Drive line vibration between 18-28 mph at factory height

First of all-awesome site! What a knowledge base! I've got a question hopefully someone can answer. I've got a 95.5 2.7 4x4 xtra cab with 122,000 miles on it. After a recent oil change I noticed that the right rear spring was broken so I changed the rear springs and shocks. Soon afterwards I changed the front springs and struts. Kept everything at roughly factory height. After the rear springs I noticed the spline at the rear diff was out about 1 inch further than it had been; I wrote that off as it had been in deeper due to the old sagged suspension. After I did the front end the truck has developed a vibration between 18-28 mph. Feels like it's in the rear. I've tried to find play in the drive shaft and cannot feel any, but still feel it could be a u joint. Also, could it be the carrier bearing? Thanks for any advice on this.

 

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What did you buy for the rear? Was it a replacement spring pack? Curious about where you bought it/who makes it..

The slip yoke should not have moved that much. An inch is a significant amount and possibly the source of your vib. Makes me wonder if you were sold the correct springs.

Eye to eye, the 95.5 to 97 tacomas used a shorter spring compared to the 98 to 04 models. I believe the length diff is about 1".

Do your rear shackles angle significantly past the frame shackle mount? The shackle should be approximately 90 degrees to the end of the spring. Are yours like 45 degrees? Or even less? Are your rear wheels centered in the wheel well?

 

Thanks for the reply. The springs are no-name replacments off the internet, however they are 4 leafs replacing 3 leafs. I'll check the shackles out and the other items you've brought up. I agree on the slip yoke-the more I think about it, 1" seems like quite a bit-not sure how much is left in there! I'll get back to you with what I find.

 

Are the springs new?

Here's something you can try.... Put 200lbs of weight in the bed and see if that gets rid of the vibes. If it does....leave the weight in the bed for a few weeks. This will help the springs 'settle' and hopefully after they're settled, the vibes will be gone.

Spring are always taller (give lift) when they're new and they eventually settle down to where they should be.

 

Good idea on the added weight, and I appreciate the help! Turns out the springs are about an inch too long (you hit it right on the head digiratus). I could easily tell by sighting down the bump stop. What I want to avoid is an spring RR. I spoke my my lead tech at work and he suggested just spacing the carrier bearing down 1/8" at a time to try to eliminate the vibration rather than swapping springs again.

I can live with a slight vibration (this is a fishing and hunting, haul kayaks and mulch on the weekend type truck).

Is there a danger of keeping these springs and tricking the geometry with spacing the carrier? Will that even work? Based on the pictures below, is there enough of the slip yoke engaged to not cause a problem?

Again, I really appreciate the input I've recieved from this community!

I'll throw a few hundred pounds of firewood in it today and see what that does.

 

Who ordered the springs? Is it a situation where you can return the springs to the person who ordered the wrong ones?

You could try the carrier bearing drop, however, the pictures look pretty good in terms of u-joint angle. I'm halfway thinking the vibes are because the slip yoke is out so far, but that's just a guess.

If you put weight in the bed and the vibrations are still there - the carrier bearing drop probably won't help.

 

I'll have to side with Janster on this. The vib is very likely a result of the slip yoke position. Under high torque you are putting a lot of pressure on the splines in the yoke. That will even out as your speed increases (steady acceleration).

From the side view, how do the wheels line up in the wheel wells? Is the tire close to the mud flap? I'm a little concerned about what will happen when you stuff one wheel way into the well.

 

unfortunately the springs are from ebay. Based on comments, I'm almost sure they are for a newer model

The tire is clearly closer to the mud flap by about 1.5"

I think my best course might be to contact the seller and see if he would make this right.

 

In any case, through my recent motivation to improve the old truck, it now has a new washer pump, front oxygen sensor RR'd (WHAT A PIA-everything rotted except the pipe!!), new shocks and springs all around and just got new plugs today!

Maybe I could just shim the slip yoke forward with a piece of 2x4??

 

What did the ebay seller advertise the springs as? If he advertised them wrong, then its his/her fault. If they advertised them properly and you ordered the wrong springs - then you might be stuck with them.

If you're stuck with them, I'd get all the information you can about those springs so you can resell them. Then, buy yourself a proper set of springs.

 

The ebay seller has agreed to take them back. They said they are for the regular cab, not the extended cab. However, they will not pay for shipping back since they were advertised for a '95 Tacoma 4x4. I think that is kinda BS but at least I can get a refund on an installed part. Shame on me for not asking. If anyone is looking for these springs and wants to pick them up in IN I cn make them a great deal

Thanks for everyone's help on this!