Vibration at high speeds

Hi everyone

I've had an on going issue with my 2010 Tacoma. I've had multiple alignments and i've had the tires balanced multiple times. At one point and time the dealer ship told me my tires were choppy and that was what was causing my truck to vibrate at high speeds and skip over bumps while turning. I went ahead and swapped out my tired for Toyo Open Country HT's. The vibration returned once again with a clunking in the steering column. The dealership went ahead and replaced the intermediate drive shaft and front drive shaft. This resolved the clunking in the steering column but did not resolve my vibration issue. The balance an alignment only helps for about two weeks and then it reverts back to the issue. Has anyone else had this issue with their Tacoma? Would the leaf springs cause my tire to chop and ride so rough? I am extremely frustrated with all the back and fourth with my dealer ship.

Thanks

 

Having the same problem off and on since fire first tire swap. 2007 2wd 4cyl access cab. Getting tired of being told it just rides like a truck.

 

Welcome to TW OP.

It's possible you both have a bad tire/s... What load is your tires? When they balanced them, did they road force balance them?

 

3rd set of tires, tried wheels / tires from no vibrating truck twice.

After doing some more research I'm in the boat with these folks:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2005-tacoma-driveline-vibration-class-action-lawsuit.163284/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/arbitration-didnt-go-well.339224/

 

I'd get your drive shaft balanced. While you have it off I'd "overhaul" it. @EvilBetty You have a 2007 I'm sure most of this stuff is due for replacement anyways. U-Joints (Spicer), Carrier Bearing (OEM!!) and a balance. Look for a specialty drive line shop not the dealer. It really isn't hard to remove the shaft yourself so don't pay anyone to do that.

If you have a lift make sure your drive shaft angles are good.

 

Do you have OEM wheels? If not, are they hub centric?

If the suspension is worn out, it will chew up tires.

 

Has done it since about 45K.
U-Joints already replaced. Vibration occurs even in Neutral.
OEM wheels. Balanced over and over and over.

 

Having this same problem. Although it didn't start till well past 100,000+ miles. I zip tied the rag joint in the steering which helped a lot but still a slight vib. It's driving me nuts. A good an trustworthy mechanic told me the this slip yoke part of the driveshaft is going bad and to just by a whole new driveshaft . But like you I still get vibs in neutral so I am thinking its in the steering somewhere.

 

So your truck vibrates in neutral while not moving?

Engine mounts?

 

I am going to say that he means that while he is driving down the highway he will put it in neutral and coast and still gets the vibs. Like I do.

 

Sounds dangerous. Should never drive a vehicle in neutral.

That being said... I wouldn't say that rules anything out. The driveline is still going to be moving with the rear axle. And the wheels/tires are still rotating. All you remove is the connection from the engine to the driveline at that point. So it could easily still be a wheel/tire balancing issue or a driveline issue.

 

Oops, been doing that a lot lately. I have had discount tire lug balance the tires( they told me they did anyway). So if they are balanced is there anything in the steering system that you could get the vib from.

 

Tacomas are fairly notorious for vibrations when not balanced "properly". And properly on Toyota wheels seems to mean using a "Road Force Balancer" which is not the same as traditional balancing.

Alignment issues can cause vibrations or steering wheel feedback as well. I'm not mechanic but these are the most common solutions I've seen here on TW over time.

 

Had the alignment done. Also for what it's worth on newly asphalt paved roads the vib almost goes away. I'll have to look into this road force balancing .

 

So far no one in the town I live in has been able to balance my tires. I made my living working on cars/trucks for 38 years so I went to a friends shop and balanced them my self they are fine now. Because of the large center hole they are hard to balance most shops can not deal with that there is nothing wrong with their machine it is operator error.

 

Play with tire pressure and get back with us. Mine will shake like a bowling ball in a blender if tire pressure is too low. (Duratracs.....rep for being shakers) Once I get above 35psi, vibes go away. Just a thought.

Also, worn shocks can rattle your teeth too.

 

Had a U-Joint wear out a couple years ago. Diagnosed it by dropping it into neutral while at speed on the highway. Vibs would go away. Back in drive, they got worse with acceleration. Replaced both U-joints. THAT problem was solved.

Had the tires balanced several times at NTB, then finally I pressured them to use a Haweka type adapter. No change. (They say it's not vibrating most of the time.)

Took to Toyota. They road-force balanced them. Check for worn linkage / steering. No change. (They say it's not vibrating).

Took it to Firestone, had them check alignment / worn steering and suspension parts. No change. (They say it's not vibrating).

Replaced the front rotors and pads. No change.

The vibration isn't consistent or predictable. On the same stretch of road, it can be there one day, and not the next.

Seems to be worse in high winds (head / cross).

Seems to be worse when steering into a turn or into wind.

Since about 40k I've noticed a washer board or springboard type feeling when hitting bumps. It's slight, but it's there. Feels like I'm going over 3 little bumps for every big one I hit. (Everyone says the springs / shocks / struts are fine.)

Sometimes the vibration isn't visibly, or audibly noticeable. Other times my hand and fingers looks like blur on the wheel, and the passenger seat looks like the Pod chair in 'Contact' right before it's ripped from it's mountings. Sometimes the vibes cause cargo to squeak and chatter along with the rhythm of the vibes.