driveline vibration fix write up..................may work for you too.

My 2013 DCSB Sport 4x4 (19k miles, all stock, original tires) is at the dealer today for the same issues. Minor takeoff shudder, driveline vibration anywhere between 40-80mph that's bad enough to blur images in the rear view mirrors. First trip to Toyota service they formally acknowleged the vibration was there and was abnormal, so I guess I lucked out there. Their initial attempt at a fix doesn't sound very encouraging, new rear leaf springs under warranty and they had to order an inclinometer to check/reset the pinion angle? I guess we'll see this afternoon.....I still suspect the u-joints/carrier bearing.

ETA - The service writer has already used the old "some of this vibration is a normal characteristic" line.........

 

I got a vibration or grinding type noise bout 35-45mph after installing a 2.5" leveling kit. Any ideas on the fix for this

 

Yeah. Everything thats Been talked about on this thread lol throw some spacers on ur carrier bearing

 

So I'm in the same boat as a lot of others posting in this thread, wanting to do a lift but reluctant bc of the driveline vibration issue that may/may not rear it's ugly head. So while searching for videos of installations, came across this gem from Weber State University (WSU) - Automotive Technology Department.

So although its a long video (11:26), this guy explains how to measure pinion angles and how to diagnose if you need to add anything (shims, CB drops). I'd say it's a pretty good starting point for anyone.

If you're stock and have vibrations, measure the angles and see if you're within Toyota tolerances. And although the instructor uses a Tundra, I'd hazard a guess the tolerances are fairly similar.

My apologies if this has been posted before somewhere on TW. It was brand new to me.

http://youtu.be/f1m-Fh5kiRU

 

Just subscribed. Helped my buddy buy a 2013 TRD OR and the driveline shudders from 10-20mph while on the gas good. I was telling him all about this issue, so we used it to get the dealer to drop the price.

 

People who have experienced these vibrations: where do you feel it? gas pedal and steering wheel? at certain speeds or all?

 

@SoCal Hillbilly

 

The only thing he doesnt address is adding or subtracting the angles. If they are down you add if up then subtract. In my case the DS is down and the pinion is up.

In the floor board for me.

 

Worked great for me! I cut four pieces of 1/4 inch and stacked them 2 on each side. Solved my ~55mph vibration after my AAL install. Someone else mentioned it, but 3/8" hole size was too small for me, had to go 7/16"


UPDATE: DID NOT work for me. Just changed the harmonic frequency of the vibration (vibrates at different speeds now). Considering scrapping the AAL that caused all of this after reading numerous threads on the toils of driveline vibrations. I'd rather revert back to stock (TSB) and save my time, money, sanity, and drive train...

 

@Mademan925 Possibility of the vibe?

 

Already did this a few months ago.

 

While changing the u-joints on my truck I found that although the carrier bearing looked serviceable I heard a grinding noise when I spun the CB by hand. The bearing looks like it's not centered in the carrier also.

I still have vibes that I feel in the seat and floorboard. I checked the front wheel bearings for play and didn't notice anything. I don't feel vibes in the steering wheel. I have a Deaver 2" AAL and I tried the CB drop kit but no change.

New carrier bearing ordered

Any other ideas anyone?

 

Thought I'd (belatedly) update my January post.............the replacement springs lost me an inch of ride height and have no arch left already, but did 99% eliminate the takeoff shudder I was experiencing. The vibration is now confined to the 60-75mph range, but same intensity as before. The truck now has 31k on the odometer, and 10k on Cooper 265/70-17 AT3 6-ply (which have their own problems). Truck is going back to the dealer on Tuesday for them to take another shot at the vibration issue. The service writer tried his same shenanigans, claiming he would be told the vibration is just a normal characteristic of the truck, until I reminded him they already accepted the issue as abnormal with the original work in January. I officially have no confidence that I will see any satisfaction out of the dealer, the only one for 50 miles around. Apart from the vibration issue, I've been well satisfied with the truck and already have it paid off. I can no longer, however, tolerate the vibration and will end up trading the truck if the problem cannot be resolved by the local dealer. And it won't be for another Toyota product.................

 

I'm running these tires .... What problems are you talking about ? Changed CB and all 3 ujoints and tried the OME CB drop with varying thicknesses and the vibes only get worse and never go away ... The vibes are a new development after 20K miles on the AT 3s

 

One tire replaced as out-of-round when originally installed. The belts move around A LOT, takes 5-10 miles of driving for them to quit shaking and smooth out after sitting cold for a while. My commute to work is only 5 miles, so I get to enjoy my steering wheel shaking both ways every day for my full drive to and from work (especially in cold weather). Discount Tire gets their shot at the tires tomorrow morning, we'll see how they react to my invitation to experience it for themselves.

The whole situation is just really sad. I bought the truck with the expectation it would provide many years/miles of reliable service with normal maintainence, not as a mechanical project. Been there, done that with muscle cars in the '70's. OTOH, suspension replacement and a one-piece driveshaft may likely be less expensive than trading vehicles.

 

I'm going to check air pressure and look the tires over tomorrow. Have to figure this out. I have an hour drive to work and its past aggravating. Tires need balancing at least

 

As I expected, the dealer now claims the vibration to be a normal characteristic of the truck after another day of test driving, swapping OE street tires on to test for any difference with my Coopers, and road force balancing the Coopers. To be fair, they've done everything that Toyota tells them to do to address vibration, but therein lies the problem............Toyota seems to admit there is a problem, but proposes nothing but patches to address it. And, it appears they have successfully dodged it with the passage of the 2nd Gen trucks into history. I hope the new Tacomas don't have any of these same problems, but I for one won't be another Beta tester for them.......

 

Can't get the vibes to go away ... removed OME CB spacers ... vibes are still there from 20 mph and up.

Changed all 3 ujoints yesterday and still the same vibes ... now I'm thinking it's a carrier bearing that was no good from Toyota.

The new carrier bearing seems to have as much movement as the old one

SMH

 

How difficult was changing out the joints? I will need to do this eventually and would like to know if it's within my realm of capabilities.

 

Ive come to my own conclusion (and I may be completely wrong) that the driveline vibration issue affects short bed Tacomas more than long bed Tacomas when lifted, due to the shorter distance between the ends of the driveshaft and the slightly higher angles. Anybody prove me wrong?