Weird thumping noise on my LC

1point4 · 05-16-08, 05:57 PM

My '06 LC has 32K miles on it by now. Ever since I bought it, there was been a thumping noise at times when I start after having stopped e.g. at a red light.

I asked my local Toyota shop to check it out and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. It got better for a short while after the 30K service but now it is back in full swing. It sort of feels like it is coming from the middle of the car/under my feet if you will, not from the front wheels.

Toyota Svc say they can't find anything wrong with the brakes which leads me to think that is might be the drive shaft or something with the gears...

I'm also fairly certain by now that my local Toyota Svc shop sucks! I don't know where to take it really, since it is still under official warranty and it seems like most brand service shops don't do tons of work on TLCs (there simply aren't that many around here, on the other hand, more Lexus equivalent....)

So what should I tell these guys to look for? Greasing the shaft?

Thanks in advance amigos!

super50 · 05-16-08, 07:46 PM

is it changing gears smoothly? And have you checked the TSBs and recalls?

1point4 · 05-16-08, 08:16 PM

not personally, i asked them to do that at the 30k service

2003LC · 05-16-08, 08:46 PM

Sounds like the dreaded drive shaft thud. Have them clean and re-grease the drive shaft under warrantee. I had it done at 30k on my 2006 and recently on my 2003, thud goes away.

bluecruiser · 05-16-08, 10:38 PM

almost guaranteed it is the driveshaft....many threads about this issue...

rusty_tlc · 05-16-08, 11:26 PM

There is also a tech bulletin about the cargo rack cross bars being installed backwards.

1point4 · 05-17-08, 06:33 AM

thanks everyone. just need to figure out where to take the rig because my local one (about a mile from my house) is obviously useless...

Tinkerer · 05-21-08, 03:33 AM

Use moly grease to lube the rear driveshaft slip joints. Follow FSM directions to pump grease in until it seeps out past slip joint seals.

Important: MOLY type grease. (Alleviates stiction in the shaft splines.)

This is what solved my driveshaft thump. Been thump-free for so long now I can't remember when it last thumped.

Texasoil · 05-22-08, 07:37 PM

tis most likely the splines in the rear drive-shaft doing the 'stick-slip' thing. Tis a service bulletin on it, not ALL LC-100 and LX-470 do it--but almost all. Fix is removing drive-shaft, cleaning the splines thoroughly, then re-greasing with specified moly-sulfide grease. Techs (and Service Writer) HATE this kind of grunt work--they loose money on it. Toyota does not pay enough under warranty to cover Dealer costs, techs do not get but about 50% of usual pay for this kind of work--if they get ANYTHING. If this work is done at same visit as say -4wheel pads and rotors job-they will not gripe. By-itself--good luck.

nov74fj40 · 05-23-08, 05:27 AM

SImple fix, did it yesterday for my '98...same "thump" after stops...greased 'er up and no more thump....

querry "thump" on the search for this board and you will find a drawing where the lube points are on the drive shaft.

05-16-08, 05:57 PM	#1
1point4 IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 128	Weird thumping noise on my LC My '06 LC has 32K miles on it by now. Ever since I bought it, there was been a thumping noise at times when I start after having stopped e.g. at a red light. I asked my local Toyota shop to check it out and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. It got better for a short while after the 30K service but now it is back in full swing. It sort of feels like it is coming from the middle of the car/under my feet if you will, not from the front wheels. Toyota Svc say they can't find anything wrong with the brakes which leads me to think that is might be the drive shaft or something with the gears... I'm also fairly certain by now that my local Toyota Svc shop sucks! I don't know where to take it really, since it is still under official warranty and it seems like most brand service shops don't do tons of work on TLCs (there simply aren't that many around here, on the other hand, more Lexus equivalent....) So what should I tell these guys to look for? Greasing the shaft? Thanks in advance amigos! __________________ '06 UZJ100 - Thunder Cloud Metallic - ARB bull bar - IPF foglight kit - Hella 4000 FF - Weathertech floorliners TLCA #: 18054 Iron Pig Offroad supporter ARB bull bar + lights installation post

