Single (and Two) Piece Driveshaft = Vibes....BE GONE!!!

Ok so I’m about to pull the trigger on a tw one piece and I’ve been reading through this thread, I just want to make sure I’ve got some things clear... my truck is a 2015 dcsb 4x4. I put on bilsteins all around with ome coils upfront and aal in the rear totaling a 3” lift... I put 3* shims in the rear, the carrier bearing drop at the cb and it eliminated all vibes except the take off vibes up to 20 mph. I will not be re gearing and currently have 32” tires on it... largest I’ll go is 33”. If I read correctly, the 3.5” shaft should work perfectly for me correct? Or should I still go with 4”? Also, in an earlier post, I read the calculated top safe speed with a one piece on 32” tires is just over 75 mph... occasionally I’ll do 80, has anyone had any issues going over 75?

 

Did you have to cut out your cb support bracket with the 3.5?

 

Depends. What did Tom Woods give you for a maximum safe RPM specification on the shaft you are buying? How does that compare to the maximum shaft speed you calculated based on your setup and uses? Personally, I didn't want to purchase and install a driveshaft that my truck was capable of blowing up.

 

It clears it without cutting fine, but I haven't tried articulating the suspension to see how close I can get it. I haven't done any wheeling with it since the install, but I'll check it out before I do.

 

If you never plan on running anything bigger than 33s, then go with the 3.5. I am on 285s with an icon lift at 2.5 inches in the front and 1.5 in the rear with no shims. TW told me to try it without shims and see if I have vibes. I didn't , so I have no shims in the rear. I have had my truck up to 104 with no issues, and constant 80 mph on a trip to Michigan and back with no issues as well. For me it was worth the investment, but for others, it may not be.

 

Awesome. Thanks

 

Subbed

 

Bump to a fantastic mod for lifted large wheeled tacos, Its one of those things you don't know how much better it makes things until you try.

Just did this on my '12 4.0 4wd taco that's lifted about 5 inches and on 37's; drastically reduced driveline vibrations and start of vibes. This should be a mandatory mod for all lifted tacos!!

 

So below is my post on the TW Facebook page.

Should I do this mod? The guy I took it too for my driveline told me that he has seen single shaft driveshafts totally destroy tacomas.

He used a tool and placed it on the dash and test drove the truck and said it wasn’t coming from the driveline and that if it was my mirrors would be shacking as well. This vibration is only felt in the seats.

I’m just looking for advice. The damn truck is a really smooth ride until I hit 70-80mph.


***UPDATE***

So I have a vibration at 70-80mph. I don’t feel it in the steering wheel, only the seats...my passenger seat literally waves at me.
Got the driveline checked- negative results
Suspension checked- negative results
Alignment done- negative results
Tires B&R- negative results.

So now I’m back at Discount tire and they are replacing two of my tires thinking that they are defective. If this doesn’t fix it...what do you think it could be.

13 TACO TRD-OR
3in lift
285/75/R16
-6 offset After market rims
Also have the diff drop and ESGS bushing

So I got two new BFG KO2s put on...for free and I still have the vibration.

 

Once I get done rebuilding the backyard deck and about 50 other things... I plan on getting the 1 ton joints and the dual cartoon joint and having a custom drive shaft welded up and balanced.
If that don't fix it- a for sale sign will!

 

So I think this mod may have killed my transmission. I hate to agree with fidgit07 but Im now seriously second guessing this mod. I had the exact same symptoms. My seats shaking too. My tires are also wearing kinda odd as well

2 weeks after I installed the shaft my transmission went out (5th and whatever synchronizes the gears)

@Fidgit07 any news? Im thinking of taking the driveshaft off and going back to 1 piece now

 

Nothing yet, I have one more shop I’m going to go to, then if they can’t figure it out I will be going to the dealership.

I just don’t understand it. The truck is so smooth and quite until I get to 70mph. There is absolutely no take off or stoping vibrations....there is only 70-80Mph vibrations and they go away once I get past 80mph.

 

It’s crazy how all of us have something slightly different. My vibes are at 1500 rpm at slower speeds only on acceleration when the truck is kinda lugging. Deceleration doesn’t do it.

 

Yours could be as simple as needing a good driveline greasing.

Straight rediculous man...I love my truck but if it’s not one thing...it’s another. Should of never lifted her.

 

@ovrlndkull

 

Just to clarify, I don't think Fidgit07 has realized transmission failure (at least his post doesn't seem to suggest that). I also don't think he's installed a single piece shaft either.

And it would be unlikely a drive shaft would have killed your transmission unless you installed it wrong. If there weren't any terrible vibrations after installing your shaft then it's likely your issue is from something else. The fact that your tires are wearing odd is a sure sign you have something else seriously wrong with your truck and it has nothing to do with the drive shaft.

 

Hmm sounded like he may have from the UPDATE part but maybe I read that wrong.

Just got off the phone with Tom Woods shop and it sounds like my drive angles are correct (within 3 degrees on the bottom by the Diff, and within 22 on the top [mine is 0.5 and 8 degrees]) so its really weird Im getting the vibes still. Once I get the new trans in Ill have to see. Ill be changing to 4.88s soon too, hopefully it won't put it above the RPM range.

 

I just ordered a completely new two piece driveshaft from South Bay Driveline in San Jose, CA with a heavy duty double cardan joint. It's not cheap, but @EDDO on here has had good luck with the one he bought from them. I've tried all types of CB drops, shims in .5 degree increments, etc. Nothing has gotten rid of my driveshaft shudder at takeoff, under 20 MPH. Frustrating to have to spend a lot of cash on something so silly, but I'm OCD and it just bugs me.

I'm heading down there next Monday to have it installed. Hoping to be vibration free after that.

 

Post an update afterward with pictures of what they offer. Very interested to see how it compares to the two piece shaft I also had made.

 

Will do. They emailed me that the driveshaft is built and will be painted tomorrow. They may email me pictures tomorrow.