driveline vibration fix write up..................may work for you too.

I just installed my 2.5 inch hell bent steel spacer on my 05 DBL CAB TACO, and now I have BAD vibrations in the steering. I had an alignment done and everything aligned to factory specs just fine, so I am very interested in trying the spacer fix talked about in this thread. How thick should the spacer be again? Is there any harm in trying some washers of the same thickness and taking it for a test drive to see if the vibration disappears?

 

Throw the truck in 4x4. If your vibe goes away you have the front diff vibe. Get under your truck and wiggle your front axles. Bet you $10 your drivers side one is loose and your passenger one is tight solid.

 

So what's the fix for this? Or is it just the nature of the beast...

 

New Front differential or Diff Bearing.

But seeing as it takes even longer to replace the bearing, they generally just give you a whole new front diff.

I'm booking mine in for an appointment pretty quick here while it's under warranty.

 

Does anyone know if this helps with vibration on a stock suspension? I am getting vibration at 60-75 mph but cant pinpoint an issue. I have new tires and they have been balances properly. There is no obvious cracks on my leaf springs which was a thought that my buddy had? Any advice on this vibration I feel throught the floorboard/seats would be awesome. Thanks in advance

 

Is this really common? It's the first I've seen it here...

I get the vibe at 10-15mph on takeoff...is this the same symptom? I tried the spacer s but it did nothing so I took it back out. I'm not lifted beyond the 4-leaf TSB which adds maybe 3/4" in the rear.

Put it in 4x4 like you suggested and it goes away! I have about 25K on the truck now, would like to get this looked into if I know the right things to tell the service manager to get them to actually look at it...and fix it... and not just put me off with "it's normal".

Oh yeah...I'm not really sure the looser axle shaft symptom is all that a-typical because of the way 4x4 works on this truck. The splined sleeve de-couples one wheel so it makes sense it should feel looser, or different at least, compared to the other one.

Thanks a lot for the info!

 

Just tried the spacers and didn't fix it... I should try what next? Shims?

 

Btw I only get the vibs at 20mph

 

i only have vibration in rear on acceleration and i only really seem to notice it when I'm turning and accelerating from a stop- wet, dry or whatever and I know the wheels aren't spinning and bouncing! Is this what you guys are talking about?

 

If the shims or spacers dont work you may have a bad tork converter. Toyota should have a fix early 2012. check with your dealership and make sure. My dealer said around April... i have the heavy shudder from 30-40, 40-50 and some times at 60-70. I replaced complete axel with new carrier baring and u-joints. the problem is still there. I LOVE MY TACOMA!!! i'm holding out till April.

 

W8N4MUD, I've got that "bump" you're talking about. I only seem to hear it when I have 3/4 to a full tank of gas... guessed it was the gas sloshing forward and making that bump when it hits the front of the tank. It seems to bump about .5 - 1 second after stopping completely.

But I've always wondering if that was really the case or not.

 

That might be even better, since they are steel. I would never use aluminum in any critical part in the drive-line or suspension. Its very soft, and could deform over time. I've seen aluminum aftermarket suspension parts catastrophically fail while wheeling. Its nice to cut and drill, though, because of its softness. I guess there are different grades of aluminum, not sure.

I'd do it for a temporary trail fix, but not a permanent one.
Just my 2 cents worth.

This thread is over 2 years old now, I wonder if the OP is still using his original spacers.

 

Yep.......still look like they did the day I installed them. No ill effects at all.

 

replace your ujoints mine was vibrating after my lift then i replaced the ujoints in my driveshaft and no vibration what so ever

 

If anyone is looking to do this let me know i came across some aluminum barstock thats 1/4 in. thick. I have enough to do 6 sets. It isnt the prettiest looking stuff but it will work

 

Another option is grade 8 washers, some longer metric bolts, and a couple 1" zinc plated steel spacers. Total about $7 from Lowes. They do carry spacers from 1/4" to 2" in quarter inch increments, so just about everyone should be able to get their shim correct.

 

Hey, thanx for the followup. Nice to see it is still working for you.
Are you using the stock bolts ? Seems to me they would be too short.

Have you checked the tightness of the 2 bolts recently?
Better safe than sorry.

 

I have been reading alot of posts about a "driveline" vibration with most at the same MPH points, I have a hum at the same intervals but no vibration. New tires, balance is perfect, again no vibrations. I,m wondering if the driveline is making the hmm but not out of align enough to translate a vibration into the mount/frame where I could feel it, and or just the tires.

I have crawled under the truck several times and the drive line is pretty well aligned. I grease the uni's monthly as I wheel almost every weekend and greasing lubes and cleans the bearings. The hum only showed up after a slight reconfiguration to the rear springs and new tires.

Ill try the shims and drop the carrier a tad and see if the it helps with the resonate hum.

Any thoughts?

 

how much do I need to increase the cut of aljminum bar if I lifted my tacoma 3 inches?

 

subd