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Mystery highway vibration 60-80mph?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by brandonshafer510, Feb 23, 2023.

  1. Feb 23, 2023 at 5:16 PM
    #1
    brandonshafer510

    brandonshafer510 [OP] New Member

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    Hi all, my 2004 has seemed to develop a minor to moderate but annoying vibration at most highway speeds. I feel it in the steering wheel and the rest of the cab and it has been getting worse. It also has a clunking sound when going over bumps at low speeds and i assume its related. It did not do this for the first year i had the truck. truck is fully stock. Since it started I have had it aligned and balanced, replaced steering rack bushings, carrier bearing, brakes and it does it no matter how i rotate the tires. Ive checked upper and lower balljoints, tie rod ends, and theyre good. Kinda stumped here and dont have the money to just throw parts at it right now. Its super annoying and dont want the shimmy to wear out other parts. Thanks in advance for any help.
     
  2. Feb 23, 2023 at 6:24 PM
    #2
    pulldo

    pulldo Well-Known Member

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    Mine was the tires,, almost brand new Goodyear wranglers, went down and swapped them out for Michelin's, no more issues, none
     
    skeezix likes this.
  3. Feb 23, 2023 at 6:51 PM
    #3
    drr

    drr Primary Prognosticator

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    How many miles on the truck and the suspension components (if they’ve been replaced/serviced)? The clunk could be bushings going out, either lower control arm bushings if it’s in the front end or the leaf spring hanger and shackle bushings if it’s in the rear. Those could also be related to a vibration, although they’d have to be pretty bad to be the main cause I would think.
    The primary culprit for high speed driveshaft vibrations is u joints, especially the rearmost one at the rear pinion flange. Once the needle bearings in those get dry, they deteriorate pretty quickly and start vibing. If you unbolt the driveshaft at the rear diff and rotate the joint through its full range of motion, any sticky or crunchy spots indicate it’s probably toast. Also a cheap part to throw at it just to rule that out.
     
    Area51Runner likes this.
  4. Feb 24, 2023 at 5:30 AM
    #4
    Jakuku Pahwheenis

    Jakuku Pahwheenis i provide useless forum contributions

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    And this tool here makes it really easy to do: OEMTOOLS 24539 Automotive U Joint Puller, U Joint Removal Tools, U Joint Tool Works On Most Passenger Vehicles and Light Duty Trucks, Easy-to-Use U Joint Puller (amazon.com)
     
    Area51Runner likes this.
  5. Feb 24, 2023 at 1:41 PM
    #5
    Red_03Taco

    Red_03Taco Well-Known Member

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    Jack up the front and check your wheel bearings. Also are you certain your tires are in balance? My BFG K02s get out of balance pretty often for whatever reason. Road force balancing at Discount Tires has solved many vibrations for me

    Edit: just reread and saw you already had it balanced. But if it wasn't a good road force balancing, there's a chance they're not adequately balanced.
     
  6. Feb 24, 2023 at 8:00 PM
    #6
    O'Silver_Taco

    O'Silver_Taco Well-Known Member

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    3rz to 2Rz bebuilt block and new heads
    Everybody should be greasing their u-j's once a year....
    if you dont have zerts.....then its time....

    you would not believe how many of you are riding around with rusty needles....
    honestly its one of the first things I'd replace when I bought a truck.....especially a truck.....
     

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