Driveshaft Vibration after Add-a-leaf

Hi all,
I recently installed an add-a-leaf kit in my 1997 toyota tacoma LX and am experiencing alot of driveshaft vibration at around 10-20 MPH. I was reading up on this and heard that you can drop the carrier bearing to help correct this but was wondering if there are any suggestions you all may have.

Thanks!

 

Do some research on AXLE SHIMS

Axle shims install underneath the leaf springs and pivot the pinion. In your case, you'll want to pivot the pinion upwards.

I had a set of 2.5 degree shims on my 96 tacoma after I installed AAL's.
The smallest shims they have are 2.5degrees and most of them are made of aluminum. I would avoid aluminum shims - they're soft and some folks have problems with them 'squashing' somewhat flat over time. I personally never had a problem with mine (aluminum).


They look this this after they're installed:

 

The above suggestion can help, because when you installed the AAL, you changed the pinion angle in relation to the driveshaft.

However also by installing an AAL, you changed the angle of the center Cardon joint as well, hence the need to install a spacer kit for the carrier bearing.

Another thing to do is inspect the carrier bearing. A weak carrier bearing and mount can operate acceptably with normal driveline characteristics, but when you do an AAL and change those characteristics, then a weak one will rear it's head.

Let us know what you do and the results.

 

You do not need to install a carrier bearing spacer. I drove my truck for 4 years after the lift with no issues with my carrier bearing/no spacer.

Each situation is different whether you need one or not.

Just sayin.....

 

I would try dropping the CB first , way easier than axle shims

 

the carrier bearing itself seems to be in good shape I put the rear of the vehicle up on jacks and chocked the front tires and ran it up and the only noise I was hearing was from the rear differential area. Im going to give the carrier bearing about a 1/2" drop by adding washers and a longer bolt today and see if that does any good. Thanks for the suggestions so far!

 

well the carrier bearing drop really seemed to help out alot i am noticing a very very slight vibration at around 25 mph so maybe soon I may pick up a axle shim like Janster suggested. Heres the before and after.....

 

Dropping the carrier bearing to correct vibrations after a lift is pure shade tree. Pinion shims are the correct way to restore proper drive line angle on a 2 piece double cardan type shaft.
Many folks including "shops" will drop the carrier bearing and see a reduction in vibrations because it's quick, that does not make it correct. Can you get by with a "little" CB drop? Sure, but it is at the expense of the correct angle of the front half of the shaft. Do it right, leave the CB alone and shim for correct pinion angle. You want around the pinion pointing down 2 deg + 1 depending amount of flex in the spring pack.

Google "double cardan drive shaft angle" and you can read about it all day long or just read this http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Driveline-101.shtml

 

I assume that I can get by for about a week or so with the carrier bearing dropped? Also I'm not entirely sure which degree shim to pick up it seems many people are just throwing around a 2 degree shim. Never thought fixing this accursed axle wrap would be such a pain haha

 

You don't need much .... But I'm pretty certain the smallest axle shim you can buy is 2 or 2.5 degrees. They don't go any smaller because of the overall thickness of the material on the thin side (too thin).

I had a 2.5 degree shim on my 96 Tacoma many many years ago. I had a 2" lift (after settling). The shim did the trick. But as I mentioned earlier, you'll want to find steal shims (most are aluminum). I've heard that aluminum shims can flatten over time. I had aluminum and never had any problems. I never wheeled hard and I kept close eyes on my ubolts.