Feels like I have square tires when I’m in 4 wheel drive

I have a 2016 TRD Sport. 6 speed manual trans. Currently 40k miles on it.

The beginning of this winter I had to put my truck in 4 wheel drive. When I did, it shook like crazy every time I tried to accelerate. It’s not a small shimmy either, it’s a strong shake. (Like I have square tires). I took it to the dealer and they told me this was normal for a Tacoma. I took the tech for a test drive. Actually 12 of them.... every time it was hopping, I looked at the tech and said “see what I mean?” He looked me dead in the eyes and said “I don’t feel anything”

he finally admitted it’s normal for a Tacoma. So we took a new one for a ride. He told me of course a new one will be different. A truck with this much mileage is going to be different. That was at 30k miles on it.

Their final conclusion was that my tires were unbalanced but only noticable in 4 wheel drive. Plus I don’t have the stock tires on it, so that will do it.

Of course, I’m not buying this. I feel like it’s an unbalanced drive shaft or something. But I can’t find a single thing on line about it. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

These dealer tech guys have a list of rebuttals and responses for any given issue. They are sales people where their job is to turn away customers with warranties by selling you on the fact that there is no problem. If you're not getting through then it's time to call up corporate and be ready to get a second dealer involved.

 

Wow.

So either your butt meter is on sensitive or his is numb.

Try another dealer. You're not required to go where you bought it. Maybe they'll have their techs calibrated right

 

Honestly it might be the transfer case

 

Thanks everyone.
Clearwater Bill... my butt meter is calibrated correctly! Haha

this is the second dealer I’ve dealt with. They seam to have the same book of answers they revert back to. I also dealt with corporate about my paint peeling and they decided that it’s not covered under warranty because I drove on a road that was recently covered with rock salt and I didn’t wait long enough. I’m hoping it’s not the transfer case, but it does go into 4 wheel drive pretty hard.

 

x2! Investigate your 4WD components. CV's too. You could have broken rollers in the inner joint housing.

 

I only say that because I used to.have a truck that the transfer case went bad, a.bearing seized up and the entire truck would shake very violently at random times.

 

Sounds like you are turning sharp with 4wd engaged and getting the "chug, chug,chug" feeling that normal when your turning to tight.

 

OP said its when he accelerates. Doesnt sound like wheel hop, but still good to say.

 

Yeah it’s when I’m going straight. I was hoping it wasn’t a transfer case, but I havent got a chance to get under it to check everything out. Was thinking about trying to find someone with a lift to see if I can’t put it in 4 whee drive and see If I notice anything odd. But also want to check the cv joints and such. I just found it odd that multiple techs told me that was normal.

 

Not wheel hop. Every 4x4 I've ever owned does this. It's binding.

 

4 wheel drive splits the power from front to back 50/50 so it should feel slower, but as far as feeling like you are driving on square wheels that is not normal. I would reccomend going to a different dealership and if they say the same thing make sure they put a note in your file so if it does break somthing down the line thell have to fix it.