Is Toyota lying to me?

So about a year ago I installed a rough country leveling kit. I know, I know, you all hate them, blah, blah, I'm saving for a suspension lift, blah. Anyways everything including ride was fantastic. I drove about 8,000 miles like that no issues. Then I took a 2,000 mile road trip. After I returned I noticed a intermittent "howling noise" at around 40mph. This noise/vibration occurs at about the same rate for a tire rotation as if it is one spot on the tire causing this. I went to Toyota and they said it was an unclipped brake dust cover. That wasn't it. Then they said it was a wave in my tire. It was still occurring. Then I mounted new to me snow tires that were only used for one season on a new highlander. The noise is still occurring. Toyota said that my new tires are also wavy. They are blaming my leveling kit. I have only put about 500 miles on these snow tires. It is possible for my leveling kit to do this to tires, and if so that quick? Or is Toyota lying to me? Thanks for any help.

 

It could be that the lift affected the alignment which affected the tires.

 

That's kind of what I thought, but I forgot to mention I did have it aligned after the leveling kit.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/needle-bearing-ecgs-and-tsb.388913/

If it goes away when in 4-HI it's probably the front diff needle bearing. There's a TSB on it.

 

I'll try that out today and report back with the results. Thank you!

 

That's what came to mind when I read the post too. Mine has a pretty tame howl but I'll be putting in the bushing come spring time.

 

Also yes Toyota is lying to you lol.

 

I haven't read much on it, but is the vibration spaced out as if going over rumble strips before a stop sign/ Or is it constantly present?

 

I had mine replaced under the TSB a week ago with 15K on it. If it it starts up again I'll go with the bearing, too.

 

Yep. It's a thrum like you described spaced out about a second or so and prevalent at 40 mph.

 

That is EXACTLY what it is like, and as mentioned if you put it into 4wd it will go away.

 

Wow, I hope that's it! Any concern with driving like it is? I have a trip coming up that I need to get this resolved before if it's going to affect other components.

 

If left for a long time I've heard of it scoring the axle where it mates with the needle bearing. Some people have gone with it like that for years with no negative affects. I don't feel at all worried waiting to fix mine until spring / summer... but like with anything YMMV

 

So I'm noticing different bushings. How do I know which one I need if this is the problem?

 

Eventually it will damage the CV shaft. It's a good idea to get it done as soon as you can.

Here's a copy of the TSB you can bring to the dealer:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/attachments/t-sb-0026-15-pdf.781453/

 

I'd either go TSB if they will allow it... but they'll probably blame your lift once again. If they won't do it then go with the ECGS bushing which has had great results for nearly everyone who has swapped it out.

 

they have to prove that it was the lift that caused it.... also the fact there is a TSB to solve this issue on STOCK trucks furthers your case.

Pop it in 4hi and if that makes the vibe go away go from there. My truck exhibited the vibe immediately after my 2in lift.... ECGS bushing fixed it right up (this was before the TSB).

 

@nazlax10 its def the needlbearing I don't know why even though there is a tsb u better hope that the dealer can replicate the sound and they wont trip about your lift. I had the same problem with my 14 I had lift done after 6 thousand miles the howling and growling kicked off and it was worse when it was cold. if you get lucky you can get the TSB needle bearing which I heard will fix this. if they don't do it then ECGS @ECGS has a bushing that will help with this.. I installed the ECGS bushing and now no sounds at all and I only have 20K miles on my truck.. so hit up ECGS and get that bushing, the tool someone on this site will probably be selling it. trust me on the bushing it makes a whole difference.

 

and if you are installing it the only pain in the ass is the taking the cv axle out of the diff, so what I did with a help of a friend, there is 2 bolts under the lower control arm. unscrew those. take the wheel off and there is black center cap on the rotors take that off and unscrew the nut have a hammer something that's soft so you don't mess up the cv, pop that off then shift the rotor away from the cv then u gonna need a pry bar to pull the cv out of the diff. once that is done there is a rubber seal with a thing metal ring in the seal which keeps it from moving around so u gotta taek that off and put a new one on. use the tool to pull the needle bearing out then have a bearing race driver and hammer the bushing in. then put everything back together and torque then u are good to go

ECGS said put paper towel or something in the hole so the tool don't fall in I used a plastic bag and stuffed it in and did it that way

 

Pff, to remove the CV from the diff you do not need to remove the LCA or the hub. Simply unbolt the spindle from the LCA and the sway bar. This will allow you to swing the whole spindle assembly with caliper and rotor and cv still attached plenty enough to remove the CV out of the front diff.

But op should try for the TSB unless he really wants the bushing.