2018 Tacoma Steering Violently Shakes

Hey guys,

So I have a 2018 Tacoma that is having some pretty gnarly shaking going on even at very low speeds. Alignment checks out, tires are balanced, no spacers or anything like that. Been doing research and it looks like it may be a sensor issue.. thoughts??

Much appreciated!

 

So you took the truck to a shop, and they checked the alignment, and balanced the tires, but could not locate the root cause?

 

That is correct, les Schwab is stumped. They tried disconnecting the battery to reset but to no avail.

 

Not a sensor. Has to be alignment or balance. Take it to different shop.

 

2nd not a sensor but drive shaft or gears could be busted too. Do any crazy towing or offloading? Lift wheels tires?

 

Truck just got out of body shop from adjustment. Shaking on the way from body shop to les schwab for an alignment and balance. Even after 5 alignments and balances still got the shake. It’s immediate too as soon as you start driving and it just gets progressively worse, dont even wanna go over 30

 

Bent control arm and knuckle offroading

 

when i had my lexus i kinda had the same problem... turns outs one brake caliper was loose.. retighten and it went away...

 

Both got replaced, drove completely fine for weeks except for a slight pull to the right when braking. Caster was still off so I took it to body shop to have them pull it. Casters back in line, alignments good, balance good but now shakes.

 

Could body shop have done more damage pulling on things??

 

Sounds like it.

 

Center drive shaft hanger bearing perhaps? When the bearing goes out and shreds the rubber inside it allows the driveshaft to bang around in a 1 inch circle that makes a hell of a noise.

 

Would this also cause the steering to shake?

I figured it had to be bent or loose hardware caused by shop.

 

Not sure on a tacoma, but from my experience with old BMWs when the center support bearing went out there was shaking and a thud under the car till you hit 30 mph where the driveshaft spun fast enough to self balance.

 

What about putting a GoPro under the truck and move it to different spots under the truck while driving at low speed? With such shaking I'm thinking it would be visible on camera. Just a thought..

 

No weird noises, no codes or lights. Shit just shakes!! Ha

 

Long shot here, but you say it pulled to the right when braking. Possibly a collapsed brake line cause the rotor to overheat and warp?

 

It drove fine going into the body shop, the pull was ever so slight. Came out of the body shop shaking, figured it was just alignment. Went to les Schwab because they do free alignments for me there and we got that all squared away but still a crazy shake. The reason I think maybe a sensor is because it’s right away and at such low speeds.. idk I’m no mechanic.

 

But there are no sensors that turn on the shake machine, Unless its a engine shake there wouldnt be any sensor to cause it. I guess a steering angle sensor could cause the steering wheel to shake, but I dont even know if these trucks have a steering angle sensor.

Can you take a video of the problem?

 

Trucks in the shop right now, they’re still trying to figure it out. Even with shake truck still got up to freeway speed with no noise or slipping or grinding. I have a hard time seeing it be the drive shaft or gears. What damage could pulling on the leafs the the control arm connects to cause?