Shaking predominately from 75+MPH

Question that I am hoping someone has had experience with. Happening since I bought it new.

2013 TRD DCSB
Mods- TRD Skid plate and tonneau cover

Factory Dunflop 17" tires
Current miles-5800

Second time to dealership for shaking in the whole truck. It happens when on or off gas and I don't feel it in pedal or steering wheel. The first time I took it in they rebalanced the tires and said it was all set. Second time in and they have had it since Tuesday. The first few days it was back n forth with them because they couldn't replicate the issue. It happens intermittently. They also said they can't take the truck over 65 due to insurance purposes (hahaha). BTW, it has happened at 60 but there is no common denominator. Well today, they discovered the shaking while the Toyota representative was there. They had 2 other Tacomas- 1 TRD sport DCLB and 1 TRD off road and he said they all shake over 75 but yours was worst. They replaced the drive shaft with one from the 2 other trucks and mine was still the worst. They are now unsure what the problem is and are waiting for an answer from the engineer.

Has anyone had any experiences with it? They are putting my truck back together and will be ready for pickup because they are unsure until they get an answer.

Thanks!

 

Oh and they said it is definitely not the tires...

 

Take the rear drive shaft out and put it in 4 wheel drive and go for a ride.

 

Keep taking it back to the dealership under warranty.....

Let them deal with it. You'll be helping THEM find a problem that will help everyone else - more or less - TSB in the future?

 

Not saying this is anything like your problem. But, I had a GMC 2500HD that had a barely perceptible vibration at 60-70mph. Kept taking it back to the dealer and they could find nothing wrong. When the time came to change the transfer case fluid, found their was hardly any in their and what was their was black/burned. I contacted the dealer and GMC directly and with the records form me complaining about the vibration since day one. They agree'd to give me a lifetime warranty on the transfer case free of charge. Put in the correct amount of fluid and the vibration disappeared. Don't be a prick to the dealer, but keep bringing it back until a solution is found. Could save you headache in the future.

 

Thanks for your quick replies. I will use them all as ammo

 

I will bring up the transfer case tomorrow.

 

Well the dealer doesn't know what it is. They had a Toyota specialist drive it and was able to replicate the problem. They are unsure and I am waiting for the dealership to get back to me.

 

As long as you have a loaner just check up on them. It would also be nice if they let you in on the details of what the issue really is and that way you can document it here for others and future tacoma owners.

 

They put my truck back together and I have it now unfixed. I don't think I'm going to hear from them unless I call them...it's been a week.

 

Lots of these trucks shake over 75. The shaking doesn't mean there is anything "wrong". It's a pickup truck with a long driveshaft with a lot of u-joints, riding on balloon tires and leaf springs with a solid axle. You cannot expect Lexus-levels of refinement, I'm sorry.

Also, I would not drive any pickup truck over 75 mph. What happens if you blow a tire? You could roll that thing easy.

 

It happens at 60 sometimes. This isn't normal. I had an 06 same model without the shaking as described.

 

I have been on many road trips with my 13' dblcab 4x4 trd or and I have never felf the truck shake and I cruise at 80mph too.
Good luck OP.

 

i agree with that driveshaft bit. it could really be a poorly balanced drive shaft. wouldnt hurt to check out the xfer case either. does it do it in 4wd as well?

 

They replaced the driveshaft in testing and it was actually worse. I don't think it is that. I'm afraid to use the 4WD at 75.

 

only changing from 2wd into 4wd at 75 is hazardous. in the ny winters i would be on the highways cruising in 4wd no big deal.


so.. im not going to claim to be a truck expert.. but i do work on airplanes. and when i have an issue, and im trying to narrow it down.. i might do something along the lines of replacing a physical part. if the symptoms stay the SAME then that part i just swapped out had no effect and is therefore ruled out. if it makes it worse, or better.. im looking at something close, you know?

so if they put in a new driveshaft and it was worse? i would be pretty skeptical. take it out completely and drive it as much as you want. just dont beat on the CV joints by making tight turns if you can. and one or two really wont kill your truck. if it did, a lot less people would be driving these trucks.

edit: and since when does a dealership just have a new driveshaft laying around?? its a two piece right? they just happened to have both pieces laying around for your style truck? i imagine they would differ between the different body styles. really.. take that sucker out.. mark it on each connecting end to replace it exactly the way it came out.. and go for a drive in 4wd. you might be surprised.

 

Just to be clear - the suggestion was to run it at freeway speed in 4wd with the driveshaft COMPLETELY REMOVED - that turns the truck into a front-wheel-drive vehicle and eliminates or strenghtens the suggestion that the vibration is caused by the driveshaft.

 

One way to diagnose this is to take the rear driveshafts out entirely, and then drive in 4 hi. You can do this, but go easy on the gas. The front drivetrain is designed to handle about half as much power as the rear. Go easy especially while turning. I've driven this way for a few days with no problems. Other on TW have driven a few months without a rear driveshaft.

If the driveshaft is removed and the vibration is gone, it's either the shaft or the carrier bearing. On a new truck it shouldn't be either, of course. But the original owner of my '11 DCSB found that the rear driveshaft was bad from the factory. It happens sometimes.

 

exactly. and multiple improperly balanced driveshafts are not out of the question either. if i had a dollar for every time i got a bad part in from supply.....


though, if i were a betting man... and they really did trade out driveshafts at the dealership, id be focusing more on that carrier bearing. best way to figure that out is just drive your new FWD truck on the highway

 

What if I put in 4HI with the driveshaft still in? I don't know if I want to take the rear shaft out without any experience with it.