2012 Rear drive shaft replaced TC to diff

We bought a CPO 2012 Tacoma. I mentioned the vibration on the test drive and the salesman said that the truck was CPO and that they would take care of it. Took it back after buying it and was told 'they couldn't find any vibration'!? Got under the truck myself and could move the drive shaft within the carrier bearing about 3/4". Took it back and told them it needs a new carrier bearing. They tried to tell me 'that amount of movement was normal'... I told them that 'physics, geometry- common sense tells you that simply is not true.'

They went and looked and there is apparently an "alert/ warranty coverage" for the rear drive shaft on the 2012s. He wouldn't give much information, but said something about the yolk and asked if I ever felt a 'thump'- I told him that I occasionally get what feels like a light tap from behind by another car when slowing down- but the vibration is much worse. They said they would replace the entire drive shaft including the carrier bearing.

Just picked the truck up and the acceleration- vibration is fixed... ***Or so I thought. The acceleration vibration happens less often but still happens during acceleration. The shitty part is the truck has a constant vibration now and still has a drone at 100 kph.***

 

I have the exact same issues as you (even down to the test drive) on my 2013 with the exception that I have a slight pull to the left also (the dealership did the alignment before I picked it up). The truck is going in tomorrow so I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

 

I purchased my '09 DCSB as a CPO from Ernie Palmer Toyota in Jacksonville FL. They had sold it to the PO and had done all service on it (he traded it in on a new Tundra); but before it when on their lot they went through it and did every recall/TSB/"make-it-right" thing they could find, one of which was replacing the front and rear propeller shafts and the carrier bearing. I don't know if there is a TSB for the shafts/bearing or if it was just one of their make-it-right exercises.

In any event I highly recommend (and I am not a "stealership" fanboy by any stretch) EP Toyota, they have a class act...

 

Funny thing is mine also has a slight pull to the left. I had them check it and they showed me the alignment print out and it was within the limits- so now I am thinking it could be the front tires. They already replaced the rear tires bc of separated belts.

 

When you say front and rear do you mean the front portion of the rear driveshaft as well as the rear portion of the rear driveshaft? Or do you mean the drive shaft that goes to the front diff? The dealership guy said they were going to replace the front and rear drive shafts- I thought this meant the front shaft that goes to the front diff- but he meant the front portion of the rear shaft as well as the rear portion of the rear shaft (and the carrier bearing). If that makes sense- sounds a little like Dr. Seuss!

 

Sorry for the confusion, mine is 2WD--I meant both pieces of the rear shaft--and the carrier bearing...

 

Having only driven the truck a short distance from the dealership to my house it did feel better.
But after taking it on a longer drive and at hi way speeds, the acceleration vibration happens less often but still happens during acceleration. The worse part is the truck has a constant vibration now (stiffer bushing in the carrier bearing perhaps?) and still has a drone at 100 kph.

Starting to think maybe the single piece drive shaft is the way to go.

 

Apologies for the lack of update but last Friday we had a full on blizzard here in Central Alberta so the appointment was cancelled as it was almost impossible to get the truck up to speed on the hi-way. Re booked for today however. Well, the vibration seems to be fixed and it was simply due to wheel balancing. As for the pulling to the left, it seems a lot better but I'm not convinced (re alligned). There was a slight wind on the way home but the steering wheel seems to be a little off center and possibly still a slight pull. We will see...

 

I own a 2012 4x4 and always feel a thump about 1 second after stopping. I checked the torque on the u-bolts and all are within spec. Seems that I should check the drive shaft for play. Any advice?

 

I'd like to know as well, I think it's the slip yoke in the driveshaft honestly. When I swap my rear leafs I will take the shafts apart and grease them up real good.

 

Well I didn't get an explanation from the dealer- just that there was an 'alert' on their system for the rear drive shaft yolk. So they replace the whole drive shaft with new carrier. I 'think' it is the yolk bottoming out bc the rear leafs are so crappy they let the rear end move forward and stuff the drive shaft until it bottoms out- but thats just my guess. I haven't felt the bump since the new drive shaft.

I could move the drive shaft side to side at the carrier bearing over 3/4" by hand- the new one barely moves by hand.

The acceleration vibration is not fixed- (it is better though). It also now has a constant vibration through the whole truck after the new drive shaft- stiffer/ less worn bushing in the carrier perhaps?

Took the truck back yesterday and they looked at it and told me they couldn't find any vibration! I asked them if they drove the truck?! Then they said they would put a tech in the truck with me (what I asked them to do the first time I went back). Took the tech for a drive and showed him that under medium to hard acceleration the vibration started at 20 kph and continued and got worse at 40 kph then went away. I did it multiple times so he could see the steering wheel shake and feel it through the truck.
Now it goes back Friday to have the transmission cleared and rebooted. They now think it is to do with the automatic transmissions computer control of the lock up torque convertor- or maybe the trans mount- so they are going to have a new trans mount on hand 'just in case'.

I think it is just a poorly engineered and manufactured drive shaft. We bought the truck as a certified pre-owed so it came with a 1 year power train warranty so they can keep putting new parts on until they fix it. Or once the warranty expires or they give up I will go with a one piece drive shaft with cardon joint and 1 ton joints.

 

T-SB-0008-14- 03 FEB 14 - Driveline Vibration

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tsb-list-for-2005-toyota-tacoma.7107/

 

A big THANK YOU !!!

Printed it out and going to take it to the dealer today.

 

Your welcome, hope you can get them to straighten it out for you.

 

The vibration saga continues...

Took the Toyota TSB in, they didn't look pleased that I had that information. Claimed that they had already seen the same TSB (yet they were telling me everything was fine?). Not sure why they are trying to only do part of the TSB? They want to do it a part or two at a time.

Truck went back to the Toyota dealership and they are now going to replace the 2 front tires, replace the trans mount with an updated version and reflash the transmission computer. They were supposed to call the beginning of last week but I didn't hear from them so I called today and was told that the updated trans mount should be here Thursday.

I am loosing confidence that the Toyota dealership will be able to fix- a Toyota. We have owned it since November and it has been back for the same issues 5 or 6 times and when we do drive it- it feels like a $1500 beater. Not sure how they could have missed the issues when it went through the certified preowned and they already had the TSB?

 

If I were you I would call Toyota corporate and file a complaint with the dealer that's working on your truck and explain to them how the dealer is wanting to " half ass" the repairs that there's clearly a TSB for the issue's your having with it.

 

There are good dealerships, OK dealerships, and those that suck monkey balls in hell.

My 50+ years experience, not just with Toyota, has been that the larger the dealership the more monkey balls they have in the service shop. In 1992 a large dealer in Jacksonville FL was replacing the blower motor on my wife's '89 Celica--they "lost" the speedometer cable, and took 6 weeks getting a new one?

 

Just got back from picking the truck up. STILL NOT FIXED.
They have had 6 or 7 attempts to fix it and have only been able to reduce the vibration.

They had the truck 2 days and said that they indexed the driveshaft and that the vibration was gone- it is only reduced.
They told me they were going to put 2 new front tires on and the new 'updated' trans mount and a reflash of the trans. No new tires and they didn't even touch the trans mount- yet they said there was movement in both directions and I waited 3 weeks for them to get it in!

I am close to returning the truck to the dealership for a full refund.

 

6 attempts to fix the vibes, either live with them or return the truck if you can.

 

I would like to see the fitment of the front driveshaft/trans extension/flange housing fit.