Sort of a groaning, vibratey noise

07 Tacoma, 168K miles, stock suspension. At low speed, and then again around 35-40 mph is an intermittent sort of throaty vibration noise. Definitely not linear to vehicle speed, definitely not related to engine rpm. Almost more like something is vibrating at a certain frequency. Sounds like it's under the front somewhere, under the cab even. It doesn't always do this. Seems to do it much more often when my wife is in the car with me (so she can complain about it, I guess).

 

possibly wheel bearing(s) in turns does the sound go away more?

 

No, not the wheel bearings...I'm familiar with that noise, and it's not rotational or related to the turning of the wheel. I would guess if there were some sort of guard or something that might be loose and rattles at a certain frequency, something like that.

It's always the same sound, whether I'm going slow or faster.

 

U-Joints maybe?

 

Sometimes a broken or dislodged exhaust hanger will act like that. It will only groan when the exhaust is touching a crossmember or something...

 

I know you said it's not linear to speed, but I would pull your serpentine belt and check every pulley(alternator, power steering, fan, 3 idler pulleys and tensioner pulley) I had a similar noise recently that turned out to be an idler pulley bearing going bad. Worth a shot.

 

Does it make the same noise in 4WD?

 

Haven't tried that. It doesn't always make the noise. It sometimes makes the noise. I'll check to see if it will do it in 4wd.

 

If the noise goes away in 4WD then it more than likely the front diff needle bearing bad.. A lot of 4WD 2nd gen's have this problem.. ECGS has a bushing replacement instead of the OEM needle bearing

 

You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant.

 

That may be. Too many years standing in front of guitar amps will do that.

 

The thread title sounded like a line from Christmas Vacation. And my mind thinks mostly in random quotes.

 

That was a great movie

 

Is that you uncle Louis?

 

Damn it, Bethany, he guessed it.

 

My 2012 TRD Sport is currently at the dealer for the same thing. All senior technicians cannot definitively identify the problem. I approved the test using sound/vibration to isolate the problem. Did you get yours resolved?

 

If joints are tight and carrier bearing is ok
when it makes the noise, put it in 4th and see if it stops. if it stops then your tranny is low on fluid
also could be MAF sensor needs cleaning

 

I'm also experiencing this noise. Thought fender wheel access cover was loose or flapping. Don't see anything hanging or loose.
Mine tends to be when I put in Reverse on a small incline & throaty or groan noise will occur. Doesn't happen all the time.

Suggestions?

 

yeah check your needle bearing, check your front drivers side inner axle, grab it and move it up and down if it has play your needle bearing has excessive play. theres a company called east coast gear and supply. they make a low friction bushing that fixes that problem, just buy the removal and install tools, makes the job so much easier.

 

Is it like a chugging noise?