vibration/drone/humm/buzz at 2k rpm loaded

I don't know how the stock exhaust is because mine is aftermarket, but my exhaust vibrates against this cross member when the engine is under slight load. It doesn't look like it would with the truck parked, but I'm guessing when the engine is under load it must raise up just enough to make contact.

I'm having a muffler shop make a pipe with a bend in it to get it away from that brace.

 

I was kinda thinkin there would have to be something, wouldn't make sense not to haha. hadn't looked just real hard in the past. and aint been under it lately.

 

holy crap,, that access hole is tiny. barely get 2 fingers in there. no wonder you didn't think there was anything. How are you supposed to tighten bolts or do anything with that?

 

No cracks or loose bolts that I could see in the access hole. Don't know how a person could get to those bolts through that thing. Still seems to be getting worse. Throw a load in the back and its terrible. haven't had a chance to try anything in a while. Likely goin to a trans shop tomorrow to talk to them.

 

LT have you checked your pinion bearing?

 

No, but why would anything in the rear end change with Rpms and gear changes? maybe I'm wrong but that seems to me would be speed related

 

Well from your op it sounds like a bearing going out. A pinion bearing will hum/buzz at the rpm range which you described

 

Transmission shop could feel it, didn't think it was tranny related. Dealer pretty much said it was normal. I said the 15' I test drove earlier didn't do it. Hes gonna check some TSB's and get back with me. Also said they have a lot of drive shaft issues with those trucks. Advised me to pull the shaft and drive it in 4wd. Other than that, he said its just gonna be engine vibes. Super frustrated. Why has it gotten worse over the last 10,000 miles? why is only rpm sensitive, not speed sensitive?

 

Primary or Secondary ignition starting to collapse ? Fuel pump starving one of your six injectors ? Oxygen sensors starting to glitch ?
Do you have a scanner ?
I would start with spark plugs followed by a technician looking at the above mentioned with a lab scope . Have you replaced your plugs yet ?My plugs were finished at 40,000 miles

Do you have a buddy with the same truck ? take his for a ride and you will see how smooth these trucks are suppose to drive

Your truck vibrates in Park and Nuetral at 3000 rpm and you have confirmed this by load testing your transmission in the driveway without moving the truck . Sounds incredibly engine related to me .
If you load up the engine while driving , its only going to feel worse not to mention that when you describe the problem to others under load , they begin posting fixes for driveline related issues .

 

No scanner. Have changed plugs, no change. The 3000+ seems like a balance type thing that is only noticed once it gets spinning so fast.. Engine doesn't need any load.. just starts in about 2800, carries through about 3200,, then kinda almost fades, and comes back in around 3800. Its quite strange.. But there are two different vibes im fighting here. one dealing with under light load from 1700 to 2200.. Seems lockup related.. but I just cant narrow it down. As much as ive played with it. Its like, rpm+lockup related. I cant seem to really duplicate it in any gears other than 4th and 5th, even when going up a steep hill trying to really load it in that rpm range. but in 4th and 5th when I tap the brake to unlock it, it takes it out of the rpm I most notice it at.. So yes, it stops, but I cant verify if its just because the rpms changed or if going out of lockup made it change.. I lean towards the latter. In 4th its tricky because it only locks up at 45 mph.. which is right on the edge of 2k rpm. My next step is to pull the pan, and mess with the lockup solenoid. Ive done several drain and fills and a flush recently. no changes.. its quite a humming vibe when it kicks in. can hear it and feel it over the radio and everything. and then the 3k thing is just specifically rpm related, basically anything over 2800 rpm, any gear, or parked, or neutral. sometimes I wonder if something is just wrong in the converter itself.. Causing both issues, being that it is always spinning. I cant see anything on the flexplate nor can I even tell how you are supposed to see or do anything through that half inch slot in the bottom. and everything just seems like im just spinning my wheels. So ive just been kinda dealing with it for now. along with all the other issues im just having to "deal" with because nobody has a clue. I like looking at the truck.. and I like the idea of the truck. But I hate driving it because of all the weird issues and quirks it has that nobody has a fix for

 

Im still dealing with these issues and they seem to be continually getting worse. Seems worse in lockup, but has started doing it elsewhere, and can notice now more in lower gears. But I just don't know what to do or where to start or where to go. Dealerships are stupid. But Ive flushed the tranny, tried adjusting the SLU a half a turn in on the allen screw, and added lubeguard shudder stop, I can tell no change in anything at all. I haven't tried unbolting the converter yet because I just haven't had an opportunity where I don't need my truck for a day or two. But that still wont address the issues under load, only the 3k and up vibes, which also seem worse.. I know this cant be normal. this truck shouldn't feel like im driving a lawn mower and have more vibes than the international I drive at work every day. It is not misfiring. All the vibes are felt through the steering wheel, floorboard and pedals, and can be heard just as much as it is felt. It is all engine rpm, vs load related. has nothing to do with speed... gears change, and the vibes change.. I can actually feel the vibe almost "kick in" when it goes into lockup, or if i add a certain amount of load. very easily heard and felt and identified if I put it in fourth, get up about 46 mph, let it lock up, then give it a bit more throttle without it shifting and you can immediately feel it and hear it start. but im also noticing more vibes in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th without lockup at anything under about 2300 rpm with decent load. Anything behind the trans seems it would be related more to speed/load. the only thing I know to do at this point is change the converter. Which seems like a huge amount of money to pay someone to do that may or may not fix a thing. I just don't know what to do. I know it can be fixed.. I had to be able to be addressed. But nobody seems to have a clue. im at the end of my rope here.

 

Dude , I understand .
Dealing with mysterious vibrations can be a nightmare . Most guys here get it licked up with a transmission fluid change and some Lubeguard .
You , unfortunately have listened to many things that it could be and cant seem to correct the issue .
Have you had all the vibration TSB,s performed ? its been 6 months
I beg you ...... Do not change or waste your money replacing the torque converter until a proper diagnostic is performed
I try to help as a keyboard warrior , but there is no substitute for a journeymen technician taking your truck for a " FREE " test drive .
Let the technician have your truck for an hour of driving and listen to his conclusions .
At this point , we are 4 pages deep in diagnostics . Torque converters do not cause vibrations in 2nd gear
Bring your truck to my shop and I will fix this problem for free in an hour as long as I have the parts . Are you up to the drive ?
I am sure there is a shop close to you that is considered to be reputable ?

 

That's the thing, when you read about "vibrations" what exactly is the vibration someone else is feeling... when someone describes a rumble strip.. what exactly is that... The one time I had it at the dealer, he tried to say might be a U joint or normal. , which didn't make sense to me. Another shop I was at for wheel bearing issues could never even hear the wheel bearing, and ended up replacing the wrong one.. so I replaced the other one myself and fixed it. he never could tell any other issues I had and said Toyotas just vibrate because of overhead cams. Had it at a transmission shop, and he could feel it, but didn't know what it was, and didnt want me spending money on something that may or may not fix it. And its hard when they are driving to get them to do what I ask. He did perform a stall test first. Im sure there is a shop somewhere, but I got no clue. if you were anywhere close to Oklahoma I would consider the drive.

 

Check harmonic balancer on front crankshaft.

 

Replaced it already.. twice

 

Hi, jumping on an old thread but wondering if you figured out what was causing your drone? I have a 2000 4runner doing the same. Sounds like its coming from passenger side engine bay and also rear right and left. Stops as soon as I take my foot off the peddle. Usually notice around 100km/h (60m/h).

 

nah i havent figured anything out. This truck has so many weird things noises and annoyances that nobody can explain, but it hasnt broke yet, so i just keep driving it and being annoyed by it.