05-16-08, 07:46 PM	#2
super50 IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: May 2008 Location: midwest Posts: 26	is it changing gears smoothly? And have you checked the TSBs and recalls? __________________ __________________________________ 99 LX470 Black/Beige

05-16-08, 08:16 PM	#3
1point4 IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 128	not personally, i asked them to do that at the 30k service __________________ '06 UZJ100 - Thunder Cloud Metallic - ARB bull bar - IPF foglight kit - Hella 4000 FF - Weathertech floorliners TLCA #: 18054 Iron Pig Offroad supporter ARB bull bar + lights installation post

05-16-08, 08:46 PM	#4
2003LC IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kennett Square, PA Posts: 45	Sounds like the dreaded drive shaft thud. Have them clean and re-grease the drive shaft under warrantee. I had it done at 30k on my 2006 and recently on my 2003, thud goes away. __________________ 2003 - Bilstein HD, Borla Exhaust, Ipod Adapter, steps removed, 285/60/18 Terra Grapplers. 2006 LC - Stock with Sirius Sat

05-16-08, 10:38 PM	#5
bluecruiser IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 436	almost guaranteed it is the driveshaft....many threads about this issue... __________________ 99 100 2.5 in. OME lift..863 rear, N74L's, NTG 295-75-16's, sliders, new front arb'd diff, 4wd again

05-16-08, 11:26 PM	#6
rusty_tlc 7 dirty words Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Reno, NV TLCA# 15069 Posts: 7,729	There is also a tech bulletin about the cargo rack cross bars being installed backwards. __________________ Dan Johnson "Does this stairway go all the way to the top of the tower?" Battle Born Cruisers FJ40, A couple of thingamajigs and a deally bob, fully integrated whatzits, dash board Hula girl (pending spousal approval.) And a pair of Pink Panties, now with a doohicky in the front. Rust never sleeps. .- -.. --... -. .--

05-17-08, 06:33 AM	#7
1point4 IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 128	thanks everyone. just need to figure out where to take the rig because my local one (about a mile from my house) is obviously useless... __________________ '06 UZJ100 - Thunder Cloud Metallic - ARB bull bar - IPF foglight kit - Hella 4000 FF - Weathertech floorliners TLCA #: 18054 Iron Pig Offroad supporter ARB bull bar + lights installation post

05-21-08, 03:33 AM	#8
Tinkerer IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Alabama Posts: 393	Use moly grease to lube the rear driveshaft slip joints. Follow FSM directions to pump grease in until it seeps out past slip joint seals. Important: MOLY type grease. (Alleviates stiction in the shaft splines.) This is what solved my driveshaft thump. Been thump-free for so long now I can't remember when it last thumped. __________________ 1999 LX470

05-22-08, 07:37 PM	#9
Texasoil IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 38	thunk-thunk fix tis most likely the splines in the rear drive-shaft doing the 'stick-slip' thing. Tis a service bulletin on it, not ALL LC-100 and LX-470 do it--but almost all. Fix is removing drive-shaft, cleaning the splines thoroughly, then re-greasing with specified moly-sulfide grease. Techs (and Service Writer) HATE this kind of grunt work--they loose money on it. Toyota does not pay enough under warranty to cover Dealer costs, techs do not get but about 50% of usual pay for this kind of work--if they get ANYTHING. If this work is done at same visit as say -4wheel pads and rotors job-they will not gripe. By-itself--good luck.

05-23-08, 05:27 AM	#10
nov74fj40 IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Mississippi Posts: 115	Grease the shaft...on the vehicle SImple fix, did it yesterday for my '98...same "thump" after stops...greased 'er up and no more thump.... querry "thump" on the search for this board and you will find a drawing where the lube points are on the drive shaft.

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