Clunk when making first stop of the day

[rainstorm]

Every morning I back my '25 TRD Sport out of my driveway, put it in drive and go about 25 mph to the first stop sign which is 500 yards from my driveway. Just before I come to a full stop, there is a very noticeable Clunk.

It happens like clockwork every morning. However I doesn't happen later in the drive after the truck is warmed up.

Is this a normal thing? I brought it up at my 5000 mile service and the rep looked at me confused. He said something like "that's weird, we'll take a look". I don't know if they looked at anything, they didn't bring it up when I picked it up.

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[maxx075]

Normal.
My '24 OR does this exact same thing. When it's warmed up, no issues whatsoever, but every morning I clunk when I come to a stop first thing.

You'll see a lot of this I bet

 

[izzy]

Brake pads move a little within the caliper, just go forwards then reverse and tap the brakes, you'll hear the same sound I'm sure. 4G Tacomas have fixed front calipers, most economy cars have floating calipers which definitely clunk when you go forward then reverse and brake.

 

[maxx075]

Brake pads move a little within the caliper, just go forwards then reverse and tap the brakes, you'll hear the same sound I'm sure. 4G Tacomas have fixed front calipers, most economy cars have floating calipers which definitely clunk when you go forward then reverse and brake.

It's more of a clunk and thunk from the trans. Definitely not brakes.

 

[Madmez]

Same started around 8k. They couldn't replicate it on the ride along. They checked for codes and checked the condition of the trans fluid. They said everything looked fine. On mine its around third gear tho.

 

[Chance3]

Every morning I back my '25 TRD Sport out of my driveway, put it in drive and go about 25 mph to the first stop sign which is 500 yards from my driveway. Just before I come to a full stop, there is a very noticeable Clunk.

It happens like clockwork every morning. However I doesn't happen later in the drive after the truck is warmed up.

Is this a normal thing? I brought it up at my 5000 mile service and the rep looked at me confused. He said something like "that's weird, we'll take a look". I don't know if they looked at anything, they didn't bring it up when I picked it up.

That's interesting, while I have not experienced it on my Tacoma, it sounds like something similar happening on my 2011 FJ 4x4. At times, it felt like someone had actually bumped into my rear bumper along with an audible, clunk. Never really had any issues with it, other than being annoying. The TSB for the FJ issue is attached, FYI. I would think, after more than a decade, Toyota would have eliminated such issues, but.......?

 

[TacoFreak]

I would think, after more than a decade, Toyota would have eliminated such issues, but.......?

My 2nd gen Taco did that a lot and to the point where I would sometimes look in the mirror thinking someone had run into my truck. FJ Cruisers were based on the same chassis and running gear so I am not surprised that it was a problem with them too.

In 4th gens it seems to be related to some rough shifts when the transmission is cold, particularly when stopping and the transmission shifts down to 1st. That is very common and my truck did that a lot when it was new. Some trucks never stop doing that but mine has almost completely stopped as I have added more miles.

 

[cswitz]

My 24 hybrid does it too. It annoyed me enough that I bought a cheap Bluetooth OBD2 reader off Amazon. That shows that the issue happens during a shift from second to first right as I come to a complete stop. Mine also only does it when it's cold. I haven't asked my dealer about it yet and also it has gotten a lot less noticeable after 3k miles.

 

[TacoFreak]

The mechanicals from 4th gen 8-speeds are also used in some transverse engine Toyota and Lexus suvs. Poor shift quality, particularly when cold is a common complaint in them too, for what that's worth. One owner went so far as wishing they would go back to a CVT.

 

[dvrgz]

Every morning I back my '25 TRD Sport out of my driveway, put it in drive and go about 25 mph to the first stop sign which is 500 yards from my driveway. Just before I come to a full stop, there is a very noticeable Clunk.

Same

 

[Yotota]

Rear drive line splines may need greasing. It's a common Toyota thing in all truck models from the last 30 years. The small amount of grease on the splines dries up and sticks, then pops loose at a stop sign when the suspension shifts, and axle/brake load rotates the axle a bit. I've had it happen on every Toyota truck I've owned.

 

[TacoFreak]

@Yotota Yep - axle wrap is almost a Toyota tradition. My Tacos and Tundras have all done it to some extent. I have been told that mostly happens with leaf springs, so I'm not sure if it happens with most 4th gens or not.

@cswitz was able to confirm that this happens when his transmission shifts down to 1st when stopping. This also seems to be a new Toyota tradition and a lot of 4th gens do this.

 

[Burgi]

I have a 2025 4Runner and was experiencing the same thing. I ended up greasing all the driveshaft zerks and have not noticed it since.

 

[Yotota]

@Yotota Yep - axle wrap is almost a Toyota tradition. My Tacos and Tundras have all done it to some extent. I have been told that mostly happens with leaf springs, so I'm not sure if it happens with most 4th gens or not.

@cswitz was able to confirm that this happens when his transmission shifts down to 1st when stopping. This also seems to be a new Toyota tradition and a lot of 4th gens do this.

It happened on my 3rd Gen 4runner, and my GX470 (Same as a 120 series Prado/4runner). Both were 4 link/panhard rear suspension.

Both were solved with some good Moly Grease for the splines. Easy DIY fix.

Edit: but DON'T use Moly Grease on the U-Joints themselves. Never use Moly Grease in any kind of bearing, since the balls/rollers will slip and flat spot instead of roll.

 

[TacoFreak]

Both were solved with some good Moly Grease for the splines. Easy DIY fix.

Good advice and I wish I had known that when I was driving my 2nd gen Taco.

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