2001 QX4 Rear Clunk/Thud- Stop and Go Only (FIXED)

[PogiQX]

Hello Everyone. Just joined here. I picked up an '01 with 127K few weeks ago. It is in excellent shape and was garage kept by the PO. But I am trying to catch up on maintenance stuff. In the next few weeks, I will be doing a transmission fluid (pan drop), rear diff fluid change, drive belts, and brakes.

The biggest thing I am trying to solve is the rear clunk/thud feel when the car comes to a complete stop. It feels like you get rear-ended a bit. It feels like something in the rear is shifting causing the thud/clunk feel. Also, as soon as you let the brakes go and step on the acceleration...you will feel this clunk/thud again. This issue only occurs on Stop and Go only.....no issues while cruising.

I have done quite a bit of research online and some talks about possibility of the rear u-joint. I am hoping that someone on the board experienced the same, and what was their solution. I came across threads who have had similar issue but no follow ups on original poster how they solved the problem.

If it is indeed the rear u-joint, how difficult to replace?

Thanks everyone and looking forward to everyone's expertise on here.

[zach7685]

Have you checked the trailing arms

[PogiQX]

Haven't check that....i will do that as well when I get under the truck. Hoping to get some guidance here what else to check...thanks

[PathyProject]

I had the same problem too when I first got my Pathfinder. I also thought it was the rear u-joint. So, I went and greased all my u-joints to no avail. I then noticed that my transmission mount was bad, so I replaced that. The thud decreased significantly afterwards, they I replaced my rear trailing arm bushings with polyurethane. The thud decreased significantly once more, then I replaced my shock absorbers. Now the thud is all but gone.

The only time I hear the thud now is when I descend a hill and stop at the bottom. I looked underneath my ride and saw that the stabilizer bar links have torn brittle bushings on them, and my sway-bar bushings are bad as well. This explains the slight thud that I feel only on the left or right in the rear of my vehicle.

Your problem can be many things, but if I were you I would check the things that I mentioned above.

[PogiQX]

Thanks for sharing...i will definitely check those parts you mentioned.

[skiski329]

maybe your spare tire is loose and banging when you accelerate or come to a stop. try tightening that hoist holding the spare.

[PogiQX]

maybe your spare tire is loose and banging when you accelerate or come to a stop. try tightening that hoist holding the spare.

I doubt it...but will check that as well. It really feels like u get rear ended as soon as u come to a complete stop. Like something is shifting...driving me nuts. I will look around. Thanks

[PogiQX]

bump...

need a little more guidance please. I took it to a shop today and was told the trailing arms are the issue. If they are indeed, why would the clunk/thud gone if I put it in neutral prior to coming to a complete stop? If they are the trailing arms, wouldn't it clunk all the time? I do not get the wobble issue that many people experience so I am still thinking its the u-joint.....

[zach7685]

well i need trailing arms and i have the thud and thunk as well. I don't know what the death wobble feels like but my car is twitchy for a lack of better words.

[PogiQX]

I did the putting it in "neutral" test while the car in motion, then hit the brakes....No clunk/thud. So I am pretty positive that there is a back lash on the driveshaft. I will replace the trailarms anyways as I understand it is a common issue. I rather do those now than wait for the wobble to occur. I will update this thread whenever I solve this issue so that others that get these type issues will have some guidance as well.

[kev222]

have you found what the problem was??

i am also having same problem, but don't know part i need to replace...
how much does this repare cost???

[PogiQX]

have you found what the problem was??

i am also having same problem, but don't know part i need to replace...
how much does this repare cost???

sorry for the late response....not here much. Not sure if you already fixed the issue on your QX. Mine was a simple fix.....greasing up the driveshaft slip yoke fixed the issue. So if you are still having the issue, check the slip yoke. If it is dry, put a good amount of grease and it should solve the problem.

[ulenie]

have you found what the problem was??

i am also having same problem, but don't know part i need to replace...
how much does this repare cost???

sorry for the late response....not here much. Not sure if you already fixed the issue on your QX. Mine was a simple fix.....greasing up the driveshaft slip yoke fixed the issue. So if you are still having the issue, check the slip yoke. If it is dry, put a good amount of grease and it should solve the problem.

I am having the same exact problem you described. Will check if I still have the sound with the car in neutral but took it to a shop and they checked the control arms and all, said everything looks fine. They checked the differential fluid, saw metal shavings in it and told me my problem was rear diff and it needs replacing. I am going to look into the driveshaft slip yoke and report back

[ulenie]

Alright, just did the braking to a sudden stop when car is in neutral and walla, problem is gone. No clunk, no thud...so I am guessing this rules out suspension or related parts. It must be drive shaft related?

[ulenie]

So relieved... I took my car to the shop and told them I already researched this issue and to grease up the drive shaft slip yoke. The owner was mystified when I told him that. But walla, after being greased up, no thud, no bang. Thank OP.

For those having this problem, before you replace anything, test the car for the bang noise by hitting the brake hard while in neutral. if the noise is gone, then most likely its the drive shaft slip yoke. Cheers!