Good shop for my LandCruiser? (Huntsville) (1 Viewer)

[bgreenlee]

Looking for a good place to have my 97 FJ80 worked on. It's got a weird clanging I can't seem to figure out and I'd like to knock out a 120k service while I'm at it. Not in a position to take care of these things myself and wanted to know if anyone had a good recommendation for a place to take it?

I was just going to go through Toyota, but I'm not sure if that'd be the best choice.

Thanks!

 

[bhmmapping]

what kind of "clanging"? when does it make the sound?

 

[bgreenlee]

what kind of "clanging"? when does it make the sound?

It clangs when the drive line loads up whenever shifting from Reverse to Drive or vice versa. (foot on brake not moving). Feels like something big is pretty loose. I've had a buddy look as it was shifted and he couldn't spot anything visibly shifting around. It also has a vibration pull at speed from time to time.

Someone else thought it maybe a loose tranny or transfer case mount. It definitely sounds like it could be one of these. Probably exasperated by my already high idle.

That sound plausible?

 

[bhmmapping]

It clangs when the drive line loads up whenever shifting from Reverse to Drive or vice versa. (foot on brake not moving). Feels like something big is pretty loose. I've had a buddy look as it was shifted and he couldn't spot anything visibly shifting around. It also has a vibration pull at speed from time to time.

Someone else thought it maybe a loose tranny or transfer case mount. It definitely sounds like it could be one of these. Probably exasperated by my already high idle.

That sound plausible?

the "clang" is normal, search for "clunk" in the 80 series tech. You probably just need to grease your driveshaft/check the ujoints. To properly grease the splines of the shaft you need to pull it, clean the old grease out and put new grease on the splines. If you just pump grease into the slip joint it can keep it from compressing and put strain on your transfer case. The pull could be anything, most likely tires out of balance.

 

[Elbert]

I work in Huntsville, but I don't know anyone up there who drive a LC. I'm told there are one or two shops that specialize in imprort stuff, but I don't know enough about them to reccomend one. THese are private shops...not the dealer.

I should say I don't know anyone who drives a newer model LC.

 

[uabericm]

Sounds like a good reason for a meeting and beer.

 

[Land Speeder]

You're hearing driveline clunk... and i almost got a great deal on one once because the "mechanic" that was selling it thought the tranny was about to go... After a computer guy explained to him it's normal in the full-time 4WD 80-series cruisers and actually had him look under the rig while i shifted it back and forth to see the driveline slop, he decided to keep it... for a little while longer anyway.
the above story tells you one thing.... you have a vehicle that's going on two decades old... learn it yourself and you'll save alot more than a shade-tree mechanic that may have never even worked on one of these things... even when they own it themselves.

 

[bhmmapping]

what eric meant to say was that your transmission or transfer is likely about to explode killing a busload of nuns and small children in the process. The cost to repair is going to far exceed the value of the vehicle so you should sell it to matt for $500 fast, before someone dies. Or you should just grease your u-joints.

 

[bgreenlee]

Thanks for the help!
As always, glad that it doesn't sound like I'm dealing with anything too major!

Rather be saving money for a potential frankie's lift at some point...

what eric meant to say was that your transmission or transfer is likely about to explode killing a busload of nuns and small children in the process. The cost to repair is going to far exceed the value of the vehicle so you should sell it to matt for $500 fast, before someone dies. Or you should just grease your u-joints.

Think of the children!
Thanks for saving me from this-

 

[McDowra]

Dan @ Rocket City Offroad has sold me a lot of parts at reasonable prices. He hasn't worked on my LC yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to let him work on mine if I needed some work done.

Tim