oh no....TSB-0171-16 Driveline vibration

I have a new 12/19 production date 2020 Tacoma SR5 4x2 that does this brake judder vibrate on deceleration from 35mph down to 10mph. It's really annoying. I really do not want to do the whole back and forth with the dealer routine and but in my mind it seems like a really unsafe issue - pulsating brake pressure from the rear of a truck (where it is very light) seems like a recipe for in stability in certain situations.

 

I have a 2019 SR5. About 1300 miles on it. My shudders when accelerating between 40 and 50 miles an hour. And a vibration can be felt when the transmission goes into 4 the gear ( at least I think it's 4th). Between 40 and even up to 60 depending on the road it feels like the torque converter is shot. I haven't taken it to the dealer yet but plan to within the next few weeks. I have a 2013 Highlander that is smooth as silk, I'm somewhat disappointed in the transmission that's in the Tacoma. I have not experienced any problem with the deceleration that others have noticed.

 

Same here Rick. Wife’s 2011 highlander smooth.Test drove a 2020 limited highlander and didn’t like it
as well as our 2011. It had more road noise and felt cheap. I also have my old 06 Tacoma sr5 and feel
Like Toyota is making cheaper vehicles.

 

I installed 2.5 Degree Axle Shims - Rancho RS8125 and fixed the vibrations! My all stock 2020 SR5 V6 4x2 DCSB truck drives smoother all together now! This did not require to remove the leaf bolt/pin and so it might not be recommend for hard core use since the leaf set pin is not set into the axle now. I torqued my U Bolt Nuts to ~57 foot pounds. I paint marked the brackets and u bolts to reinstall everything the best I could back into the exact same position as factory.

 

Nice! Any chance of pictures of where you put them, etc?

 

Yes pics please! If possible

 

23 psi, are these leaf spring shimms ? Website shows them to be for springs and not carrier bearing?

 

Yes leaf spring shims to correct axle pinion angle - I attached photos to my above post.

 

So looks like from pic that shim is on bottom of leaf springs resting on top of axle. Looks like yours is like my axle with a flat spot on top of axle where leafs rests? Wonder could you drill hole in shim
to let it rest in place like leaf spring?

 

The shim comes with a big hole in the middle for the leaf spring centering pin to pass through.

 

My bad I see.

 

23psi,Sorry for all the questions but did
you measure your angles on rear end?
I’m not that familiar with but I’ve heard of people trying it and it didn’t work or making it worse and having to switch back? I’m glad it worked for you!

 

I measured that my first drive shaft closest to trans and my diff pinion angle were different by 3-4 degrees where they should be in theory very similar. Just went for another drive tonight with less traffic and it's definitely made a big difference.

 

Good deal! Thanks

 

Looks like an easy solution to this issue, but I can't help but wonder... It seems like the consensus is that the TSB's don't actually solve this 3rd gen decel vibration. If the fix really is as simple as a shim under the leaf springs, why the f is Toyota messing around installing steering dampers, replacing axels, replacing leaf packs etc...?

 

Good point

 

I went to the dealer and the shop foreman told me they were doing that type of work a few years ago. Now a days they just tell you its normal and don't bother with it. Maybe they might turn your brake drums or replace them. But that seems about it.

It is a very weird situation. It seems that Toyota tried shims in certain 2018 and 2019 TRD type versions and people reported that they came with shims. The 2020 now do not come with shims.

All I know is that I installed the shims and I got an alignment and I am much happier with the truck. The rumble strip vibration from 30mph down to 10mph is pretty much gone. The rumble strip vibration and the braking vibrations are 2 different issues happening simultaneously. The rear brakes still shake / judder when I press them but because it is "normal" I am going to wait to see if it gets worse before pressing the dealer to "fix" it.

 

Anyone here get a slight vibe/rumble at highway speeds? between 60 and 80 mph I get a bit of a rumble/vibration felt in the seat and floorboards. For whatever reason, I can feel it more on smooth asphalt surfaces, and less on concrete.

It sorta feels like the 30-10 mph rumble that's discussed in this thread.

I'm trying to figure out if I should bring it in for wheel balancing, or have Toyota look at the axle runouts and/or drums.

 

I just purchased a 2020 DCLB OR auto and even though I took a pretty thorough test drive, I didn't notice any vibrations at all before buying. However, I noticed it loud and clear over the next few days, mostly cruising at highway speeds (at around 50 and above 70), but not at all during braking or deceleration.

I took it back in to the dealership a week later and they re-balanced the wheels and did a front end alignment, but they managed to make vibration even worse! I just got it back this morning and drove 200 miles today. I was so angry I was almost hyperventilating.

I will be opening a complaint with Toyota USA this morning.

EDIT: I have begun to notice some vibration during braking/deceleration, but it is not consistently there like the vibration I experience while cruising. I've been talking with Toyota USA about this issue and they arranged for me to have the truck evaluated at my local dealer next week. I will mention the shim solution that is covered in this thread.

 

If it's not wheel balance, it could be a bad tire, axle runout issue, bent axle(s), or out of round drum.

Areas for the dealer to check. Good luck!