Vibration Nation: Complete Thread (60mph vibration)

Have the much discussed "Vibration between 55-65mph" issue? I do, and over the last two months I have done everything possible to help guide my dealership through the issue from what I have read on here and online everywhere. Toyota has an issue here (non safety issue IMO), but it is an issue. My truck is a 2010 Toyota Tacoma TRD Offroad 2WD with 25k miles on it. Here is what I have had done/did myself to it since I purchased it:

* Harsh Ride TSB (replaced rear leaf springs)
* Installed Bilstein 5100's with front set at 1.75"

My vibration occurs at between 57-62 mph while on load, but tends to go away after I let off the gas. Some days its loud, some days its quiet (but certainly there).

Time to bring everyone up to speed on my dealership visits the last two weeks. Now, before I go into it, my dealership is GREAT and the people I have been working with are doing everything possible to accommodate this situation. They have offered me two different rentals, but here is here what they have done so far:

1. First thing they did was order and replace the driveshaft. I am assuming this is new u-joints and carrier bearings as well, but I will need to verify. This did not resolve the issue

2. They then tried the suggested shimming/angle changing of the driveshaft that was suggested in another thread. They had to buy the tool and order the shims, but were willing to try this if it had in fact worked for a user on here. This too did not resolve the issue.

3. At this point, they wanted to point to the Bilstein 5100's that I had put on. I had set the front to 1.75", but this was only to level out the front from the rear due to the rear leaf spring TSB. I explained to them that there was no way it could be this because the noise was there before I put these on, it just wasn't that bad then. I and they suggested two things:
A. I suggested setting my front 5100's to the lowest settings and put it back to stock height. This didn't work
B. They suggested throwing on a new set of stock Bilstein's. I even told them that if this was the problem, I would gladly purchase the set from them, but I knew full well the shocks were not the problem. This didn't work either.

After all of this had been tried, I was told they would be contacting Toyota directly for the next steps. Shortly after, I received a call from the service manager who said they had just ordered a brand new transmission and would be replacing this next week. This whole time I had been suggesting to them that I thought it was the trans, due to the fact that when I reached the "speeds" that the vibration would occur in OD, I would throw it down to 4th gear and the vibration went away. When they said they were replacing the whole trans, I asked if they had even opened it up to see what the issue might actually be. They just said it would be easier to replace the whole thing. Then he told me what Toyota was going to be paying them for all the work, and it was nearly as much as I bought the truck brand new for. Now, I don't know how this is so, but at which point does Toyota admit they have an issue on these trucks and do something more than just replace, replace and replace. When does lemon-law come into affect? Now again, I am blessed that this dealership is going the extra mile to get my issues taken care of, but I also feel horrible that it is costing so much money on Toyota's end.

Now I am waiting on the new trans to come in. My question here I am wondering if the trans will actually be brand new or a refurbished. Anyone know how this all works?

Does any of these make sense to the mechanics out there? I have started a poll to see whether or not you have the vibration or not. I figure we should start a sticky or something on this as it seems to be a very wide spread issue. I will certainly update everyone after then new tranny is installed and I get my new Firestone Destination AT's put on.

******UPDATE******

5/23 Well, my truck goes in for a new tranny tomorrow evening and will be purchasing a new set of Firestone Destination AT's while I am at it.

5/24 Truck dropped off today. Get it back tomorrow it looks like. Will update all then.

5/25 To top all of this off, I had a rental from Toyota (Corolla). It took damage in the very large (baseball size) hail that the DFW area had lastnight. Now I am responsible for the damage, but the dealership has my truck on the lift and can't verify whether I have damage or not (since the same storm hit the dealership too).

5/26 Went to the dealership to pickup my truck. Spent $720 on new tires as well. Sat and talked with the rental department about insurance and apparently I am responsible for both (hail damage on the rental while at my home, and hail damage to my truck while it was at the dealership). Sat and talked with the service manager (who I do really like) and he said he personally drove it and said the vibration was gone.Guess what?

STILL A VIBRATION....and almost more noticeable than before. It now extends between 55-62mph, but anything before and after those speeds it is just fine!

