Drive line noise

I've got what I think is driveline noise. I searched and searched the internetz and all I keep finding are threads for older Taco's and quality issues with Taco's built in Mexico...That is where mine was built, hopefully I wont have a quality issue.

My Taco is brand spanking new. When I hit 48mph I get this humming or vibration that I hear, and can kind of feel in the steering wheel. I can't pickup the sound on a recorder. The sound of the vibration is slower than the rotation of the tires and it goes away around 56/58. I got up to 50 and put it in neutral and let it coast, noise is there. I haven't tried neutral and engine off at 48 to see what it does but it probably wouldn't matter if its driveline/train related. I'll still try that though.

When I test drove it (it had 2 miles on it) I didn't hear the noise. It showed up the next day after I drove it home. Now I just turned 1k miles.

I've tried to catch the sound on a gopro by mounting it underneath, but all I got was wind when I got up to speed. I think I had the camera faced in the wrong direction. I'll make another attempt today.

Has anyone else experienced this with their new Taco?

 

I know you might refute this, but regardless, what you are describing is the exact symptoms of an unbalanced tire, minus the perceived rotation speed.. Are you absolutely sure it’s not that?

 

NOPE.

 

So you searched and searched, haven’t found dozens of 20 page long threads about rear diff humming between 30-60 MPH, mostly due to harmonics, but found ones related to quality of Mexico built Taco’s. I think you were looking for something related to “Mexico Taco Bad” from the start.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tac...S600&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

 

I'm sure.

No, that thread is talking about a whine/high pitched noise. I don't have a whine or high pitched sound. Its a low sound and it's slower that the speed of the tires...best put in words, its a whoomph...whoomph....Think of being a kid (depending on your age) and sitting on top of the back wheel well of an old school bus, something similar to that. It does mention vibration/harmonics though.

I am going to make an attempt to record today with my gopros, they are charging up.

 

As I recall, the 2018’s or 2019’s got a bad batch of rear axles. Kinda sounds like those complaints.

 

There's nothing wrong with Tacomas built in Mexico. SEARCH SOME MORE

 

It sort of becomes a self fulfilling prophecy at this point. Someone asks if it matters where they are made, then this guy gets and answer and repeats the phrase that Mexican built tacos suck and Voila! you get a confirmed source in yet another google search.

Kinda like my dad on FB looking for "stuff" to suit his mood.

 

Best thing to do would be to take a Toyota tech for a test ride next time you go in for service.

Although when I did that on my 2nd gen, the first dealership told me it was my Wildpeaks, without even putting up on a lift. Definitely not the 3 cooked ujoints that a second dealer found and replaced at no charge under an enhanced warranty recall on some 2nd gens. Which was exactly what I told dealer # 1 when I brought it in.

But no, have not experienced any driveline vibes on my 3rd gen with 1k miles

 

Another thing is, it’s a truck.

If you’re not used to it, this vehicle has more vibration in general then if you’re used to a luxury car. I’ve had two 3rd gens. They all have more vibrations then say, a 2019 Camry.

 

Nah. I'm good.

No, I'm not that easily dissuaded by a google search with complaints about Mexico built Tacos. There is some truth to those claims though, not necessarily in the quality department.

I think that's a good idea, unless it gets worse or I find something concrete, that is what I will do.

Yes sir. I was fully aware of that when I test drove it. I couldn't justify buying a F250 Power Stroke for my needs, Taco was the next best thing- body on frame construction, I realize that ride would not be like my Durango or my old F250 power stroke. My first car was a 68 Ford Fairlane, and I've also owned luxury cars and SUVs, Taco aint no luxury ride for sure.

The sound is a little disappointing because I love the truck. It's one of the few cars I owned where I smile when I get in it (could be the high from the new car smell, which I'm sure everyone knows is the plastics and whatnot off gassing).

Three (3) things I do not like, one of which would have been a deal killer had I heard it on the test drive.
No driver side grab handle.
Cruise control- wont let you speed up on a down hill coast, that is GHEY (not that there is anything wrong with that).
Drive line noise (deal breaker).

But like I wrote, I love the truck aside from the noise. It's almost like being in a jet fighter, feeling nimble and like you can toss it around certain terrain. The little volume and tune knobs are small like aircraft controls too.

Video update- all I captured was wind noise, again. I think my cameras are protruding too far below the body of the truck. Will try again next week.
No grab handle on the driver side: soon to be a mod.

 

What truths?

 

Lack of grab handle is definitely a bummer, especially when my last Tacoma had one. But we kinda dont talk about the grab handle thing here much anymore. The mod that added one was a great idea, but very poorly executed. Especially when they seemed to get it 85% of the way there . But the last 15% was just ignored . Maybe another company will figure out how to produce and ship them properly..

 

Went for 5K service last week. The tech took me out on a test drive. He heard it and his response was, "It's a Taco thing". Also, what feels like a bump or slight resistance at the brake pedal when pressing (also makes a sound), his response, "That's a Taco thing too." He has a Tacoma himself and said his does the same thing.

Lastly, he said that if I had a long bed then 48-55 MPH vibration could be a little worse.

I'm sure all or most of you know about Scotty Kilmer on YouTube. He loves Toyota. Anytime he has a Toyota on his show that has quality problems he goes right to the country of origin sticker and its almost always a Toyota that was made in Mexico that has quality control issues. Mine was made in Mexico.

Still, despite sh*tty gas mileage and wacky noises, I do love my truck. I will say though, I forget I'm not driving a sedan and am reminded after my 32 mile drive to work when I park, the gas gauge moves considerably. This week I am making an effort to drive so that the little bar stays at the 30mpg mark.

 

What’s your mpg?

 

18-20.

 

If you expected better than that, you didn’t research the truck.

 

Not on the gas mileage. See image.

 

No it's not a "Taco thing" as in, supposed to be that way.

Do the same thing as you would do to get the humming, does it sound kinda like rumble strips on the road?
then put it in 4x4 mode.

Does the hum/vibration go away?

Did you get the Tacoma TRD OEM lift kit by any chance. Even if not,
there have been similar failures in previous year Tacomas and there was a TSB for it. (does not cover the 2021's ..... yet but the design has not changed)
But the aftermarket fix is better than the OEM one.

If the vibration goes away in 4x4 mode have a search on this forum for "Drivers side needle bearing"

Then have a read on ECGS bushing.

Other thing to try is swap the front and rear tires and make sure they are torqued to spec in the proper pattern,
the Toyota drums and discs are "fussy" if the are torqued on wrong.
Tire monkey at the dealership could of done the PDI wheel check by counting the uga-dugga's on the impact gun.

If those two don't pan out then you'll be looking at rotors and cv's...

 

Not like rumble strips. When it rained, I tried switching from 2x4 to 4x4 and there was no change. No I didnt lift the truck. I have received many replies saying," No its not a Toyota thing" and "Dont settle for that do blah blah blah". Well, I havent heard from anyone who said, I had this problem and this is what I did. I need to hear from that person..I bet their truck was made in Mexico.