u-joint ???

hi guys,
i have a 05 tacoma TRD 4.0 and i noticed a vibration at about between 5 to 10 MPH. took it to a tire place and he said my tires looked fine that i just needed to rotate and balance. about 2 days after that it got progressively worse, started really shaking at between 30 and 40 MPH. had my tires rotated and balanced. still the same problem. i got under the truck and looked at my u-joints, felt my drive shaft, and it seemed to be ok. any other way to check the u-joints?

 

Maybe a CV joint is burned up. Check the rubber boots for tears and/or leaking grease. Also, have you been lubricating the driveshaft grease fittings throughout the truck's life?

 

i didnt know i had CV joints, i thought that was only on front wheel drive vehicles, also the u-joints dont have grease fittings

 

all my u-joints have grease fittings? is your truck a 4x4? i think i have 5 in total

 

oh, sorry.. i feel the vibration in the seats and in the steering. it is a prerunner, it is not lifted, and the mileage is 81258. it is the off road TRD package.
thank you

 

its a 2 wheel drive, and yes it did suddenly start and then get worse

 

Not sure if they're actually called CV joints on these trucks, but there is certainly a rotating joint at each front wheel/suspension that separates it from the fixed front axle. The boots are located behind the brake dust shields and are held on by metal hose clamps.

 

Ah...a 2wd wouldn't have CV joints because there's no axle. I'm not familiar with 2wd tacoma's so I won't speculate further on its actual setup...

 

On second thought, do you guys think it might be bad front wheel bearings?? Suspension components might be wearing out...just some thoughts.

 

just wanted to say that i think all of you guys are GREAT

 

Larry,
i noticed the big write that you took the time to don on electrical issues. very good by the way !! and i wanted to ask you a question about my lights (running lights) on my 05 tacoma. both bulbs were burned out, i replaced them both. i thought it odd that they were both burned. but as soon as i turned them on again the both blew again.. any suggestions?
thanks, lisa

 

Naww, we pretty much all suck , but we'll try to help anyway !!! j/k

Doubtful it's a U joint, have you considered the carrier (center) bearing ? 2 piece drive shaft correct ?

 

no, i didnt touch the bulbs. i used to work at a auto parts place, so i know that the oil from your fingers will cause them to blow

 

yep 2 piece drive shaft, i havent considered the center support bearing, it was just weird that it started all of the sudden. and it is getting worse. i was driving it yesterday trying to figure out if it was vibrating more in the steering or the seating area, and hell the whole truck felt like it was shaking...even the dash

 

Well now its sounding more like an alignment issue , has it been checked recently ? Does it pull to one side or the other ? Tire condition ? Hit any curbs lately ?

 

no, havent hit any curbs. just had the tires rotated and balanced, they said they looked fine. i guess i'll get a front end alignment and go from there. can they tell how bad it is out of alignment when they put it on the machine?