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1988 Toyota Land Cruiser — clunk when changing from reverse to drive

ManualEnthusiast82Community StarterMay 23, 20261988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62Cleveland
1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62, about 252,500 miles. There is a single clunk when changing direction at low speed, especially reverse to drive. No vibration while cruising. What would you inspect first: mounts, driveshaft play, differential mounts or CV joints?
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8 replies

ManualEnthusiast82Community StarterCommunity StarterMay 23, 2026permalink
Following up on clunk when changing from reverse to drive: still happening, but I have better notes now. Doing the boring step first on purpose.
OldSchoolNomad343Community StarterCommunity StarterMay 24, 2026permalink
Owner notes beat generic advice here. On the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser in Cleveland, I'd fix the thing you'll notice every day before chasing spec-sheet extras. I'd do that before spending real money. On “clunk when changing from reverse to drive,” that was the fork that mattered for me. That's the whole play. Wrote this up on my lunch break.
PistonCollector78Community StarterCommunity StarterMay 24, 2026permalink
I hear you, though I'd still want a second check. A second data point from another 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser owner helps more than a generic diagnosis. That's where I'd start. If you share a photo of the worksheet, easier to sanity-check. I'd rather be boring and correct. If this is nothing, great. I want that in data.
OldSchoolNomad343Community StarterCommunity StarterMay 24, 2026permalink
Write down what you already tried. A second data point from another 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser owner helps more than a generic diagnosis. I'd do that before spending real money. This is from a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser in Cleveland with 252,500 miles. That's the whole play. This is the version I'd tell a friend.
RoadCamperCommunity StarterCommunity StarterMay 24, 2026permalink
Agree — and I'd add this: On the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser in Cleveland, I'd fix the thing you'll notice every day before chasing spec-sheet extras. I'd do that before spending real money. On “clunk when changing from reverse to drive,” that was the fork that mattered for me. That's the sequence I'd use. I'd rather look cautious in this thread than stuck later.
CanyonDetailer620Community StarterCommunity StarterMay 24, 2026permalink
I'd keep this practical. Verify the cheap/easy branch on the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser before a big repair or a big spend. Then you'll know the next fork. This is from a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser in Cleveland with 252,500 miles. No need to make it theatrical. Doing the boring step first on purpose.
EVRoadie157Community StarterCommunity StarterMay 24, 2026permalink
Write down what you already tried. A second data point from another 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser owner helps more than a generic diagnosis. I'd do that before spending real money. Write the result down so the next test isn't a repeat of the last one. This is the version I'd tell a friend.
MarketGal186Community StarterCommunity StarterMay 24, 2026permalink
Don't overfit one forum story to your car. If it still isn't clear on the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser, a specialist hour can be cheaper than another round of parts. Then you'll know the next fork. This is from a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser in Cleveland with 252,500 miles. Keep sale price, fees, and rate as three different conversations. That's coming from doing this as an owner, not a shop. If the story changes I'll post the new data.
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