2011 Tacoma shakes around 40 mph

Hi guys, was just wondering if anyone has had this trouble. Around 40 mph my truck will shake as if you are running over the rumble strips on a hwy. I can slow down or speed up and it will go away. The weirdest thing? Have new tires. Front end is fine. Alignment etc.. Not sure what it is?? Is the transmission staggering making it feel like there's a shake? Thanks, it's hard to explain. But maybe someone has had that same feeling. Aaron

 

U joints and the hanger bearing for the drive shaft, take a close look.

 

Thank you, I will take a look. Appreciate it

 

If you put the truck in 4th gear and drive it at 40 mph, is the shake still there?

 

It has an automatic transmission. It's just the strangest, very hard to explain. Thanks Aaron

 

You can shift from D to 4..

 

I had the same issue with my truck. I replaced the carrier bearing and u-joints. Problem solved.

 

For ubolts and carrier bearing.
Get under the truck, grab onto the drive shaft and try shaking it vigorously.
There should be NO movement.

 

What @TnShooter is getting at is you may be experiencing what is known as torque converter shudder. The test, for this is simple; when the vibration starts, very slightly depress the brake pedal. Not enough to engage the brakes, just enough to get the pedal switch to recognize that you have. If the vibration immediately stops, then it is indeed the torque converter.

The first thing to check in this situation is your trans fluid level. There’s a specific procedure to do so that’s a bit of a pain in the butt, well documented here on TW. If that’s OK, you can try adding some Shudder Fix which is a product that sounds like snake oil, but often does the trick.

 

Could be something as simple as one of your wheels is off balance. Carrier bearing will definitely give you a vibration from directly underneath you. If it’s a wheel bearing you might feel it when you turn.

 

If you’re gonna climb under to check out your carrier bearing and u joints you might as well pump some lube in them while you’re at it.

 

That’s exactly what I was getting at.
It’s a simple test, and it doesn’t even involve crawling under the truck.
I often tell people to try 4th. The brake tap tests can be hard for some people to grasp.
The whole keep applying gas while braking is hard for some to grasp.
Plus, you can’t do that test on most modern vehicles. Most will kill throttle when the brake is applied.

Anyways, I’d try 4th.
See if the problem persists.

 

I have a similar problem but only on the highway above 60mph. The brake test will work sometimes. My steering wheel shakes back and forth and usually goes away when I slow down. It's very off because sometimes it won't happen at all and other times it happens multiple times on the way home from work. Never happens on side streets or at slow speeds.

 

Thanks for the tip. I will check it out. Exactly right it does not happen all the time but if I let go of the gas for a split second it goes away. Thank you!

 

I would replace your U-joints and your carrier bearing, then you won’t have any issues for a while that is good maintenance to do in the first place

 

Does it make ts-ts-ts-ts noise when you drive slower? I had similar issue but at higher speeds. Noise up 60. Vibration over that. At 90 it was impossible to drive it was shaking so hard.

Took the dealer about a week and a half to figure out.

Balancing weight inside rear drive shaft fell off and was bouncing inside .

 

Go back to Tire shop and have them Rebalance all 4 wheels and tires ! Happened to me as soon as I got 4 new tires !

 

OP used the phrase, “rumble strip”.
That’s the best way to describe converter shudder in these trucks. I’d make sure it wasn’t the transmission before pulling a driveshaft.

The driveshaft is getting pulled for a transmission anyways.

I’d rather diagnose the issue as try parts and “hope” that fixes it.

 

It’s called torque converter shutter. Plenty topics on this.
Edit: as @TnShooter just mentioned. Couple of good posts in regards of this by the master @gearcruncher . Cheers!

 

Any updates OP? Mine is also doing this on occasion, getting ready to send it to the driveline shop and get the ujoints and carrier swapped out