Symptoms
A clunk or a 'grabbing' feel when you take up drive, shift into gear or get on and off the throttle.
The fix, step by step
- IH8MUD's long-running clunk thread usually blames dry driveshaft splines.
- Members pulled the shafts, marked both halves so the phasing goes back the same, and hand-greased the splines.
- For some, doing just the front shaft cured it.
- To prevent it, give the slip-yoke zerks a couple of shots at the first sign of clunking, then look for fresh grease on the shaft after a few miles.
- Don't keep pumping until you're sure the shaft passes grease: over-greasing can hydrolock it, though that's rare.
- An Australian owner was told by a Toyota mechanic that too much grease can stop the slider moving and to stop at two squirts.
- Members used Mobil 1 red and Schaeffer's #229 Ultra Red Moly.
- If it still clunks, check front diff backlash, which contributed for one member.
Tools & part numbers
- Grease gun
- paint pen to mark phasing
- sockets and wrenches for the flange bolts
Where to buy the parts
Moly chassis grease (search)Amazon ↗
Driveshaft and U-joint parts (1997 LX450 catalog)RockAuto ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Lexus LX 450 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.