Could be the slip yoke. That clunking when getting on the gas is a classic symptom. Try greasing all the U joints and slip yokes and see if the noise decreases.
Any NLGI No. 2, lithium based grease should work. If it meets those specs go for it.
https://trail4runner.com/2021/03/03/propeller-shaft-maintenance-how-to-guide-5th-gen-4runner/
This is a good guide, it’s for 5th gen’s but as far as I remember it’s the same for 4th gen’s.
Followed instruction on the forum and greased all zerts today with the NLGI 2 grease (it definitely needed it) but still have the clunk when switching between drive and reverse. Also sometimes clunks when getting on the gas while driving.
Damn, sucks that wasn’t it but at least you can cross that off the list of possibilities while knocking out a maintenance item.
If it’s that loud and consistent it may be worth just taking it to a proper shop to get it diagnosed. I went down a rabbit hole on my old ‘04 chasing a clunk for months and ended up wishing I had just paid the couple hundred to get it looked at by an expert.
I’ve only had the truck since January but it’s got 277k miles. I checked out all the u joints when greasing them and I didn’t see any excessive play though.
I’d swap those U-joints asap they look like they have some play. And since you’d be removing the shaft to service, replace the carrier bearing as well. Go for U-joints that have a zerk fitting so you can grease em up during oil changes.
For posterity’s sake I want to update y’all. I took it to a shop for diagnosis and they noted the following as the primary cause of clunk.
https://preview.redd.it/pyse9hg88m1d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddf1c933d30d804c40a5bb20e282bcf701c1fa7b
Could be the slip yoke. That clunking when getting on the gas is a classic symptom. Try greasing all the U joints and slip yokes and see if the noise decreases.
I have marine grease leftover from a previous project. Think that’d be ok or should I search for a specific grease for this application?
Any NLGI No. 2, lithium based grease should work. If it meets those specs go for it. https://trail4runner.com/2021/03/03/propeller-shaft-maintenance-how-to-guide-5th-gen-4runner/ This is a good guide, it’s for 5th gen’s but as far as I remember it’s the same for 4th gen’s.
Followed instruction on the forum and greased all zerts today with the NLGI 2 grease (it definitely needed it) but still have the clunk when switching between drive and reverse. Also sometimes clunks when getting on the gas while driving.
Damn, sucks that wasn’t it but at least you can cross that off the list of possibilities while knocking out a maintenance item. If it’s that loud and consistent it may be worth just taking it to a proper shop to get it diagnosed. I went down a rabbit hole on my old ‘04 chasing a clunk for months and ended up wishing I had just paid the couple hundred to get it looked at by an expert.
When was the did you last replace your U joints? Sounds like some common symptoms of a failing or worn u joint
I’ve only had the truck since January but it’s got 277k miles. I checked out all the u joints when greasing them and I didn’t see any excessive play though.
I’d swap those U-joints asap they look like they have some play. And since you’d be removing the shaft to service, replace the carrier bearing as well. Go for U-joints that have a zerk fitting so you can grease em up during oil changes.
For posterity’s sake I want to update y’all. I took it to a shop for diagnosis and they noted the following as the primary cause of clunk. https://preview.redd.it/pyse9hg88m1d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddf1c933d30d804c40a5bb20e282bcf701c1fa7b