ECGS Bushing - Is it a must?

I recently had 6112s put up front at the 5/6 setting and 5100s in the back with an add a leaf. I got about a 3/2 out of it, I hope it settles a bit. I noticed vibrations right away at speeds below 40mph. I think the vibrations I read being reported are not all the same. My particular vibration is:

1 - Fairly subtle - can be felt and and heard. The sound is not loud but audible. It feels and sounds like going over very, very shallow and narrowly spaced rumble strips.

2 - The vibration is periodic but consistent. It can be felt about every two seconds or so

3 - The vibration can be felt in the steering wheel and in the gas pedal

4 - The vibration is not affected by braking or felt any worse when decelerating or accelerating

5 - After about 5 miles or so of driving the vibration stops and cannot be felt at any speed.

I took the truck back into the shop and had the diff drop put in and also the ECGS bushing put in as well and a new seal at the same time. A re-torque was done, also. It seems like the vibration is less but it is definitely still there. I'm not sure what to do next...

So, depending on what vibration you are having, the ECGS bushing may not solve your issue.

 

Idk about y’all but I brought my 16’ in for the bushing to be replaced at my dealership and they gave me a brand new front diff (covered under warranty) 50$.. they said the needle bushing was the issue, which I knew it was but I guess Toyota is swapping diffs to fix it?? Not too sure. But since they had to pull the diff I had them install new bushing into new diff so I won’t have any issues

 

Needle bearing isn't the main problem. Poor factory gear set up is the main problem. You can see in the short clip that the carrier shim is loose, big no no. That means the carrier is loose in the diff, and that's why Toyota is probably replacing the entire diff rather than just the bearing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSSVRtwHB8Y/

 

Hey folks, anyone got the bearing removal tool somewhere close to Vancouver BC ?

 

Wanted to drop this in here passing 150k mi tomorrow and still got the stock needle bearing in no issues , I'm original owner. This thing has been many places and no major issues only factory recall is my 3rd brake light which doesn't leak and never garaged . Is there such thing as zero factory defects ???????

 

This forum convinced me to go ahead and do it. Plenty of people saying that haven't noticed an issue, but what convinced me was the ones saying they didn't notice an issue until they pulled everything apart. I went ahead and ordered one so hopefully it'll be here soon with muh gears.

Yes, but not on trucks made towards the weekend, lol. I got a "Friday" truck. (jk, the only "defect" mine has was a misaligned bumper).

 

Do you fully understand the wrath of Murphy that you have brought down upon yourself now?

 

I just made one. It is untested. I will be doing my lift and bearing on the 8th 9th of March. After that I won't need it, so I was gonna make it available to TW members.

 

I have the kit out in the Phoenix, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Flagstaff way if any one needs it. Been at the bottom of my tool box for two years now, I only ask that I can borrow it back and a bushing you will buy me if need be. hmmm... I may write a song later on tonight. LOL, I have the bushing too, but just saying, replace it if ya use it.

 

Lose the diff drop. May need 3 degree rear axle shim, or just say fuck it and get a tom woods one piece driveshaft
https://4xshaft.com/collections/tacoma/products/toyota-tacoma-rear-drive-shaft

 

Hey, does anyone have the install and removal tools near Bakersfield CA? Thanks

 

Um...

 

Ya I sent him a message about possibly shipping it but that starts to make things complicated. If it was close enough to just pick up that would be great. Otherwise I'll make something or just buy the tools and resell after I'm done. Thanks though.

 

Had to add the ECGS busing to my 2008 after a small lift. It fixed the problem for good. Getting my 3rd gen lifted soon. Having it installed with the lift.

 

What lift are you going with?

 

3.5” RC Vertex. I wanted to go with Kings but didn’t want to wait a year. Reviews of the Vertex coil overs have been pretty positive. The dude at the shop shot me a 30% off deal I couldn’t refuse.

 

30% off..... Nice.

You get a carrier bearing spacer with that for your drive shaft?

 

I don't think it does, but not sure I'll need one. Since the back will also be lifted, I'm not sure how much the angle changes at the rear. With my 2nd gen, the vibes were all coming from the front end and were textbook for the needle bearing vibes. (went away completely when switching to 4WD).

 

OK so figured this was the best discussion to post this question. I installed the Bilstein 5100’s on all 4 corners with the front on the 4th perch. In the rear I installed the Ready Lift AAL. I added Falken 265/75R16’s on factory wheels. I installed the carrier bearing and front differential drop. Prior to getting the new tires I had the dreaded vibration (I would say 80% in steering wheel, 20% in seat). I put the new tires on and the same thing. I removed and added the carrier bearing and diff drop separately to see if anything would change and no. Got an alignment - no change. The vibration is around 24-28 mph and 47-50 mph. At 24 mph, when it starts, I put it in 4H and there is no change. My thought was this. Since I do have a shop with a 2-post lift, I figured I would go ahead and do the ECGS install. Although the vibration doesn’t go away when I go in 4H, I figured it’s a cheap and easy job. If that doesn’t do it, then I guess next would be a new Tom Wood’s drive line. Anyone have any other ideas or recommendations? I went ahead and ordered the ECGS with the tools and axle seal (figured since I ordered it, the seal will be fine, but if I didn't, I’d damage it ).

 

Alignment, balance, u joints....

Right, the rear lift is why you'll need one. Suspension lifts (in general) push the axles away from the body. You're trading down travel for uptravel, but also gaining a little room for tires at ride height.

Because it's pushing the rear axle farther away, your driveline angle is going to be sharper, that is, increased, potentially causing vibrations and/or added wear on the u joints.

This is why many kits off carrier bearing drops for the drive line, and diff drops for the front (not good if you off road)