Front End Vibration Help

Hi all, I've used the search function to try and diagnose my problem, and I've seen some interesting theories, but none that seem to completely match up with my symptoms so I figured I would make a new post.

A few days ago, I started to hear and feel a vibration from my front end. It starts at exactly 30 MPH every time. It continues until at least 50 MPH. After that, I can't tell if it goes away or not due to the increased noise from being on the freeway.

My first instinct was that it might be a wheel bearing. So, I chocked my tires, jacked up my truck, and spun the front tires freely one at a time. No clicking or odd noises. I also tried to shimmy or maneuver the tires to see if there was any play. They were solid. So, I crossed wheel bearings off the list.

Next, I figured it was the needle bearing based on all of the threads I read. The symptoms seemed to line up perfectly. Except when I engaged 4WD, the problem did not go away. The symptoms persisted. So, I crossed needle bearings off the list.

Next, I thought maybe it was a bad propeller shaft or driveshaft due to another recall I've seen floating around on here. My truck seems to fit the bill for affected trucks in terms of model years and body styles. But when I searched my VIN on the Toyota recall database, it pulled up nothing. Also when I searched my records for paperwork from Toyota, I only came across the warranty enhancement paperwork for rust. Nothing for the propeller shaft recall. So the jury is still out on that one.

Finally, I took my truck to a trusted mechanic. He has done great work for my father-in-law on his 2015 Tacoma in the past and helped me out once with a minor issue, so I generally trust him. He seems to be convinced the issue are bad lower ball joints. I checked my ball joints - and while they certainly could use replacing, I am not convinced that it will solve my vibration issue. The issue seems to always start exactly at 30 MPH and the vibration sounds harmonic. I would think the sounds and vibrations would be a bit more random with ball joints. Am I wrong in assuming this? I'm curious if anyone else has run into a situation like this. Thanks in advance.

 

To clarify my original post, I feel the vibration in the floorboards only - not in the steering wheel or anywhere else in the truck. It's definitely there, but it's also not super apparent. I had to point it out to both my wife and my father-in-law. My truck is also a 2010 with 86,000 miles and 2.5" lift.

 

Could be driveshaft angle when you lift a truck vibrations are common

 

I would balance and rotate the tires just to rule that out. Coming from 2 Silverado's before my Tacoma I have noticed you feel a lot more road imperfections. Make sure you road force balance them. I had a buddy at a local town fair balance mine and I still have a small steering wheel shake around 60. I then had the dealer road force balance and the shake went away entirely.

 

Thanks for the reply. I lifted the truck about 21,000 miles ago and 2.5 years ago. Would something like that crop up much later after the lift, or would it happen shortly after a lift?

 

That is a good point. I just had them rotated and balanced at 85,000 miles at America's Tire and I wonder if they messed it up. That would roughly match up with my timeline for when the problem started. I always get my tires rotated and balanced every 5,000 miles for free at America's Tire since that's where I bought the tires at 21,000 mile ago.

 

From my experience shortly after the lift but it’s possible that it’s settled over time so it might be slightly lower than what you originally lifted to and for some reason it’s just at the right angle to vibrate

 

It’s worth checking into if you haven’t already. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drive-shaft-vibrations-solved-step-by-step.244535/

 

Surprised nobody has suggested the Universal Joints and or Center Bearing for the drive shaft. Have they been greased? If they have fittings grease them profusely and see if it changes. Or remove the drive shaft to check the joints as that is the only good way to test them looking for sticking or excessive looseness.

If it were ball joints you would feel it more in the steering wheel not the floorboard.

 

after a while tyres that were once balanced run out........... are No Longer balanced

any additional wear/clearance to front components will set up vibes

ride in another vehicle on a low traffic hi way at 30 mph

have a close look at Ur front end....... both sides

sometimes U can actually see what the matter is

good luck

 

Could be MANY things. Does it happen when your pressing the gas or coasting? Could just be normal age on leafs is causing a little more axle wrap when your giving it has, which makes the 2 piece axle arch upwards when under power. Check the center bearing and make sure it's still sitting strait across not crooked. I'm not thinking the center bearing is bad, just maybe cocked sideways. A tip, if you do ever get to the point where the center bearing is bad, don't waste the $$$ fixing it, just get a one piece driveshaft and fix it for good.

 

Thanks all for the replies. I have some updates:
1. I got the tires rebalanced. It didn’t help unfortunately.
2. I regreased all of my zerks. It also didn’t help.
3. Mechanic got back to me with a quote, says he wants to replace Lower Left & Right Complete Arm, ball joint and bushings - Parts & Labor est. $900.

I actually wouldn’t have a problem with paying for that work if it fixes the problem. I’m just not convinced it will fix it.

On my test drive after greasing my zerks, I did notice one new thing. The truck makes the noise going over 30MPH either straight or when banking left on a curve. However, when I bank right on a 30MPH curve, the noise and vibration nearly disappear.

Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts. Thanks in advance again.

 

Check lower control arm bushings and alignment

 

dont rule out a wheel bearing. they have kinda an inner and outer bearing, which part of it is going determines how it might produce symptoms. I had one that only presented itself above 60 on a smooth road, and no other way to tell. And it went away when i Loaded that side.. for instance, it was the driver side... When i turned RIGHT, it went away... i for sure thought it would have been the other way around, so i changed the passenger side... and it didnt help, so i changed the drivers side and it went away. It reacted opposite of the way i thought. and the mechanic couldnt tell either. Even with a scope on the hub he could never hear it. Also, if its 4x4 dont forget about the clamshell bushing in the housing that is known to cause vibes. It will supposedly go away when you put it in 4wd

 

It does indeed indicate a wheel bearing loading and unloading as you turn.

 

My money says it’s a wheel bearing, most likely in one of the rear wheels. I had the same experience a few years ago in my 2015 at around 115k miles.

 

Did you read vibration diagnostics for all tacomas, posted by gearcruncher? This is a great tool for anyone with vibration issues.

 

In addition to your symptoms of vibes and harmonic noise, you are also at the mileage when the OEM wheel bearings tend to fail on the 2nd gen.

 

For wheel bearings, it can be really hard to diagnose when you jack it up and get it off the ground to check. I ran into a problem liked this on my old Corolla with one of the rear bearings. The car had a constant hum to it for several months. I thought it was the tires.
My recommendation would be, jack it up, remove the front wheels and brake calipers. You don't want anything dragging on the rotor. Slowly, turn each hub by hand. It should feel smooth. If you get any roughness at all, by hand, that's your culprit.
On my Corolla, I couldn't tell just by turning and wiggling the wheel. I had to remove the drum on each side and turn the axle unit assembly by hand, with no drag on it. One had the slightest grinding feel to it. I replaced it and the hum went away. Again, it was really hard to tell until I got down to just the hub by itself.

 

With all the Tacoma’s I’ve had I’ve noticed that they’re are super sensitive as far as vibes go. With it being in the floor boards that makes me think carrier bearing. I glazed over all the posts but it seems everyone is pointing you in the right direction. Balance tires, and maybe go ahead and do wheel bearings. You can get hub assemblies now and do it yourself in the driveway. You’ll need one big ass socket (35mm I think?) and the rest is typical
Hand tools. If you can go ahead and replace The u joints and carrier bearing (have a shop do it) And that should take care of it. I have 2.5” lift and no vibes. The only thing that’s irritating me now is axle wrap. I have OME Dakar’s and I’ll be damned if they didn’t start doing it just like the stockers a little while back.