Driveshaft Spacer Kit - should I install this, and how easy is it to install?

Hey,

I own a 2022 Tacoma SR Utility Package, RWD. I have a 2" front, 1.5" rear lift. The truck has 17k miles and doesn't get driven much, but ever since I owned it, the braking was a little rough (made previous posts about it). Even before the lift, I noticed my rear braking would sometimes "shudder" or feel rough. The brakes work great, but the braking has never been smooth since I bought this truck. The dealership did replace both rear brake drums and rear axle under warranty, they said they were out of spec. I purchased this Driveshaft Spacer part over the winter, and now have some extra time. Should try and install it, how easy it is to install, and if it would help my issue at all, or make it worse?

Thanks

 

That part lowers the carrier bearing to manipulate angles in the driveline.

Tends to be a solution for driveline vibrations and vibrations upon acceleration or at a certain speed range.

Which I think is a different animal from brake vibrations or brake shuddering, etc...

 

Very easy to install - probably 5 minutes with hand tools. Like @SUMOTNK said, it's not going to help with brake shudder, though.

 

Ah, yeah I don't get any weird vibrations when accelerating, so maybe I'll leave it alone. The braking thing isn't that bad, I've gotten used to it and the new axle and drums helped a lot, so I'll probably just leave it be then.

 

Are you sure it is braking or is it just decelerating that causes the vibes? If decelerating, likely driveline vibration and shimming MAY be a cure.
I'd get up some speed on a smooth road and let it coast to a stop and see if you have any vibes. If so, maybe give it a try since you already have the part and it is easy to install and remove if it does not improve things.

PS. There is a TSB for decelerating vibration but only applies to 4WD NON-OffRoad and only if not lifted so don't go chasing that.
It does, however, involve driveline angles (as well as replacing weak leaf springs with OffRoad leaf springs and installing a steering wheel damper)

PPS. If you do give it a try, make sure you mark the bracket so you don't change anything other than the vertical angle with the shims and you can get things back to where they are now if it does not improve things. Just basic cover your ass stuff.

 

you do not want to mess with driveline angles beyond bringing it back into parallel between the input and outputs.

Say that the transmission has an up angle of 2 deg, the axle needs to have a down angle of -2 deg to bring them back into parallel, as in on the same angle relative to each other. two piece drive lines gets even more complicated, more so to limitation of the ability to change any angles, but follows the same rules.