Now it's time to speak with Toyota directly. Who exactly do I contact?5/31 Rode with the mechanic and service manager. They both felt it and heard it. Strangely enough, the noise and vibration were much louder when I was the only one in the vehicle. Put three grown men in it and its there, but a little quieter (still very noticeable).

Was told they plan to fix it, but have to speak to "technical" about it first. They also wanted to test drive 3 random new Tacoma's and see if the same happens. Not sure what that will prove to them.....
6/3 Vibration getting worse. It now occurs between 50 and 65mph, both when I give it gas and let off the gas.
6/7 Dropped my truck off early today. The plan was to pull a rear differential from a vehicle they had in stock there, put it on my truck and see if the vibration goes away.

6/8 Dealership pulled a rear end from a 2011 Tacoma TRD new on the lot and replaced it with mine. Vibration is gone!!!!!! I still think it was something as simple as the pinion bearing, but they didn't just check that. Oh well... (25K miles)

8/5 DAMNIT! The problem has returned. Vibration and very rough ride at the same speeds. Feel like the truck has 200k miles on it when I drive at these speeds. I notified the same dealership last week. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?!

 

Most likely it's a re-manufactured trans. That's what I've seen. I just removed my 60mph when I put on my new wheels and used normal sticky weights. I was using those "counteract balancing beads" in my stock wheels and that "helped". Used a shop vac to suck out the beads.

Also bought the cheap angle finder from Amazon and all my drive shaft angles checked out.

 

So your telling me TOYOTA has a problem because you decided to lift the truck and it vibrates?

 

No, what he is describing happens after the TSB leaf springs are installed.

 

From my many many years around cars and trucks I have been told 60 mph vibrations are wheel balance issues.
Now you could still have a driveline angle problem but 60 = tire and wheel ballance.

 

The problem is, the vibration goes away when take your foot off the gas, or when you shift into 4th (automatic).

How would a wheel balance issue be effected by the gear the transmission is in?

 

Two things here.

To the post two ago, no, the vibration occurred on STOCK and does for many others as well.

Oh-Man - I forgot to add that the first thing they did for me was put on a brand new set of wheels and tires and the vibration was still there. Sure, I thought it was the wheels/tires too, but the vibration is felt in the gas pedal, not the steering wheel like unbalanced tires feel.

 

I got that same problem about 2 months before i deployed. I havent done anything to the suspension yet. Looking forward to seeing if the new tranny fixes the problem

 

Exactly.

 

Also, if you do vote, please let us know the year and trim you have.

 

Ahh I see. Yes balancing is a huge issue. Helped another member who had the same issues as the OP. When you went to get a tire balance did you get it static or dynamic? Tacoma's need to get a static balance.

 

Not sure, I let the dealership handle this really.

 

Well hopefully the dealership did a correct balance lol

 

Check the carier bearing I noticed a bunch of movement ( rubber mount ) on mine and was supprised at how much it moved when i was under neath and pushing it up and down.
Take a look at the rubber housing to see how much play it has which will be noticed when going on and off the gas.

 

I am assuming this and the ujoints were replaced when they replaced the driveshaft, eh?

 

i voted yes.. only because of right now i have mud on the inside of my rims which is throwing the balance off. i just detailed overything so im not going to wash it and get the wheels dirty. plus i dont do freeway driving to school. Just noticed it today when driving out to go riding.

 

So generally this issue (the issue exactly as described by OP, not out of balance tires, not mud in the wheels, not a dented drive shaft, or any other obvious problem) doesn't occur until the TSB leaf packs are installed (at least in my case).

It doesn't seem to be a drive angle issue given that my completely stock truck, and the OP's lifted truck (with and without shims) does it.

So hear is what I'm thinking. The issue has always been there. With the stock leaf packs, they are so soft and allow so much axle warp, that they absorb the vibration.
The TSB leaf packs are stiffer and don't absorb it as much, therefor more is transferred into the cab where its felt by the driver.

Anyone follow where I am going with this?

 

No, please enlighten me....

 

Just wondering...have any of you that have these vibration issues had them go away with weight in the bed? The reason I ask is I've got a 2" aal in the back and have had the front raised up at 3" and went back down to 2" (decided I like a slight rake and better cv angle) and never had vibration issues with either height. I'm thinking the extra weight of the snugtop canopy might be why.