OFFICIAL 2nd gen 4x4 front differential bearing vibration thread

ECGS puller is sold.

Not sure if its any different with the 2013's but in my opinion a $60 fix isn't much to hassle with. Especially if your going to be lifting it at the same time, kill two birds with one stone. You'll wanna make sure that the 2013s have the same issue before spending the $60 though, that is something i cant verify for you.

 

-2009 access cab 2.7 4x4
-5100 at 1.75
-100,000 KM
-vibration after installing lift, went away when engaged in 4x4
-Installed ECGS solid bushing, smooth as butter!

 

i've put up with this vibration for 100k miles too long. i was very apprehensive to switch over to a solid bearing, but after talking to Chase at ecgs i grew a little more confident about the replacement part.
the bronze bushing is tight clearance wise and has the appropriate clearance even if the cv shaft got up to 400+ degrees. the stock needle bearing has a little over .020" of play, one could instantly realize that this is where the problem is....
it was a breeze to install and it instantly took the vibration away. after a couple hundred miles all still seems well and i am very satisfied with the product up to this point.
if your in the socal area i can do installs if your not confident doing it yourself

thank you ECGS for your creativity and ingenuity......

-mike with defined engineering

 

Still have ECGS puller available if anyone needs it.

I have about 500 miles on the new bushing now and still puts a smile on my face while driving. Only now, i dont have the vibe that tells me when im doing speed limit lol

 

Actually it is a $220 fix plus tax and labor.I still haven't decided.I'm thinking about waiting til tax time and buy one.This way I can go ahead and buy an air actuated locker.

 

Well after having the entire front diff and drivers cv replaced twice under warranty only to have the bearing fail again (23,000 miles), I got frustrated and traded her in. Gonna miss the Tacoma, but the new Power Wagon is making the transition easier.

 

Hey guys , i'm gettin pretty frustrated with the front end of this truck. About six months ago I started to notice a whirrrr whhirrr whirrrr sound\slight vibration when Im doin between 40-60 km/hr in 3rd gear. I changed both front wheel bearings, no difference. It wasnt there when i first put the ome lift in and still had stock ucas and shitty dunlop tires. So i bought the bushing a few weeks ago but havent put it in yet and today i threw her in 4hi, and it didnt go away. not sure what to do now, maybe try rotating my tires, I always grease my ujoints and have redline fluids in everything. Any ideas

 

Do your CV's look ok? Alignment ok? Try rotating tires.

 

my cv's seem fine, i rotated the front cvs during the reinstall of my wheel bearings, everything seems fine. I am going to rotate my tires and retorque my axle nuts and have a good look at everything. how can you tell if a front u-joint is bad. Im also just gonna put the bushing in, fuck it.

 

Finally got the ECGS bushing in my front diff, along with a new wheel bearing and CV half shaft. SO much better, holy #$%&. I can't belive I lived with those vibes for as long as I did. The truck drives like new, with 140+K miles now. Many thanks to Chase and ECGS for this fix.

Overall, the fix took about 5 hours which includes pressing a new wheel bearing. The ECGS bushing was a breeze to install, once the CV was removed.

The bushing seriously makes alllllll the difference in the world!

 

^^ This fix may have not come about without the efforts of BenWA the OP, who began this giant thread, 05Moose and others who were in there trying to do the initial fix, tim allen who brought this to the attention of ECGS, Chase at ECGS who took the matter seriously to design and produce the bushing, and all the rest throughout this thread who contributed with pictures, observations, etc. etc.

My hat goes off to all of you! I will never meet most but in the end I too have a front diff. CV joint bearing that I can live with.

 

X10000000000000

 

I have 10k now on the ECGS bushing and still smooth as glass.

Thanks for this thread and for the fix from ECGS.

 

Thanks guys for the mention.

 

Never saw this reply. Very good point!

 

Is there any kind of mild lift that doesn't cause this?

 

Hey Guys,
Same old story here...I get a vib when I am doing 60+.. Goes away when I coast under 60, or am in any gear, and coast under 60mph.
I am going to replace both wheel bearings and buy the bushing from Chase.
Will I need an alignment after installing the bushing?
thanks,

And If anyone is close to cape cod MA, and wants to help.. Beer and striper filets are on me!
thanks again
Dewey

 

I just spent an early Saturday morning reading this thread and am now scared to lift my truck!!!! I have a 12 and I already have some driveline vibe brought to dealer who said its the first time he has heard of it. He did do some research and said he does see a lot of complaints online but he couldn't feel it when he drove it. They did put a note on my account that I complained about it. I think this is a stock problem that gets elevated with a lift... F$&@in Toyota. Now my concern is when I lift it they will just blame the lift. It's not bad now almost intermittent I guess I will see if it gets worse.

FML!

 

when the vibe starts..

#1 change the bushing
#2 the end..

 

Keep us updated on this. It's driving me nuts and I have to figure this out. I have the same thing going on... 2009, I hear it and feel it the worst right at 70 mph, it doesn't go away in 4X4. I do have some play in my cv. I had a mechanic look at my wheel bearings and he said they were fine, but he just "tested" them, he didn't take anything apart and look at it. I might just replace the wheel bearings just because. I ordered the part from ecgs, but don't have wheel bearings. I will post any updates as well.