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

I hear you regarding the head unit and overall outdated dash in the T4R. And i have been thinking I'd hate to give up the updated stuff in the Tacoma. But after driving the Runner, I realized it was just like my 2014 Tacoma. Which was only 4 years old and felt super tech-y when I got it. My first "touch screen" in a vehicle. It's really not that bad. At all.

After spending a half hour in the Runner, I got used to the head unit. It was just fine. Overall it was just a much more comfortable vehicle to drive. The seats and seating position are 100x better (for me). That's huge. The transmission is sooo much better. And the overall quality tops the Tacoma by a large margin. Lift the hood and take a look around.

Funny thing is I didn't even consider a Runner when I got my 2018 Tacoma. Because I've had 6 Tacoma's over the last 20 years, which I loved. I just figured, of course I'm getting another Tacoma! Little did I know... sheesh.

 

Oh, and what about that little button thingy on the seats - I think it’s called power seats? Who’d think you could press a button and move your seats....LOL.

 

I just had the T-SB-0013-18 done on my truck(truck was at the dealer for 50 days while they waited for one of the TSB parts).

The diff gear whine is still happening after the TSB. It’s nearly just as bad as pre TSB.

This has to be a gear design issue, gear machining issue, or gear mesh(shim) issue.

Does any one else still have gear whine after the TSB? If so what did you do next?

 

Yes. Drive out of the small whine range...a couple of mph slower or faster.

 

Tons of us have it. Go back, complain, get it documented, call corporate, and maybe if we all keep doing this we will get a real fix some day.

 

I've searched the thread and didn't see this, but has anyone noticed that the howling sound can actually be felt in the emergency brake handle on the automatic? It vibrates right along with the sound. Can't believe it would just be mine, but can't find any mention of it on here either.

 

harmonics and resonance. considering the source is the differential, anything attached can transfer the sound. since the hand brake is cable operated, it's traveling up the cable when the resonance occurs.

 

Makes sense, just surprised I didn't see it mentioned once in 250 pages and was curious if it was common and just not mentioned.

 

No, this is first time it has been mentioned. Well, I think so at least. If I get up to the range today I’ll see if I can feel it in my hand brake. With how crappy traffic is around here on fridays I doubt I’ll be able to though.

 

Interesting. I’ll try it out.

Thanks.

Maybe the cable needs a “dynamic damper” too. Ha

 

That would be hilarious if the howl was transferring up the cable to where it first attaches to frame. I would imagine we could dampen that cable somehow ha

 

I mentioned diff howl at my last service (when they replaced my rear drums), and they essentially ignored me. They know there's no SR5 TSB and probably receive tons of complaints for it. It's a part of the truck now, along with loads of other crap. No passengers have mentioned it, which surprises me. My wife has been sitting in the back with our newborn and she hasn't mentioned it.

Could just be me, but it seems to be rearing its head a bit more in the mid-20's range as well.

 

A sense of humor is good in here.

 

We have a 2018 T4R and A 2018 Tacoma. I cannot tell the difference in throttle response one way or another. I love the T4R, but enjoy driving the Taco more. My wife even says that the Taco drives like a sports car compared to the T4R

FWIW, I would never describe the T4R as having smooth transmission. Its not as peppy as the Tacoma and downshifts hard when you put your foot into it.

Dunno guys. I own both. I live with both. I can't tell that big of a difference.

 

The two that I drove did not drive well but my take on it was not a popular one (go figure on a Toyota enthusiast forum). The OR must have had something wrong with it because it bounced me all over the road, much like my second gen Taco did yet I was dumb enough to believe the tire out of balance story and bought it anyway. That was the beginning of an 18 month repair campaign. As stated before, the truck turned out to be great after the first almost two years of repairing and replacing just about everything related to the suspension and steering. The Limited still had what to me was excessive vibration but it was much better. The throttle response was no better than my Taco throttle response after the TSB but was much better than my throttle response prior to the TSB. To me the Taco feels more modern. I know it’s apples and oranges but geez that Subaru Ascent and VW Atlas drove like a luxury car compared to the T4R but I’d still drive the T4R because it’s not made to drive like a crossover. It is purpose built for other reasons yet people have made it a family hauler. We won’t be buying one for a family vehicle but if I didn’t want a truck I’d drive it.

 

I'd agree the Tacoma is "peppier". It drives like a Honda Civic compared to the 4runner. But as far as the smoothness of the transmission, the 4runner is sooo much more smooth and linear in my opinion.

 

The Taco is a tad more modern. We love our T4R, for what it is, and it's not like anything else on the road. We love the simplicity....no bells and whistles...just solid.

Drove the T4R up to visit my son in Spokane. 1800 miles round trip. I would never use the word "smooth" to describe it.

 

Do we know if this resonance is still present if the truck if lifted with a lift kit from @HeadStrong Off-Road?

 

I’m working on that, 0013, archive hangers, 5160s, and an aal. Having 0013 done on Monday, have 5160s in the garage if that doesn’t work, then have archive hangers on order to see if that does anything, finally I’ll be adding the 3 leaf aal. Will post back results of each. I really hope something gets rid of the howl, such a cheap feeling/sound.

Should be a unique perspective as I’m adding each separately overtime.

Anyone feel it in there emergency brake handle or what?

 

Please do report back, especially if it helps. Looking forward to hearing if this helps.