Driveshaft Vibrations: driveline shop's reccomendation

A while back I changed the carrier bearing and u-joints on my 2001 Prerunner. I neglected to rebalance the 300k mile stock driveshaft and have driven the truck about 5k miles since. I noticed some vibrations at highway speeds, especially when cruising or slightly accelerating, so I took the driveshaft to my local shop, Driveline Service of Santa Rosa LLC, to be rebalanced. I was told that the correct OEM u-joints, the 1310s, are discontinued and that the shop would have to cut off and replace the whole u-joint/center yoke assembly to restore the driveshaft. They said they would also assess other imperfections which I can verify have been ongoing, and gave me a total estimate of $500. The thing is, I feel like I've seen the spicer 1310s online, aftermarket if not OEM. I understand the value of using OEM parts but is it really worth what they're recommending just to keep true to OEM u-joints? The guy I talked to was an old timer so I felt inclined to respect his opinion being a 19-year-old noob myself, but I also don't like the feeling that my lack of experience is being taken advantage of. Any second opinions? Has anyone done this job before?

 

With all due respect to your OG, I think he may be mistaken about availability, Here's a link to the ones that fit my 4x4 truck.

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem...peller~shaft~universal~j0int~04371-60070.html

In the off chance the ones for your prerunner are different from mine, I would suggest going to https://www.toyodiy.com/parts/q.html or to https://partsouq.com/ to verify the correct part number for your truck. You'll need to enter your vin# to get accurate PNs for your truck.

Armed with the correct PN you can then do a search for it.

 

You're getting hassle IMHO. I would visit another drive shaft company in the area. What about requesting to get the shaft balanced? Balancing should cost over 125, my buddy had his factory 2 piece balanced last month for 115 locally.

 

All I came in for was a balancing. He seemed honest but was pretty adamant that I needed this unusual job done. Seemed odd to me.

 

You might give this guy a call. Not local to you but highly respected it seems.
https://drivelinetech.com/

 

Try Drive Line Service of Fresno or Drive Line Service of Sacramento if you're near

 

I'd call the shop back and ask for some clarification about the work. The double cardan joint (just after the carrier bearing) is not repairable or replaceable- maybe this is what he was referring to when suggesting something had to be cut out and replaced?

 

Yes, he said they’d replace the whole cardan joint. I emailed today asking for clarification. I’m thinking I’ll take it back, replace the u joints, then take it back to be balanced.

 

I paid 60 to have mine balanced in Phx. I have a spare prerunner complete shaft in my garage for $100. You are getting hosed.

 

I have seen this issue before the vendors the drive line shop deals with tell the shop the part is obsolete end of story.

Most are not willing to spend the time hunting other sources.

I am lucky I have a great drive line shop No problem getting parts or things rebuilt .

 

Just had Inland Empire Driveline www.iedls.com rebuild my 2piece (2nd gen) with a rebalance (was only out by a very little) with new Spicer u-joints and new Spicer center support for about $360. There may be a shortage of 1310's but I doubt they will ever be discontinued they are the most common size.

 

I think I'm a little confused, or you're a little confused.

In your original post, you said you changed the carrier bearing and u joints. I'm assuming the u joints you changed are the forward most (on the intermediate shaft) and the rear most (on the slip yoke of the prop shaft). That just leaves the cardan joints between the intermediate and prop shaft. The cardan is not serviceable (it actually is, but realistically it's not). So If you've already changed the u joints you can change... what are you going to take back and do yourself? The same u joints you've already changed?

That was why I was I suggest clarification. You can't service the cardan yourself. Let them chop it out and replace it, and balance the shaft. I think $500 is steep for that. If they are trying to redo the work you've already done, ask why. If you are trying to redo the work you've already done.. then I am asking you why?

 

Allow me to clarify: about 5000 miles ago I changed the u joints in the cardan joint. I did not replace the forward and rear most u joints. It helped a little but the driveshaft is clearly out of balance. I took it to get balanced and was told the u joints I used are incorrect (although they’re listed as a suggested substitute to OEM on partsouq), and that since the proper u joints for this application “do not exist” the shop says they will have to replace the joint. This was what I was confused about since I’m absolutely sure the proper u joints are readily available online if the ones I used really are that bad. If they do need to be replaced again for whatever reason I can diy it.

This all being said, my current plan is to swoop back my old driveshaft before they mess with it and go get a used one I found with only 75k miles on it for $200.

 

You might be the only TW member (with the possible exception of Mr. Dirty Pool @Dirty Pool ) who has actually rebuilt the Toyota double cardan joint. It was my impression that the u-joints inside of it are not the same as the others in the driveline. I think there is more to it than that but it's been quite a while since this topic has come up.

 

I see- The u joints in the cardan ARE NOT the same as the u joints in the ends. So whatever data source you used to end up on 1310's for the double cardan application is incorrect.

There is a part number for these- Post 21 on this yota tech thread: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/double-cardan-u-joint-teardown-02-tacoma-177712/ The thread over all has a lot of good info, but the main take aways are- just have the cardan replaced.

 

It comes down to being a labor issue yes the cardan joint can be rebuilt but till everything is taken apart and reassembled swapping a new complete joint is more cost effective in most cases .

Agree the cardan u-joints are different then the front and back joints.

 

I replaced the carrier bearing on my truck and I did not need to rebalance the DS. Are you sure you bolted everything back up with the right orientation? Your DS isn't rotated out of phase is it?

Did you seat the bearing inside the carrier first to the higher torque value and then back it off to a lower value? That's part of the install process.

Aside from driveline stuff, vibrations can be caused by tires as well as other components being worn out.

Is the truck lifted?

 

The driveshaft was in phase. I did seat the carrier bearing according to my manual. The truck isn't lifted.

The driveline shop called today in response to my email saying they were “able to acquire” the proper u joints, so they replaced instead of removing the whole cardan joint. They said nothing looked to be a problem except the very front u joint which I had never replaced. The driveshaft was also due for a straightening and rebalancing. Charged me $200 for the whole thing.

 

Sounds like a bargain to me if it drives true after.

 

LMFAO.... They magically acquired the proper u joint sounds like a gimmick from the gecko. I hate it when business tries to pull chicken sh1t from their ahole to make money.