Shudder, what could it be?

So I've read about a dozen threads on shudder with the 2nd gens, and there are about a dozen possible causes. Figured I'd use the collective knowledge to help me diagnose.

2006 DCSB V6 SR5 off road, stock suspension, wheels and tires. 180k

Here are the symptoms: shudder is the strongest when accelerating from 0-25. I feel it under foot mostly. Then I get a slight "growl" sound when I press the gas after that. Coasting is silent. The weird thing is it comes back when breaking around 25 back down to almost 0. Seems to stop in Hi4.

I had the brakes looked at a couple months ago and were told they were ship shape. I replaced both from wheel bearings and hubs myself last year. So I think I can rule both of those out.

So I'm thinking it's coming from the driveline, maybe the prop shaft which is vibrating at a certain speed nom if accelerating or decelerating. I figure it's either the front transfer case bearing, CV axles, bad u-joint or carrier bearing.

Anyone have a guess?

 

I've had bad u-joints do the same thing. Take off your rear driveline, put it in 4hi and go drive it and see if it's gone. If not, at least you ruled that out.

 

I second this.

 

Sounds like the driver's side CV axle needle bearing issue.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...differential-bearing-vibration-thread.152173/

 

Drive shaft U-joints, worn,dry and failing ,or carrier bearing are strong possibilities given the mileage. Is your rear suspension sagging? If it is, that may be changing the u-joint angles enough to cause binding. Is there any squeaking, clanking or vibration? It could be a failing needle bearing but that causes a rumble strip type of vibration that changes in 4wd generally. Removing the rear drive shaft, if you can, will help narrow it down. Do not rule out a combination of problems here.

 

When it vibrates at low speeds (0-25mph), it definitely has a rumble strip type of feeling and noise. When I depress the gas pedal above those speeds, I get a little bit of that noise but much less rumble. And I think it is odd that it does it when decelerating, too, from 25-0, braking and no gas.

Can anyone link how to disconnect/remove the rear drive shaft? Because it sounds crazy to drive it with the rear drive off/disconnected.

 

I had the same issue during some of the colder months this last year.

 

Have to you ever changed the transmission fluid it should be a reddish / pink in color. Ideally the fluid should be changed every 50 K in my book.This would cause a transmission shudder.

 

Brake calipers seizing?

 

Based on what you're describing; the rumble strip feeling upon accelerating, the fact that it goes away when you pop into 4hi, and the "growl" are all symptoms of the CV axle needle bearing issue.

This.

Bushing:
https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-8536125-toyota-8-clamshell-bushing-eliminates-needle-bearing.html

Needle bearing removal tool:
https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-14430764-toyota-8-clamshell-bushingremoval-tool.html

Though, you might be able to find someone local to you that will sell you one cheaper or let you borrow it.

-J

 

Carrier bearing! Same symptoms at 170k, I did the carrier and u joints, solved.

With stock suspension your needle bearing is fine, they aren’t as bad as folks claim. I pulled mine at 190k after many many lifted miles and it was perfect.

 

I had a similiar discrepancy. During my balance, rotation, and alignment the shop said my carrier bearing was bad along with u joints. Replaced carrier and all 3 u joints. During removal of u joints shop broke the yoke flange. Had to replace that. They said my u joints were basically seized up this is at 80k miles. So I drove from Texas to California to my new unit and had no issues. The only issue I still have that drives me crazy is my passenger seat the back rest portion shakes crazy bad. Checked the seat bolts, not sure what causes the back rest to shake but everything else was fixed with carrier bearing and u joint replacement.

 

ok... I have done as much research as I care to do because I've done everything listed either before shudder showed up or after, Replaced all rear joints with carrier bearing, 1 year later after hauling a load of gravel, at least this was when I first noticed it I got the 30mph shudder, read about replacing needle bearing with EGCS bushing so I did that, no joy, still had shudder, took it AAMCO, they totally checked out Tranny to include dropping pan, all good...still have shudder but they thought carrier bearing went bad again so took back to same place and had carrier bearing replaced, no joy, still shudder... took to toyota for the drive shaft recall and they said it appeared all rear driveline components had been replaced and all was good... NOT, so I jacked up truck to see if I had any play in front wheel bearings (with 196K miles on them) and while I couldn't tell there was any play I discovered the passenger drive axle was destroyed so I replaced that, still have shudder.
once got everything put together I noticed one of the disc brake retainer clips was broken (going to get new clips after I finish posting this), anyway, I removed the rear shaft today and drove it in 4H and I still had shudder (so its not rear drive shaft).
WTH! what are the other things that could cause this shudder at 30mph? both front axles have been replaced within last 4 months, needle bearing replaced with ECGS bushing, rear driveline components replaced... brakes all new (within last 6 months, except for that one broken clip), have no steering wiggle when stopping or peddle vibration, its the whole damn truck), under light throttle at 30mph, I thought maybe front driveline, but front drive line feels good even if its still original with 196K miles on it. I'm out of guesses, any pointers would be appreciated. Would that one broken clip cause a whole truck shudder at 30mph without causing any vibration under braking?

 

last Toyota I had was in early 80's with live axle and king bearings and not these mickey mouse CVC axles, when the front wheel bearings go out on the 2nd gens do they have play like a normal 2X4 wheel bearing? or can they go out without any play? (I know, its a stupid question, but i'm running out of idea's what this could be and I'm afraid of doing more damage the longer it goes on) also, I plan on replacing both regardless simply because of mileage of truck, but if those could be the cause one would think there would be a way of telling without needlessly replacing when you don't have the funds free.

 

FWIW, I had bearing noise for 3 years that I wrote off as tire noise because the vehicle passed state inspection and I asked each inspector each year if the front bearings were bad. Each told me they were fine. No play, and I never picked up any play in them either. This spring I got new tires, and still had awful noise. Replaced both front bearings about a month ago, and found some play in one when I had it off the truck and both made noise just spinning wheels by hand when jacked up. So, yeah, could be they are bad and you pick up no play. However, I have a shudder now over 60mph which could be balance issues, could be a caliper starting to stick, or could just be the mystery we all see in these trucks at one time or another.

 

I have noticed an increase in tire noise, like you I have been writing it off as the tires coming to their end of life... guess I'll know next month when I replace both front bearings