Here's the Driveshaft Clunk/Thump TSB that I got from somewhere...I hope it helps.
Love my 470 but this damn thumping...
- Thread starter Yotatron
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The zerks are inside the driveshaft u joints. You will see them in the center. The shaft splines have a zerk on the shaft.
I have the same problem. Will try and get fitting greased up.
I have the same problem. Will try and get fitting greased up.
Someone posted a picture of a drive shaft with zerks highlighted in this post Builds - Homer's 2003 GX470 Build
Our new driveshafts arrived today, nice quality! I am taking them to the builders tomorrow.
Thanks for the help on the part numbers.
B
- Thread starter
- #27
I found 2 of the driveshaft zeros and greased them up, went for a drive and now my right airbag is leaking bad.
Yesterday I replaced both airbags (Westar brand $125) and now it rides like a champ.
I noticed that during a stop i heard the clunk and thump once but was very subtle and not early as bad as before.
Thx
Yesterday I replaced both airbags (Westar brand $125) and now it rides like a champ.
I noticed that during a stop i heard the clunk and thump once but was very subtle and not early as bad as before.
Thx
Grease will only soften it, it won't cure it. The new DS design cures it.
If you are having the driveshaft thump and are trying to fix it with grease, just adding new grease at the zerks is not enough to keep the thump away for more than a couple weeks. The first time you grease it, you need to first clean out all the old grease by separating the two halves of the driveshaft so you can clean all the old grease off the splines. Then grease the splines with something like the Motorcraft XG-8 grease and put the two halves back together. I did this about 5 years ago and haven't had the thump come back at all.
Sage words...the thump is just accumulated crap in the shaft that makes it travel a shorter distance and bottom out. The updated design is nothing more than a deeper engagement and some grease channels to flush it vs pack it I believe.
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- #31
I will do that when I install the lift sometime in the next year.
This is all great advise.
This is all great advise.
Are you talking about removing the whole drive shaft assembly and taking the smaller diameter shaft out of the larger diameter shaft, and cleaning in there? (is it just a relatively easy unbolting?)
Also what is the hydro-lock risk of adding too much grease to the zerk fittings? Thank you.
Yes, remove the smaller shaft from the larger. You probably don't need to remove the whole driveshaft. I can't remember but I think I only took apart one end, swung it down, and then slid the smaller shaft out. Mark the sides of the shafts first with a paint pen so they go back together exactly the same way. Clean the splines as well as you can with degreaser and then regrease the splines and reassemble. I'm not sure about the hydro-lock risk. I think I removed the zerk fitting until everything was back together so any extra grease could come out through the hole.
Has anyone else ever felt the thump a few moments after coming to a complete stop?
Yes, I've felt it. Mine has a light thump when I stop, and then while brakes are applied during a stop it seems like the thump hits about every three seconds in the form of a small thud that if you didn't know what it was you may not notice. Like the drive shaft is trying to turn a little but hits a barrier. Almost the same sensation of while stopped letting the brakes off just a little and then hitting they brakes again.
Seems similar to what I’ve experienced, except mines a big thump. It occasionally happens on startup as well. Feels/sounds similar to the popping/thumping sound the abs makes when the DAC is working
johnny4ever
Test appropriately
Ah yes another mystery solved. I was wondering what was happening.
Zerk is a funny word.
Zerk is a funny word.
I greased my zerks last night, followed what @langsen mentioned above and separated and cleaned the drive shaft for good measure. It was easy enough. I ran out of grease halfway though so I'll crawl under again soon, but for now the thump is gone.
Removing the bolts from the drive shaft up front and you can swing the drive shaft down while still connected at the rear. Splines separate and you can clean them and reassemble and fill with grease at the zerks. I was surprised the amount of grease I pumped in the drive shaft section because when I removed it, (seperated the splined sections) it was empty aside from old residue. I had to vibrate the shaft a bit to get it off after I removed the 4 bolts. What worked best is tapping a length of pipe with a hammer that was wedged into a section on the shaft to knock it off from 14 years of security. Also a bit bummed that this GX was dealer maintained and there are comments of "costomer complains about rear thumping in service notes" and they didn't replace the drive shaft....at least I don't think they did if I was experiencing the thump. I think the dealer gave attention to brakes at that time per notes.
I had GX on jack stands so I could turn drive shaft by hand while transfer case was in neutral. Then had to put in High or Low to tighten/loosen bolts.
(search: gx470, driveshaft, brake, clunk, bump, clank)
Removing the bolts from the drive shaft up front and you can swing the drive shaft down while still connected at the rear. Splines separate and you can clean them and reassemble and fill with grease at the zerks. I was surprised the amount of grease I pumped in the drive shaft section because when I removed it, (seperated the splined sections) it was empty aside from old residue. I had to vibrate the shaft a bit to get it off after I removed the 4 bolts. What worked best is tapping a length of pipe with a hammer that was wedged into a section on the shaft to knock it off from 14 years of security. Also a bit bummed that this GX was dealer maintained and there are comments of "costomer complains about rear thumping in service notes" and they didn't replace the drive shaft....at least I don't think they did if I was experiencing the thump. I think the dealer gave attention to brakes at that time per notes.
I had GX on jack stands so I could turn drive shaft by hand while transfer case was in neutral. Then had to put in High or Low to tighten/loosen bolts.
(search: gx470, driveshaft, brake, clunk, bump, clank)
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Good to know. I’ll probably tackle this next spring.
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve taken mine to Lexus at least three times with the driveline thump complaint and they’ve never offered to replace the drive shaft. I even showed the service advisor the TSB for a replacement driveshaft. They maintain that all it needs is grease and it is not failing. They always say “if it starts thumping again, just swing by and we’ll have someone grease it up for you real quick.”
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve taken mine to Lexus at least three times with the driveline thump complaint and they’ve never offered to replace the drive shaft. I even showed the service advisor the TSB for a replacement driveshaft. They maintain that all it needs is grease and it is not failing. They always say “if it starts thumping again, just swing by and we’ll have someone grease it up for you real quick.”
Maybe I'll try the dealership next time. I H8mud and IH8Grease too. But good to know what to do if dealership isn't an optionGood to know. I’ll probably tackle this next spring.
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve taken mine to Lexus at least three times with the driveline thump complaint and they’ve never offered to replace the drive shaft. I even showed the service advisor the TSB for a replacement driveshaft. They maintain that all it needs is grease and it is not failing. They always say “if it starts thumping again, just swing by and we’ll have someone grease it up for you real quick.”
