Needle Bearing Failure With Lift (How Many)

Yeah, I'm with ya. I just find it hard to believe that the heat due to rotation doesn't correct the vibration once you start driving around as does outside temperature. I'm willing to bet the heat due to rotation is >40 degrees. There must be something else. Perhaps viscosity of gear oil?

 

It's an intermittent problem that comes and goes with temp, speed, and likely other factors (i.e. road surface) playing a role. We're talking about thousandths of an inch of play but at certain RPMs causing an almost harmonic vibration/sound that you can feel through the steering wheel, pedals, and floorboard. There is no doubt however, the ECGS bushing completely fixes it and in some ways I feel the truck is smoother than before even when it was STOCK. No brainer.

 

how tough is it to replace the ecgs bushing? pricey to get it done?

 

It takes about 2 to 3 hours of labor if you pay a shop to do it. Some have got it done for $180 and others I've seen $300 range.

For parts: if you need the removal tool it's $60. Otherwise some threads on here people are selling, loaning or renting them out for less. Then you're waiting on availability and such....

-$60 for the bushing
-$20 for new axle seal (dumb not to buy one because it's cheap and you'll likely tear up the stock one upon removal)
-$20 for 2 qts of 85w-140 Lucas Gear Oil

If you do it yourself it could take 3 to 4 hours. You have to have a tie rod puller (rent one), pull the cv axle out of the diff, and you have to refill the diff with fluid (1.6 quarts of 85w-140 Lucas Heavy Gear Oil based on ECGS recommendations). Also recommended to have some sort of bearing driver to help get the bushing seated flush and straight.....
Labor also involves tearing down the drivers side suspension obviously to get access and to pull the axle so this is why many recommend doing it while you do your lift. Otherwise you're backtracking and tearing up track to get it right.

There are write ups on how to do it. See an example here of a pretty good write up: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-and-adventures.362772/page-171#post-14019469

With just parts you're looking at anywhere from $140 to $180. Now add labor.

Price it out here: http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-8536125-toyota-8-clamshell-bushing-eliminates-needle-bearing.html

Read their FAQ and install instructions on that ECGS link. See if you think you can do yourself.


EDIT: BTW repair shops aren't huge fans of people coming in with a self-diagnosis (shocking I know) So be prepared to hunt around for a shop that will be willing to perform the job, putting on customer-supplied parts, with a customer-provided diagnosis.... particularly on a brand new still-under-warranty vehicle. It will help if you walk in with the install procedure from ECGS printed out, and parts in hand. Any shop that can replace a CV axle should technically be able to complete the job within a couple of hours.

 

Oh yeah, no arguing that. I'm looking forward to the smooth ride once I stop being so lazy lol. Just allowing my mind to wander a bit. I commute with the truck (same drive every day) and notice outside temperature alone affecting vibration. In my case, ~65 degrees seems to be the point where vibration is undetectable. I'm curious how many people that live in warmer locations are the ones who don't experience vibration.

 

I live in Phoenix and it's been 60s in the morning and mid to high 80s in the day. It was vibrating mostly in the AM or when truck was cold, but certainly would kick up at times during the peak heat of the day. I just fixed it not even 2 weeks ago

 

I really regret not doing this when installing my lift last week. The vibes are happening between 40 - 45 mph and started immediately after the lift. I love the lift, hate the vibes. To those getting ready to do a lift, include this in your parts list. Yes it's a higher up front cost, but you'll be saving time (and money if doing yourself) by not having to go back and do it afterwards

 

Yes I put this into my write-up for the 6112/5160 lift as something to "seriously consider"

I think it should be a requirement for anyone wanting to lift.

 

I agree Smitty. This issue should be made a sticky in the suspension forum and included in the lift guide threads if it's not already...

EDIT: does this happen on 1st gens?

 

Bearing is making noises on my truck at 6k miles without a lift. Have the bushing already which will be installed when I lift.

Also had the needle bearing fail on a 2005 Tacoma and 2008 Tundra without lifts on them as well

 

I plan on leveling out the front of my SR5 soon, and I'm going to do the bushing / seal replacement while I have it torn apart.

So if anyone has one of the EGCS needle bearing pullers and knows how to accurately measure things, could you please give me the dimensions of the threaded needle bearing puller plate, the LWH dimensions of the cross bar and the thread diameter and length of the threaded rod, which from the picture looks to be ½-13 thd, as I want to make my own puller.

If anyone has the puller, but isn’t capable of accurately measuring the puller parts, I would gladly pay the shipping and return postage for mailing me the puller so that I can measure the parts.

I’m also going to machine up a piloted bushing and seal driver out of aluminum, which I have done many times before over the years for repair jobs.

 

Just curious. It's the vibration more of a buzzy frequency through the steering wheel or is it a really obvious vibe like when au joint starts going bad?

 

2016 TRD OR

Lifted 2000 km ago, no vibration. Lift is 2"

 

Hard to describe sounds and feels but its "whirring" vibration you feel in pedals floorboard and steering wheel, kind of a rhythmic "waaaaa waaaaa waaaa" it is not deafeningly loud. It's almost like somebody slapped heavy Mud Terrains on the truck.

 

Good info.

 

Apparently yes, buddies 1st gen has the same issue. His truck is stock, but had 130K on it.

 

Yes this affects all generations as well as other Toyota platforms (FJ and 4Runner I believe too) you can validate that on the ECGS website, they have plenty of information on it.

Here's a 7.5" clamshell for T100s, older pickups, and 4runners: http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-14472912-toyota-7-5-clamshell-bushingeliminates-needle-bearing.html

They sell several different clamshells for a variety of Toyota applications.

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/c-1025774-toyota-clamshell-bushings.html

 

2017 with 600 miles 1 3/4" Lift . Vibrations began immediately. Bushing on order

 

This should have been a sticky back in 95.5 on the CEO of Toyota's desk.

Or at the very least in the welcome letter from tcBob when you join the site.

"Welcome to Tacoma world, yes 265's will fit, and yes if you touch your suspension your shit will vibrate."

 

2016 TRD Sport. 11000 miles. 1/2" lift (over stock) on the front mainly to get the height back that I lost with weight from a winch and steel skid plate. Vibrated immediately. About to do the bushing.