3rd Gen Poll: Rear End Noise howling when feathering throttle

Has it been confirmed that a TSB will be coming out for this

 

No. It's just speculation at this point. There's mixed evidence both for and against their intent to address the problem.

 

The information that I got from the service manager and tech the TSB is on its way and will most likely involve a new design center support bearing for the drive shaft and a vibration dampener that bolts between the shaft halves.

Edit: no confirmation on this just hearsay.

 

And at the same time Toyota corporate is still sending out letters to people who've had cases opened about this problem and telling them that it's a normal characteristic of the truck and that the case was being close and considered resolved. It's hard to believe that they'd be closing those cases and standing behind the 'it's normal' BS if a TSB for the same problem was right around the corner.

Mixed messages for sure.

 

I finally got to speak with my case manager this morning. I asked if head quarters was looking into the cause of she noise and said she had no idea. She said they decide what to look into based on the number of complaints received. She did call my service center and spoke with the service manager who test drove it with us and she related all the information he told us. So it's good to know that they really do follow up and make good and complete case notes.

I told her about my off road worries and that we bought the truck for off road use. I said thinking back to being 30 miles from the highway the weekend before the dealership told us it was unsafe to drive really shook up my confidence in the truck. She said she wanted to look into getting me Extra Care, which sounded like extended maintenance schedules, to help with my customer satisfaction.

Looking at it now, Extra Care is extended warranty?

 

Can't confirm other than what the FTS from Denver Region told me when I met with him and he rode with me in my truck, recorded the howling sound, etc. He said they were well aware of the issue, they'd been sending the "failed" units back into their lab for inspection, and that they were working on a "field fix" for the issue which would take about two months but he said do not quote him on the timeline. Two months from when he told me this would be about a week or two from today. He seemed very genuine about it. I have no reason to doubt him and I am by nature a very inquisitive, analytical and somewhat skeptical individual when it comes to dealing with this type of stuff. My intuition told me he was being honest. Take that FWIW. There was no way to confirm anything in writing because at that time he was simply informing me verbally to try and provide transparency and I didn't feel the need to force his hand in putting something in writing. I doubt he would have anyway since he told me "please do not quote me on this timeline"

He told me he would be in contact with me as soon as the fix was approved. He said the fix would be likely in the form of a TSB. Once three months passes, I'll probably ping the dealer again to get in touch with the FTS and try to get status. For now they've earned my trust to the point at which I will not hassle them on this specific issue. I'll give him his 2+ months before bothering him again.

 

Keeping fingers crossed

 

Well after 3 months of my darkars sitting in my living room I decided to put them on. My diff was replaced once and it immediately howled. After the new leafs the howl is gone. I believe this problem is driveline related. My buddy that is a mechanic also agreed it was pinion angle and was not surprised this fixed my problem. I drove the truck 200 miles today I will keep you guys posted. For now problem fixed.

My wife is so happy to have a clean living room.

 

does this mean negative smitty is gone? I enjoyed the negative smitty lol

Seriously though, very happy to hear as I have an appointment with the dealer for next weekend to be placing my order on my 2017 TRD OR. So nice to hear if this howl does show up for me it will hopefully be addressed by then.
Good luck to us all I guess. Hopefully toyota fixes this and all other issues and we all end up with solid, reliable trucks.

 

As an update to mine....

Spoke with the service manager today while I was getting my backordered LCA plugs installed. He said that the Regional Service guy (possibly the Denver one that Smitty talked to) said that they went back to the diff manufacturer and they said the noise was within their threshold. HOWEVER, they are aware there is a problem and are working on a fix TBD.

What I infer from that is that Toyota is putting the pressure on the diff manufacturer to find a solution. The diff manufacturer is saying its within their threshold, vicious cycle.

 

I believe it's a drive like or u joint noise and not from the diff, too

 

They isolated noise to rear diff with stethoscope so it is unlikely to be coming from elsewhere

 

Just talked to the service manager. They installed the new rear diff and took it for a drive. Good results initially then they heard the noise again in the rear. Put the truck up on a lift, same noise again. Advice from Toyota to the service manager. Take the drive shaft off of a 2017 TRD off road and install and listen for the noise. Hmmmm...

 

Did they change something on the 17's drive shaft? That's weird. Does it have to be an off-road? I'd would think there wouldn't be differnce from a trd sport or sr5 for that matter?

 

What ?

 

They can use mine. Howls like all the rest.

 

I had the OME carrier drop bearing kit in my living room and wanted to put it on to see if it changed anything. I didn't do it. I'm still curious to see if that would have worked. Its cheap so maybe one of you would be willing to try it.

 

Unless it gets the working angle of the front u joint closer to .5 degree, I would caution against it.
It lacks a companion u joint to cancel vibration.