I bought a 2004 GX470 a few days ago. CLEAN dealer serviced model with 183k on the clock.

After doing a lot of reading on the web (mostly here), I decided to pull the trigger. Now that I own it I have a few service questions.

The clunk. I'm sure it's a common question, so I apologize for bringing it up again. I'm assuming it's a lack of grease in the U joints, but will greasing them occasionally ensure this isn't ever a problem, or is it just a stop gap for the real issue?

Passenger side power mirror lack of function. It worked when I drove it off the lot.. but somehow it got jammed up doing the dip in reverse function and now it won't move at all... any ideas?

I'm completely new to the GX, Toyota, Japanese cars, and off-road capable SUVs... so I apologize in advance for all my basic questions.

Thanks in advance!

 

Congrats on the GX. Where in TX are you?

I found that greasing the Zerk fitting on the propellor shaft helped some but did not fix the problem. I eventually had it replaced by the dealer. You might be able to get Lexus to do a gratis replacement as there was a TSB and the vehicle was dealer-serviced, but it's not likely.

Not sure about the rear view mirror.

 

I have a 2004, grease the rear drive shaft every 5K with royal purple synthetic, and the front shaft every 10K, since I started doing that about 100k miles ago, no clunk. It needs grease. The mirror, there is a thread here somewhere for replacing the servo motor, pretty easy.

 

Congrats and welcome to CL!

Alan- do you have a diagram of the exact location of the grease fittings on the front and rear DS? Thanks

 

not hard to find, 6 total, two inside each yoke, front and back and one outside the yoke for the shaft, front and back.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/mainte...ting-pics.html

 

if you put up on jackstands, put truck in neutral and you can spin the fittings as you use your foot to spin the tire. or you could have a buddy gentle push the rig(flat, level surface) while you are under it to get the fittings to rotate

 

Alan- thanks for the awesome link. Exactly what I was looking for.

Burny- Lol. I do the exact same routine of putting my jeep on stands then use my foot to rotate the wheel.

 

Congrats on the GX. In addition to the prop shaft, remove the belly pans (i.e. skid plates) and check the front differential supports. I think there was a TSB or recall for them. It could also be causing the clunk.

 

I got the right angle attachment for the grease gun so never had a problem reaching the zerk fittings, also, I guess I have also been lucky, each time I put it on ramps....there they are.

 

Thanks for all the responses... Now, How much grease should each zerk hold? I tried it the other day and one fitting took a whole tube without any coming out the seals! Some slowly came out the zerk after I gave up, but I was shocked.

Is this normal?

 

Also: If I ignore the clunking, will it cause harm to the drive shafts? Most of my milage will be light duty on road commuting, with the occasional light trail run. I do plan on towing my other cars occasionally though.

I don't plan on ignoring it, I'm just curious.