Drive Shaft Vibrations Solved Step-by-Step

Well like mentioned with as much slop as there is in these carrier bearings it may be difficult to get it quite right.

 

Ok I just couldn't stay away. The vibes are driving me MAD!!! Anyone know where I can get my hands on some 2.5 and 3 degree shims? I'm running 2 degrees now and I'm at 0.5 UP on my pinion angle so I still need to get it down.

 

toytec

 

Bacon, PM me your address and I'll send you my toytec and belltech shim set. I'm done messing around so I really don't need them anymore. I think I have, lessee.... 1deg, 3deg, 4deg left over, along with their leaf pack bolts which you probably don't need but I'll send them anyways. They're at home so they won't go out UPS until Monday back at work if that's cool. I can send them blue label two day air so you'll get them Wednesday. Completely free to you of course. Use what you need, then pass the extras along.

Sounds like the 3deg will set you perfect, if you're 0.5 up with a 2deg.

 

AWESOME. Rep'd. I'll use the 3 and add my 2s to the kit and pass them along to the next person.

Thanks again Scot!

 

If anyone is looking for those odd angle shims, I just discovered SummitRacing.com and they offer from 0.5deg up to 8deg mostly in stock. Search on their site for Pinion Angle Shims, then narrow your search on the, uh, left side for the specific shim angle you're looking for. I just ordered a set of 1.5deg for a friend's truck, came in a six-pack only so I'll send the 4 extras to add to BaconTaco's kit for the next person.

 

Got the kit in the mail just haven't had time to mess with the truck yet. Thanks again tscot!!!! I'll post my results soon.

 

Edited out a double post

 

Great write-up,

AAL in the rear for 1" lift, nothing big... Installed new transfer case dealer mount, output flange went up about 1/2 an inch... Had stock 2-piece shaft rebuilt with new CB... Take off shudder is gone but getting classic 20MPH and 45MPH vibes... just ordered the Wixey so I can start playing... I hate those vibes, makes the experience really shitty just cruising around town...

I did remove my 3* shim in the back and no CB drop shims..... it helped a bit, but I believe since the TC moved up a bit, the rear diff's flange needs to come down a bit too... we'll see

Question: If my drive-shaft was not balanced right, wouldn't it vibe all the time especially on the highway?

 

I'm still wrapping my head around all of this but I thought I'd post my measurements in case anyone wants to give me advice. Great post BTW, OP! Wixey WR 365 just arrived today thanks to this topic.

New 2012 AC TRD OR with about 600 miles on it. No real vibrations when new but the vib / shudder after shifting into 2nd gear is showing up and can be repeated easily now that I know about it. Goes to 80+ MPH with no real vibes other than that. Thought I'd play around with this while I wait to see if a TSB comes out. I'm also leaning towards doing a 2" lift next year.

Zero on xfer case output flange
Front shaft 94.3*
Rear shaft 92.9* then zero
Pinion flange 91.6*

Still working through it all...

 

Are those percentages or angles? Either way they seem off but then I'm not familiar with a wixey. Also, 2wd or 4?

 

Fixed for ya!

 

Completely stock 4x4.

The numbers that I posted before were the actual angles from reference. Then we have to subtract 90 to use them here.

I somehow completely skipped over the first step last night. I'll measure the pinion operating angle compared to the Tcase output shaft tonight to verify, but we have enough information to solve for it, so I entered that below for right now.

Hopefully I got all this right.

Tcase versus rear pinion angle (zero on front flange, measure rear pinion flange)
__1.3__degrees UP - Calculated

Tcase operating angle (zero on front flange, measure first shaft)
__4.3__degrees

CB operating angle (zero on front flange, measure first shaft - second shaft)
__4.3__degrees first shaft - __2.9__degrees second shaft = __1.4__degrees

Pinion operating angle (zero on pinion flange, measure second shaft)
__1.6__degrees

Is the pinion off pointing up or down?
_____up __X__down

 

I'm wondering if there is a different solution for a prerunner since the driveline is different. I got all my angles just like tscot's and still had major vibes. I need to take some measurements of a stock DCSB prerunner. I'd like to get my wheels powder coated and will have them re balanced to eliminate them as a possible culprit for any vibes. I'm thinking about taking it to a driveline shop and having them check it all out. I hate letting anyone work on my truck but this one may be over my head. I don't seem to ever see any positive results.

 

Of course things changed a tiny bit after driving it to work and parking it again. I also found that I could change the rear pinion angle a couple 10ths either way by pushing the truck forward or back while under it.

Tonight's measurements:

Tcase versus rear pinion angle (zero on front flange, measure rear pinion flange)
__1.5__degrees UP

Tcase operating angle (zero on front flange, measure first shaft)
__4.2__degrees

CB operating angle (zero on front flange, measure first shaft - second shaft)
__4.2__degrees first shaft - __2.6__degrees second shaft = __1.6__degrees

Pinion operating angle (zero on pinion flange, measure second shaft)
__1.0__degrees

Is the pinion off pointing up or down?
_____up __X__down

Everything is within 0.1 degree if I compare the measurements to calculated geometry on paper, but I'm still trying to understand it all.

 

I think no two solutions will be exactly the same. Each driveline is slightly different and has different resonance that creates the vibrations. That's why Scot went out driving with a wrench and a pocket of washers. Your driveshaft is longer than a 4x4's isn't it? So while the method is the same, the solution may be totally different.

Or like you said, it could be something completely different than this geometry.

 

Yeah I tried all the combinations of the ome spacer and 8 fender washers with 2 and 3 degree shims with no results. I then started looking for a Tom Woods and figured out they don't make em for a prerunner because of the driveshaft being too long. So I'm lost.

 

yep. the fix for us prerunners that cant get it is to install a double cardon at the 2nd u joint

 

Can you explain this a little more to me please? Where can I buy one and how much should it cost me? DIY?

 

4runner shaft, google, a few hundred