Chasing Vibration Issues

I've been reading quite a lot over the past month. Last year, I lifted my DCLB about 2 inches. I've driven maybe 20k miles since.
Last month, I started getting vibrations in the truck. I replaced the driver's side needle bearing with the ECGS bushing. I installed a carrier bearing drop, about 1/4". I rotated my tires, and confirmed good pressure in all the tires.
This morning I dropped my drive shaft so that I could check if the u joints were stiff. The u joints feel fine and the carrier bearing spins freely.
At this point I'm at a loss for how to get rid of the vibrations. They only happen when I am accelerating and they get worse between 30-40mph and again between 60-70mph. As soon as I let off the gas, things settle down and the vibration goes away. There is no vibration in the steering wheel and the steering tracks dead straight.

Anyone have any suggestions on a next step for troubleshooting?

 

Sounds like a balancing issue

 

Shaft balancing or wheel balancing?

 

Have you looked into using tapered shims between rear axle and leaf springs? They are used to correct driveline misalignments. Carrier bearing drops are only part of the equation for the rear. If you search vibration threads, there's more detailed info on this. Some guys will remove driveshaft, and put truck in 4HI, essentially making it front wheel drive for testing and narrowing down source of vibes.

 

Buy a magnetic angle gauge. Buy a carrier bearing drop and maybe some extra washers. Start measuring angles. A carrier bearing drop with make your front u-joint angle worse but can sometimes fix all the issues.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drive-shaft-vibrations-solved-step-by-step.244535/

 

Could be you have a bad tire especially since the vibration wasn't there for 20k miles after the lift.

 

Check the torque on the u bolts.... they can work themselves loose.

 

What lift components?

I second the shims in back.

 

Were you noticing vibration on the passenger seat when empty?

 

I guess the tapered shims are next. The ass end was a PITA when I did the lift, so I've been avoiding it.

 

I have all kinds of junk on a mount above the head unit. Vibrates like the dickens.

I torqued all the u joint bolts this morning.

 

Dobinsons

 

My buddy that owns his own service/repair garage has a 2019 trd or that he lifted 3'' before putting much time on it when he bought it. The vibrations were immediately present, not to mention drivability issues with the auto transmission while using the 33' mud tires. He spent months chasing the problem while getting more pissed off every time we took my truck to go fishing....it has zero vibrations being bone stock except for the 265/70 16 a/t tires on it now. This spring he bit the bullet, removed the lift, and tires selling them. The truck has far less vibration now just a mild pulsing action that comes, and goes at various speeds, but he's far happier with the drivability factor. Were both convinced toyota didn't intend owners to lift these 3rd gen trucks without creating more issues.

 

3" lift is gonna require about a 3º shim in the rear. It isn't that hard to fix and address. Throwing a 3" lift on and expecting it to work perfect seems optimistic. You've completely altered the driveline angles. Some get lucky and it does, most need to shim to certain degree. Or a carrier bearing drop. Or both.

It's really not that hard. My truck has a 3" lift and 33" tires and it rides as well as it did stock. Lots of owners of stock trucks complain about vibes anyways, might as well do what you want with your truck.

And you're right, Toyota doesn't intend for people to put 33' tires on any Taco. That's why they make a Tundra.

 

The tapered shims that have the cut out are not too bad-

 

Until about a month ago, thing were great. I wish I could understand how things changed so quickly.

 

Suspension settled maybe. Something could be loose too.

Have you checked your pinion to transfer case angles?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drive-shaft-vibrations-solved-step-by-step.244535/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drive-line-angle-advice.698247/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/driveshaft-angles.465292/

Here's some homework for ya lol. Lots of good info in there.

 

maybe a weight fell of the ds?
Did you make sure the ds stayed in the same position left to right after you put the carrier bearing drop kit on?

 

Maybe the axle has shifted side to side a tiny bit? I had a weird vibration in a certain gear of my truck after doing Icon AAL pack. I had it professionally installed. Just upgraded to the RXT pack and my vibes are gone. Had the 3rd option installed and I do not have a drop kit on my carrier bearing.

 

I notice this all the time. It's literally the only vibration I have. Details on fixing it...it drives me crazy!