Translation Please?

I need the knowledge of TacomaWorld to translate what the dealership mechanics stated is wrong with my truck.

A little background:
2005 Tacoma, 2.7, 2wd, Auto, 66K, No Mods.

Problem:
Vibration from 15mph-70mph, a lull from 70-75mph, vibration continues.

Trouble shooting:
Checked tires, cleaned throttle body, changed plugs and filter.

Nothing changed so I took it to the dealer. Their diagnosis, on paper.

Replace drive shaft, and 2 spider gears. $1085.

I'm asking for help because the dealerships love $$$. So my questions are.

Has anyone else had this problem?
Which driveshaft could cause this? I see 2.
Could it be u-Joints? It doesn't slam into gear though.
Are spider joints in 2wd? My transmition is not slipping
Could I have the shaft rebalanced?

Thanks for any advice!

oh yeah, the rubber piece that holds my transmition (wher it meets the shaft) is a little Jiggly

 

That sucks, sorry to hear about that!
I couldn't tell you what it could be, but I could make some suggestions.

Get under the truck and start checking stuff out, could be something simple.
Check and re-torque bolts everywhere along the drive train. Engine bolts, Trans bolts, anything and everything. Move and shake items to see if there is a lot of movement, etc.
That's all I could think of at the moment, hopefully someone else can give more suggestions.

 

I get the vibes in mainly in the floor and seat, and I can feel it (although not as prominant) in the wheel. When I look in the rearview mirror at night, the 2 headlights on the cars behind me morph into one because of the vibration.

 

That would most likely mean it was an issue in the rear. Have you had the tires balanced?

 

No play on the u-joint, and the tires are about 3 months old.

 

Get them balanced.

 

Have you done anything to the truck recently? Did the problem just occur overnight?

 

The poblem started a couple of months ago. It was not perm. in the begining, (once every couple weeks) but gradually the vibration got worse, and it has not gone away. I do get some minor power loss from this.

 

I did nothing to the truck. No curb hopping or mods.

 

Honestly you have two wheel drive with 66k on it and u-joints that never where greased. How much you want to bet its u-joints and dealer is being a d..c by replacing drive shaft they want to make money. Can you replace u-joints by yourself ? or better yet go to another dealer and ask them to replace u-joints they much cheaper to replace then whole drive shaft.
EDIT $1000 for driveshaft it better be made out of titanium. Go to junkyard and get one for under $200 There is one in MA for $125
2005
Rear Drive Shaft
Toyota Tacoma A41034$125Linder's Inc. USA-MA(Worcester) E-mail 1-800-521-8000

 

X2
The dealer is basically saying you have to replace the driveshaft and two u-joints, personally I would just replace the u-joints.

 

I know the dealer is a drag, but I was tired of troubleshooting. It really got me nowhere. I'm sure they took it for a drive, and just wrote up the slip.

U joints I can do. I will probably do them this weekend. I'll let you all know how it goes.

BLUE T, thanks for the heads up on the drive shaft.

 

can you take pics and such oo and maybe if you end up replacing them with some greasable zerk u joints take pics and install instructions...if that not to much to ask

 

No problem go to car part webiste and look for one near you

http://www.car-part.com/
But I doubt you need one, unless you slammed original one on the rock.
Remember to mark drive shaft before pulling the u-joints out, also make sure all the spacers on u-joints go to the same spots.

 

rtg34,
Did you have this "Vibration from 15mph-70mph, a lull from 70-75mph, vibration continues" before you got the new tires three months ago?

Drive shaft/u joints would have to be in very bad shape to vibrate at 15mph.

I'm betting you have a out of round tire. How about having the tires checked?

 

The vibration started about 1.5 months after the tires. I'm doubting it's the tires because the vibration stops as soon as I let off the gas pedal.

One other thing I noticed. Two of my fuel injectors are not the same color as the other two. 2 beige & 2 grey. I'm guessing 2 were replaced, and I'm hoping the other 2 aren't clogged, and need to be replaced

 

Translation - Bend over and bite on this; it's gonna hurt.

 

i noticed my vibs decrease significantly after the weather got warmer. shook like crazy in the cold