Grinding / vibration sound

Yesterday while driving home from work I noticed an odd sound coming from my truck. At around 1500rpms I noticed metal grinding or vibration sound coming from the truck. I only noticed the sound at low speeds (30 mph or less). I parked the truck and revved the RPMs to 1500 at didn't hear anything so it only happens when the truck is in motion.

I drive a 2008 Tacoma, Double Cab - 4.0L with an automatic transmission. There are no warning lights coming on, the truck is not running hot and fluids are at a normal level.

Anyone else experienced similar issues?

 

I do, but mines more around 30mph and up then all the way until I stop. I feel/hear that its coming from the right side, grinding sound of the engine but I haven't put my finger on it. I check rotors and breaks, nothing. I was told I may have a bearing leak on the front axle I don't think that would cause that grinding sound

 

I checked fluid leaks and didn't see anything. I just read a similar thread and someone mentioned it could be the limited slip chattering. I need to change the fluids in my rear diff so I'm going to give that a shot and hope it solves the problem.

Another point of interest, I didn't hear the sound or feel the vibration until the truck warmed up. It took about 5 minutes of driving before noticing any noise.

 

Maybe try pulling something to see if the sound gets worse? Ha could be a terrible idea or could help you figure things out.

more of a description of the sound would be nice... it's location, rev with engine, louder at certain points, etc any info you have

 

It's tough to locate where exactly the sound is coming from. It seems to be coming from the front of the truck but I really can't tell. The other thread I saw the owner thought his noise was also coming from the front. When he took the truck to a reputable mechanic he somehow knew it was coming from the rear diff.

It starts to make the noise at 1500 rpms, low mph typically when it's getting ready to change from 1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd. It doesn't occur during the actual shift, usually right after or before the shift right as it hits the 1500 rpms.

 

i had a similar problem, i replaced all three u jpints on the drive shaft and it cured theproblem good luck.......

 

Is it 4x4 if so put it in 4x4 and see if noise is no longer present

 

How much did that run you?

 

Since you get it after a shift change at low RPM - and this is a stretch to suggest this - perhaps it's a pinging from the engine ??? Try changing gas and / or upgrade your octane level for a tank or two. Since it sounds like it came on sudden I thought this may be connected .....

 

Changed the rear diff fluid thinking it could have been chatter from the limited slip. That wasn't the cure, I thought it was because the sound didn't occur the first 10 mins of driving. I will try a higher fuel octane to see if that helps. Every oil change I use a fuel additive also. Last oil change was about 1000 miles ago.

I'm wondering if it could be something as simple as a heat shield once the exhaust warms up. The sound is similar to whining power steering but that is not the issue. I'll keep trouble shooting and hopefully find the cure.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

OK Try this ... Get on an empty road or interstate (no traffic) and when you start to get the noise start driving in long left then right S style sweeps. Sort of changing lanes real quick so you can feel your body shift left and then right. See if the noise gets louder or goes away on a left or right swing ......

 

I will give that a try. I've only noticed it when going straight at slight acceleration around 1500 Rpms. When I maintain rpms around 1500 the sound is constant at low speeds so maybe that will trigger something and I can pinpoint the problem.

Thanks for the suggestion

 

As another poster mentioned see if it goes away after engaging the four wheel drive.

How many miles on your truck?

 

Yea I tried that earlier in the week. Put it in 4H and backed it out of the driveway then back to 2wd. I didn't ever try 4L, I'll give that a shot also. Truck has 93,000 miles. I got it with 80k and don't have service records.

I just did everything on the 90k service schedule other than grease zerks. Maybe that could be it?

 

Another update. I tried engaging in both 4h and 4l. That didn't cure the issue. I also just greased the zerks on the drive shaft and retorqued the propeller shaft bolts. I thought that was the fix because I didn't hear the sound after 15 mins of driving. Right as I was coming up the road to my house the sound came back up.

I did try making large s turns both left and right, that didn't help me distinguish the sound. It's hard to keep the sound constant because it only occurs around 1500 Rpms.

Might have to breakdown and take it to a mechanic or the dealership... I don't want to cause any damage to the truck.

 

If the noise sounds like it's coming from the front of the the truck it could be the front wheel bearings going bad, I had a noise that started around 25-45 mph and would go away above 50 mph and checked my wheel bearings for play but they were tight. I then turned the wheel on the passenger side and it was a little noisy and i replaced the wheel bearing and no more noise, this may not be the problem but it's worth checking them out.

 

i 2nd the idea to check for worn out wheel bearings.

 

Based on my reading I have a set of bearings order. On my truck the sound is around 35-40 MPH and sounds like something is increasing in speed and then winds down in speed when I brake. Sort of like a wap wap wap and it gets faster or slower depending on the speed I travel, quite hard to describe. Only hear it in the cab, not with the windows rolled down. I did a wheel spin on both sides and the RH side was quiet, where the LH side made some sort of clicking sound when I spun the tire by hand while jacked up. Had the tires rotates and looked over, they are Michelin but the treads looked fine, could not see any spots that would indicate a broken belt. I guess I'll see if the almost $400.00 in new bearings fixes the problem.

 

That sounds like the bearings to me, how many miles on your truck? I think the they usually last any where from 75K to 125K miles depending on how often used off roading and some don't last as long as others.

 

sorry about the zombie thread, was wondering if there was ever a cause determined for the original question, expereincing the exact same systems at the moment