Driveline vibration fixed in 2016 According to lead Tacoma engineer.

Here is an article that I found online that I found interesting.

For years the Toyota Tacoma has been plagued by a persistent driveline vibration. This vibration occurs when driving at speeds of 15 to 25 mph and causes the truck to feel like it has a shimmy. Even more maddening than the shimmy is the fact it doesn't equally affect all trucks. A service manager we spoke with a few months ago said you could drive a variety of Tacoma trucks on his lot and each one would have a different degree of shimmy.

Service managers and owners have created all sorts of remedies to the problem, and Toyota has had an ongoing technical service bulletin stretching back to 2005 models. This service bulletin offers a variety of remedies to the problem, including installing a foam pad behind the steering wheel cover.

We asked Sweers if the problem was resolved in the 2016 model. "Completely gone," Sweers said. "If you can find it, I'll buy you dinner."

But what caused the problem in the first place? Sweers said it was a combination of angles and manufacturing tolerances. He said the new truck has a completely new differential with new spring sets and corresponding angles. This basically changed the driveshaft angle, which resolved the problem.

It got me thinking... I wonder if any 2016 Taco owner would measure their U-Joint working angles, more specifically the working angles of the two most rear joints. (joint connecting pinion, and Joint connecting the front and rear drive shafts.

Theoretically these joint angles should cancel each other out to stop the vibes.

My 2013 has working angles of

-2.5 (pinion Joint)
and
.5 (center Joint)

I have a Tiny vibration from 10-20 mph, but not enough to really care.

If we had those working angles I would be happy to match my truck's angles to a 2016 and see if they go away.

If you need to know how to measure PM me, Its Really Easy.

 

Welcome to April.

 

Notice he's not saying he will buy you a new truck, just dinner. Hmmmm makes me wanna wonder about that. Dinner is a lot cheaper than trying to fix the REAL problem. I'm fairly certain it's not completely gone. I dont have it on my manual tranny but some of the folks with A/T are feeling it.

 

I am new to tacoma world today 11/7/15 , I have 2015 tacoma ext cab I feel the vib in steering wheel just had my 5,000 service dealer rotated tires and balance vibration still there. I feel the vibration coming to a stop at 20 mph apply brakes I feel it the most. I dont think it driveshaft a drive shaft vib you feel when taking off from 10 to 25 mph like u joints bad this slowing down and brakes. and advise. I just went on all data pro found bullitin about driveline technical service bullitins # 008-14 its for 2005-2014 tacoma about two piece drive shaft shims and about rr engine mount is also a problem. I calling dealer next week I ask about this bullitin

 

start buying parts to throw at it and see what happens. but seriously take it to the dealer and insist they resolve it. it will likely take many irritating visits...

 

I drove a 2016 today, maybe should have test drove it like I do used motorcycles, run it up and down in each gear through the RPM range to see how it works.

I could have done that with the 2016, no salesman present they let me have it on my own. I would have spun it up but I didn't want to ruin it for the eventual owner, just wanted to hear the engine note and feel the throttle response.

Too buzzy engine note for my taste but adequate power. It won't be better than the 4.0 for power. It has to hang its hat on MPG.

The new 6spd auto trans that's a gamer and a winner. You don't like standard mode? Pop it into ECT. You don't like ECT? Pop it into bumpshift. Toyota hit it out of the park with this 6-spd auto.

 

If they knew about the cause, then why didn't they tell every Taco owner that complained about it? I think Sweers is blowing smoke......

 

They don't know.

 

I got news for you. I got a 2016 TRD 4X4 Off Road, and it's there. Bad. It's not a "shimmy" in my words or feel. It's a vibration, as if I have highly aggressive mud tires. I don't, I have the OE tires. I can feel it in my hands, but, and brake pedal. It's there in the 15-30mph range very noticeable. Most at 20-25, and far worse when braking or coasting to a stop. It's even there when I'm coasting and shift to neutral to coast. In my estimation, that eliminates the transmission.

