its little spot in the lift blocks.

im not sure if you have rear leafs, just a thought.

 

4Runners are coil spring front and rear...I seem to notice this every so often and then I realized that as I stop, if you judge your braking a few feet early so you can ease off the brake slowly as you stop that last few mph it won't do this. I assume it has something to do with the transmission abruptly shifting down into 1st as you come to a stop. If it is the tranny would that lead it to a valve body in need of cleaning or replacement? Any help on this one guys...

 

Try lubing the slip-joint at the rear of the driveshaft.

Try the search function and it will yield pages of results.

 

I've noticed sometimes brake dust can build up back there, pull your drums and see if thats a possible problem, you'll also have to likely change out your rear inner oil seals as there are prone to failure

 

Thanks for the hint on the search. I did not use the proper terminology to find what I wanted when I did my search to begin with. I will go back and add some more grease to see if that helps. I thought that I had it full but I may not.

Thanks for the information.

 

drive train U joint.

 

Hi guys,

Im having the same thing on my 2001 4Runner, but it only does it in reverse and braking, like backing out of the driveway, just before it comes to a complete stop it clunks, almost a double-clunk.

Im bringing it in to be serviced this week, what should I ask my mechanic to check?

 

if this "clunking" you are hearing is the same as the one i hear on my 98 SR5 4x4 4runner whenever i seem to have to brake hard, then i doubt it's the transmission, as mine is the 5-speed. it does seems to be suspension related, and i was about to post a question about this until i saw this post. i don't think its transmissions related b/c it only does it when i brake hard enough for the front to "dive" and the rear to "raisr up", making it seem like the suspension. i wonder if it has to be something related to the shocks getting binded or something, as i would really like to find out why these 4runners are doing this...

 

Yeah, mine is definitely not from braking hard at all, and it only does it in reverse:

>Start car, put car in reverse
> Just as Im braking to slow the car to a stop, it clunks just before a full stop, like a 'CLUNK CLUNK'

It doesnt do it any more after that...I hope its not transmission related....

 

well, unfortunately, it's sounding like your's might be drivetrain related, but you'll only find out when you do take it in like you were talking about, but i'm like you in hoping that it's not. but like i said, i have absolutely no clunking when shifting through any of my gears, as it only does it under hard breaking, either while still in gear or in neutral...

 

Try searching for "axle wrap", while their are no leaf springs in the 4runner, a lot of information can be found under this topic about the problem you are experiencing.

 

Mine does the same thing in forward, dont know about reverse. Seems like a single clunk more than a double. Everything looks to be in order, and if you do a soft stop it doesnt do it.

edit: everything is properly lubed as well.

Additionally, sometimes the clunk doesnt occur until after I release the brake. On mine, if you brake hard and never let off after the stop, when you release you may incur the clunk.

 

well the 4runner has the 5-link rear with coils, and mine has NO spacers, so i doubt it's from axle wrap. hmmm, i really want to figure this out now...

 

Pull the rear drums and check the pads. Also and more importantly make sure that you don't have a brake cyl or a seal leaking. Oil soaked pads will stick to the drum and clunk. They usualy clunk when you let off the brakes. Anyway, take a look.

 

I know it may sounds silly but, Have you checked to make sure your spare tire is nice and tight? I have experienced the "clunk" but it's not a everyday thing. Good luck!

 

i know it's not a rear brake issue, as they are faily new and i inspect stuff like that on regular intervals. and i'm pretty sure it's not the spare tire, but i'll make sure it's nice and snug next time i drive it and see if it still makes this noise.

 

x2

Check out www.4runners.org for some info on driveshaft lubing along with various other excellant write-ups.

 

I guess at least one person actually reads the posts in this thread.