2005 Tacoma Front End Vibration at 60mph-- HELP!!

Hi Guys,

My '05 4wd Dbl Cab Auto (130k miles) has developed a bad vibration on the front end. It begins around 60mph and just gets louder with more speed (does not significantly change frequency). It always happens at the same speed regardless of braking/accelerating/coasting, turning/straight, 2wd/4wd. All CVs look fine (ie, no busted boots or grease being thrown) and seem to roll smoothly. I replaced the front diff needle bearing with the ECGS bushing and got no improvement. About a year go, the drivers side wheel bearing went bad so it was replaced with new. I figured it might be the passenger's side bearing going bad so I replaced it with no improvement. When that made no difference, I decided to move the old passenger wheel bearing assy (apparently good) over to the drivers side which also made no difference.


The only thing I've noticed is that when on jackstands, if I spin the drivers wheel, I do hear a clicking sound thats not present on the passenger's side. I'll try to upload a video of this. I put a camera under the truck for some testdrives and can say the main drive shaft runs smoothly (main driveshaft center bearing looks good). Nothing visually odd happening on either front corner suspension. No slop in the tierods or knuckles. I rotated the tires and noticed no change at all.


So, now I ask the experts:


WHAT IS IT???


-- I tried to upload a video of the clicking sound but couldn't get it to happen. Guess I can put it on youtube and create a link. Is that the only way?

 

Here's a photo of the only thing I saw that didn't look perfect. Its the drivers side knuckle. I assume the seal/gasket was damaged last year when I had a shop change out the bearing. Not sure that I could see this causing the noise...?

 

Have you tried getting your tires balanced yet.

 

No I havent but I figured by rotating rears to front and crisscrossing fronts to rear, I would have heard the problemoverall to the rear. Would you agree?

Thus comes on more abruptly and is way stronger than what I've felt in the past from out of balance wheels.

 

Could there be wear on the cv that happened before you replaced the ECGS bushing, making this vibration?

 

I could see a slight polishing on the axle where are the needle bearing was riding but there was no pitting / erosion or any significant wear marks

 

Get your tires road force balanced, sometimes normal balancing doesnt cut it