RESOLVED - Vibration/Shaking at Specific Speeds (Even after carrier bearing replacement)

I am having a very interesting vibration issue with my 07 Tacoma 4.0 V6 (164,000 miles) and I have yet to figure it out so wanted to hop on here in hopes someone else has had a similar issue and can help.


It has been going on for quite some time now (not getting worse from what I can tell) but at certain speeds, the entire truck vibrates (i.e. if I keep it at 35-36 MPH, consistent RPM, the entire truck vibrates like you are running over a highway strip). This vibration happens consistently at about 36 MPH and 40MPH and also happens at around 20 MPH. At the lower speed, it is more like the car is jerking up and down at a slower rate than than the other type of vibrating. At first, I thought this was a transmission issue, but did some digging and realized the carrier bearings often go out and can cause similar issues. Upon inspection, there was a lot of play in the drive shaft, so I went ahead and replaced mine along with all three U-joints on the main driveline, but the issue persisted. I don't know if it is simply a placebo, but I want to say that it lessened the vibration.


It is important to note that this does not happen if I accelerate normally through these speeds, it only happens when I hold it at those specific ones. However, the slower vibration/shake will happen if I very slowly accelerate (again, this one happens at about 20 MPH)


Due to the significant wear on the carrier bearing, I genuinely thought this would resolve the issue, but now I am kinda lost. I am pretty handy, but I am young and my car knowledge is shallow so I need some help with ideas of what this could be. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


I have attached a video for reference; this doesn't give a ton of information but you can hear the vibration. The actual feeling of it is much greater than shown in the video and it seems like it is coming from the rear/middle of the vehicle.

https://youtu.be/idr964UfyQc

 

2 things. Does it do it in 4th gear? or...when it is vibrating, if you tap the brakes does it stop?

If so, have you ever drained and refilled the transmision?, as those are indications of a shuddering torque converter

edit, one other thing i recently saw was the VVT valves causing something like this

 

Have you looked at the universal joints?
That is where I would start with the whole truck shaking vibrating.

 

Yes, just did all of them earlier this week along with the carrier bearing. It is still present after that unfortunately.

 

It does not do it in 4th gear from what I am aware of. Never happens after about 45 MPH either. And yes, it stops if I tap the brakes; it even stops if I let off the gas slightly or accelerate a little more. It's essentially only when I'm holding the pedal at that specific speed/rpm.

That's interesting though, I will have to look into those. I have not drained and refilled the transmission at all.

 

I would guess the torque converter if it stops when you tap the brakes. Do a drain and refill, DO NOT do a "pressurized" flush...

 

I can definitely give that a shot but I didn't originally think that would do much. Are you thinking if the fluid is degraded/contaminated it could really hinder the hydraulics function of the torque converter enough to cause the shaking? I mean in any case it probably needs to be done anyway so wouldn't be a bad idea...

 

Is the truck lifted ?
Do you have over size tires ?

 

If I remember correctly it is on Bilstein 5100's 1.5" on the front. I do have 285/70/17's on it, but the issue has been happening long before I did the lift or tires.

 

I think I would look at the u joints again.

 

Even after I replaced all of them? The issue is exactly the same after doing the carrier bearing and u-joints it seems

 

Same size tires I have . I have Bilstein 6112s at the highest setting and still get some rubbing at full lock . I had 5100s for a few years until they started weeping ( normal) . Maybe check your leaf springs are they aftermarket? Maybe a cracked or broken leaf or a bad bushing ?

 

if it feels like your driving over rumble strips, I would do the transmision and add lubeguard. you will have to do it a few times as a drain and fill only gets maybe a 1/3 of the fluid that only in the pan and not the rrest of the system. This will help:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

you can also drop the pan and check your magnets and clean the pan and filter as well.

 

Make a concerted effort to drive in 4th gear when you are going to be driving 45 mph or less. Do this for several trips and see if you ever notice the vibration. If you don’t, the torque converter lockup isn’t likely to be the culprit. If it does completely go away, then it could be the torque converter, or as @MSgt O mentioned, it could be your VVT oil control valves. I was having classic torque converter lock up vibrations and was sure I would be having the torque converter replaced soon, but luckily, after throwing a code for one of the VVT valves, replacing both of them completely cured the vibrations. Many others have chimed in to say they had the same experience, so it’s not a one-off issue.

 

Thank you. I will give this a shot and see if the vibration comes up still. To clarify, you're saying if it continues even in 4th gear it could likely be the VVT Valves and if it doesn't continue, probably torque converter?

As you mentioned the VVT valves, I did some looking on this forum and I think this could also be the culprit. However, with the VVT valves, seems like other people have been having intermittent and various issues rather than just vibration on the specific intervals I mentioned. Not saying it couldn't be those, but I'm leaning more toward torque converter-related.

 

Awesome, thank you for all the info. I was planning on doing it a couple of times so I could get a decent bit of the old fluid out. I am going to try out testing it in only 4th gear as @Leomania mentioned and if the vibration goes away, I will give replacing the fluid a shot. In any case, I could also do the VVT valves anyway due to the mileage on the truck already. I've been seeing some forums where people have been seeing issues around 100-120k so might be worthwhile.

 

Mine has 139k as of today and I have the same rumble strips feeling in 5th gear and about 40mph, If i go faster it stops, or in 4th it stops or if I tap the brakes, it stops as well so I have been researching this...

 

Doesn't sound like the needle bearing issue. BUT. Just for a free test, try putting the vehicle in 4wd hi at that 37mph speed. No turns only going straight. If the noise goes away then it could be the needle bearing or something else in the front diff/driveshaft.

 

No, the driving in 4th gear is just to confirm whether the rumble strip vibration is gone. If it is, then the problem could be either the torque converter having trouble locking, or the VVT valves are causing some issue that results in the converter rapidly going in and out of lock. That would have to be related to the ECU that’s controlling the lock signal. At least, that’s my suspicion about what’s happening, but someone experiencing the problem would need to capture some live data when it’s occurring to confirm. I destroyed my valves taking them out so I couldn’t put them back to do it (I would have in a heartbeat, I’m so curious as to the root cause).

My truck had thrown a code that implicated one of the VVT valves, so I replaced it and the code didn’t come back. But it had come once before and I just cleared it and moved on, so it wasn’t causing any serious issues. However, once I replaced that valve, I still had the shudder when the converter tried to lock under light acceleration. I decided to replace the other valve just to have both of them taken care of, and as soon as I did that, the shudder was completely gone. That valve hadn’t caused any codes and didn’t seem to be making the truck run poorly, but it sure has heck was the reason for the shudder. You could have knocked me over with a feather, I would never have imagined they could be related.

 

Mitchell how long have you owned the tacoma? You mention it has been vibrating for quite some time.

You have 164K miles now, when did this vibration start?