Clunck Sound (Shifting out of 4WL)

[climber1872000]

Hi All - I have been using 4WH lately as we have had a lot of snow over the past 3 weeks. Over noticed lately that every time I
I park, put the truck in neutral, and shift the truck back to 2WD it makes a loud thud sound that can be felt. I've noticed this is my 2018 but only when I was not fully stopped. Has anyone else experienced this?

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[TacoFreak]

Yeah - that is not unusual.

If there is any front axle binding from when it was in 4WD it will clunk as it disengages the transfer case. Sometimes it helps to drive a short distance with the wheels straight before stopping and moving out of 4WD. Being stopped can help too, but not always.

 

[MT-Taco]

It’s normal, but can be done clunk free. Drive straight, briefly let off the gas at the same time as switching into or out of 4H for clunk free operation. 4L try to keep the wheels straight.

 

[Dirt]

Agree it's normal. MT-Taco has the solution pegged IMO.

 

[Sandeep1994]

4th gen tacoma have CAD front centre axle disconnect in 2wd . Thats the reason we hear noice when engaging 4h . In normal 2wd front driveshaft and front diff is stationary .

 

[izzy]

It’s normal, but can be done clunk free. Drive straight, briefly let off the gas at the same time as switching into or out of 4H for clunk free operation. 4L try to keep the wheels straight.

This 100% works.

If you're shifting in S mode offroad (or on) briefly letting off the gas when you bump the shifter up or down will result in a very smooth shift. Not surprising though.

 

[MT-Taco]

Had a 2013 Tundra, shifting into 4H and 4L was the same. Transmission acted pretty similar as well, often harder shifts when it was cold but smooth as butter at operating temps. I just start out slow and easy until it gets up to higher temps to avoid the harder cold shifts.

 

[TacoFreak]

All of my Toyota 4x4 trucks have done this and it never seemed to hurt anything. In my Tundra you could follow all of @izzy's excellent advice, and sometimes it would still do that. But I drove my last Tundra for 14 years without a single issue, so I would not worry about the occasional clunk.

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