It's worsening. I first noticed and reported it at @ 1500 miles. I now can begin to notice it ever so slightly at around 40mph. I'm f***kin pissed! This completely detracts from my enjoyment of an otherwise kick ass ride. I would like to add a leveling kit, some wheels and tires, but can't do such work pending some resolution to this issue, or me getting rid of the truck. When I took it to the dealership, they went over it, confirmed the vibration, opened a tech case with Toyota, and noted that this was "normal under normal operating conditions". They even drove a comparable new truck on their lot and found it in that unit. I took it back at @ 3000 miles to have them try to look again. They said it's normal. I suggested to the female service manager that they give me a new unit. She smartass replied "I'm sure they'll make you a good deal on a trade". I didn't call her the word that came to mind, but it started with "C". They let me drive a comparable truck, and it was present, thought not nearly as prevalent as in mine. I've since written the General Manager a "lawyer letter" as I am an attorney. Waiting to see what's next. (Doubt the letter scares them much as they've covered by binding arbitration bulls**t. I don't expect much satisfaction, and believe I'll have to live with it, then probably they'll use it against me when I got to trade. But, like all good lawyers, I'm going to be a thorn in their side at the very least. I hate it. First Tacoma ever, and it's got an issue that seriously affects my driving enjoyment.

 

Mine vibrates 2014 at about 40 then again about 70. I can feel it in the steering wheel and if I let it go it shakes. Been this way since new. At every 5k mile service so far they align and balance it but it keeps coming back. Once warranty is up I'm getting that bushing installed.

Didn't realize this was third gen thread.

 

Here is what was done to resolve the identical vibration issue on my previous gen2:
- installed a new driveshaft assembly (includes center support and all u-joints)
- replaced transmission mount with updated TSB part
- replaced both engine mounts
- installed steering wheel TSB
I drove over 200K miles after these parts were replaced and never experienced another vibration. All work was performed under warranty.

 

I'm dealing with it too having my driveshaft balanced will repost if it works I've done everything else so far ...wheel bearings,u-joints,center support bearing,tires,brakes all around, ball joints,stabilizer links,shocks,springs,also did the front Diff Needle bearing only thing left is driveshaft balance or trans. anyone Got a Match book !

 

Im with you, but mine is most prevalent between 15-20 mph. Took it to the dealer and they said it was because of the "aggressive" and "big" truck tires. Seems like bullshit to me.

 

Mine has no vibration. Runs as smooth as a baby's butt

 

I have a 2016 and I have the vibration from 15-25mph, I am pretty disappointed I hope its an easy fix, I don't want to live with it for the life span of the truck. Will be bringing truck in this week.

 

Would love to hear what they say.

 

I have a 2016 Tacoma 4x4 off road crew cab. I have a ring gear whine from 54-56 mph and a driveline vibration at 55-62,neither are all that bad but I have this vibration rough feeling,like rolling over cobblestone under 30 mph. It does it when slowing down without braking at those speeds but is amplified at those speeds with the brake applied. You can also feel that roughness on a slow accell from a stop or just when cruising around at those speeds. I think all three of my issues are related,Toyota dealer said they compared my truck to a like model and it does it as well. I told them that I had a 2016 tacoma 4x4 sport crew cab (basically the same truck) that I did a lift kit on at another dealer. I went and road tested that vehicle before I did the lift and it had none of these issues. I see where it states some trucks are affected more than others. They then proceeded to tell me that it was the hydraulic brake booster I was feeling and the way the ABS operates. Well I told them that i had said you do not have to be braking,braking just amplifies it and that the ABS is not operating unless I am in an ABS event. So now that I have googled this issue I see there are all kinds of reports.

 

I have the same. You're describing the rumble strip

 

I got the same thing man. My dealer said all Tacomas do this and it's completely normal, which I do not believe at all.

Then they told me that Toyota is actually aware of the issue and it has to do with rear driveline angles being out of spec.

 

It's the same truck with a new engine and transmission, of course it's going to have the same idiosyncrasies.