Repairing my Driveshaft - What to know?

More pictures for further input. The rear driveshaft is definitely worse than the front. Is there a way I could confirm it was the rust of the driveshaft causing this issue? I don't feel any play in the U joints nor do I have any noises. I just greased them earlier this week.

 

The thing that seems inconsistent with the theory that the rusted driveshafts are the cause of the problem is that the vibration was not as bad when I first got the truck (5 months ago). It vibrated around 60 MPH. After getting an alignment done, the vibration got worse and is now noticeable though varying from 40 - 65 MPH. I have a hard time believing all of this is just the driveshaft being rusted.

 

Yeahhh. That's pretty bad and I don't shock easy from rust.

Bad thing is when you search people chasing vibrations (seems like they're always around 60MPH, seems like hitting the problem on the first toss of parts is difficult because so much rotational mass has 227K miles on it.

I would hate to advocate changing as it's expensive if it doesn't work but I don't see myself (me doing all labor even) wanting to sink the money for all new u-joints into that. Sorry to see your plight.

You know you are really going to have to put some effort to keep that frame alive right?

 

Thanks. Well, thankfully the frame was replaced. It's not pristine but it's in great shape overall.

 

maybe take of front then rear shaft and drive it both ways to see if one improves it.

edit: On second look, I have definitely changed U-joints on a shaft like that in my younger days and thought nothing of it. I sure wasn't going to buy a new driveshaft until an old one got bent.

 

I don't think there would be an easy way to determine if the DS is the source of the vibration.

If your vibration was introduced around the same time as an alignment, you need to start from that point. Did you get new tires along side that alignment? Do you have any indication when the last alignment was performed? If you didn't get new tires, did you at least have them balanced along with the alignment?

If the tires were old, and hadn't seen an alignment in ages, then adjusting the alignment without getting new tires or at a minimum rotating/balancing them would be enough to cause a worse vibration. The tires would have worn into your previous alignment (especially if it hadn't been aligned in a long time), after adjusting the alignment, it could cause the tires to sit on the tread differently.

Unfortunately now, because you've worked on the DS after the alignment, you've introduced more variables into the problem.

As for the rusty DS... Ya gotta think of that being a decently delicate balance (some folks can fine tune a balance with a hose clamp, and those don't weigh much, so that should give you some indication of the tolerance)- and looking at the photos of the intermediate shaft, with more rust on one side than the other, It's not unreasonable to think that the balance of the shaft needs to be corrected. But, I don't think a DS shop would touch that.. Even if you removed or converted the rust, sanded + painted the DS, it's probably shot.

Leave the DS alone for now, and try to get your alignment and wheels and tires squared away.

 

Are your tires balanced? Odd question, but I myself had vibrations occur at the 60-70 mph range and it was due to unbalanced tires. I took it to a local shop where they charged me $8 and it didn't help much, but after I took it to discount tire, it fixed the issue.

 

How'd you end up with no parking brake?

 

I don't know. The tires are roughly 25k miles old and look pretty good. The wheels do have weights on them. I have replaced the front pads and rotors, spray painted the wheels, rotated the wheels, changed lbj, tie rods and aligned the vehicle. In that order.

One of the cables was broken when I bought the vehicle. Most of it is there, just not connected.

 

Yeah, I'd for sure get those rebalanced and rotated by a reputable shop.

 

I got my alignment rechecked and the wheels checked for balancing. I no longer have any vibrations above 60 mph but do have them from 40-60.

I am considering grabbing a complete or rear driveshaft from a junkyard out here in San Diego while I am here as mine is quite rusted. Figured I could get a good price on one that isn't rusted. Probably hopeless to find a decent one at a yard in Wisconsin. Thoughts on just swapping the entire shaft or just the rear? Crapshoot or worth the ~$100-$200?

 

It might come down to the finished cost between replacing and servicing to the customer.

Also if they have never rebuilt one easier to just cut it off and replace.

I use a local drive shaft shop that rebuilds the Double Cardan Joints they can do my work faster and cheaper then I can so I don`t mess with drive shafts any more.

 

I couldn't find a decent used one in socal (I'm in SD) a few months ago- ended up getting a new one from drive shaft pro. It's disappointing not to have a OEM part, but way better not to have a freeway vibration

 

Ah good to know. Thanks.

 

Whats the deal with no junkyard Tacomas? Where do Tacomas go when they die?

When I was young and poor I would go to pick a part and they only had the usual econoboxes but there are yards that specialize in trucks and even one near me that specializes in Toyota trucks. With online ordering and Aisin new parts are reasonable (compared to dealer over the counter) but driveshaft is a pricey item at $1000.

 

They do go to junk yards when they die. Problem is they last so long that there aren't many dead ones out there.

 

Out here Tacomas never make it to the junkyard (rarely), they get bought before they can make it there and parted out or bought by yards that sell Toyota pars exclusively. The ones that do make it to a general junkyard get scavenged within a day or so

 

In the cold weather states lots of the first gens were crushed after being bought back.

They never last long if they make it to yards

 

Junk pick/pulls are now online.......If you look and have the time, you can find anything.......

Always tell others......if you need a part, do a WTB in first gen parts in our classifieds.
a ton of spares among the members......and most are selfless.

 

One needs to be very careful Lots of Yards update there online inventory once a month or never.

Even calling to confirm I drove a 100 miles for a part they then could not locate.

Just beware!!