Vibration at 60 MPH???

Yes, many in fact. That's why I decided to give it a go.
And, apparently this is very common for 2nd gen Reg Cabs so I don't think it's an isolated drive shaft balance issue. Maybe they're all unbalanced, I don't know. All I know is the flip worked.

When there's grinding noises and vibration coming from below: "flip er around"

Wait a minute.. that sounded right.

 

I just did the driveshaft flip about 2 hours ago. I took the truck for a 20 mile drive, and the throttle-lift-grinding is gone!! I didn't expect it to work, but maybe it's an issue of slip yoke binding or something.

Does anyone know if there are long term issues related to doing this?

 

A mechanic test drove it with me for about 3 minutes; the mechanic drove and he initially said he did not feel anything. Then I said try normal highway driving at about 62, but he did not want to drive on the highway. I felt it on the passenger seat and I pointed it out. He then said, it sounds like it is a transmission resonance which is maxed out at the 62 MPH. Then he continued to say.......any other truck in the lot would do have the same vibration.

So initially they all sounded like they did not know anything about this issue, but then "....any other truck in the lot would have the same vibration..."

I cannot believe Toyota is not accepting they have an issue, and correcting it, or maybe they can not.

I drive a lot of highway miles and I will be forced to speed to avoid this vibration! If I get a ticket I will send it to Toyota Senior Management in Tokyo and send a copy to NY Times.

 

More witnesses:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/138273-driveshaft-noise-2.html#post2713260

 

Glad to hear you did the flip. I think it is an issue with the slip yoke binding. It's probably harmless, but as annoying as sheeit. This is probably why Toyota no fixy. That and, too much $$$ to send out a TSB and have everyone bring their trucks in.

 

But why is the flipping of the drive shaft make a difference? What if you take it out, then re-tourge it. I bet you the warranty will not be valid if they see that the drive shaft is installed backwards.

Is it a torque issue, or is the balancing different between the front & back? Or maybe their Drive shaft balancing procedure was done backwards?

I bet you some genious bean counter advised them at the monthly status meeting " ....if we leave it as is, the new trucks will not last as long? our sales will increase.....dealers will make more money .....the drive shafts/tranny will drop off/need to be rebuilt at the 60,001 mile..

Seriously though, I should not hate driving it on the highway; I now know when I hit 62 MPH without looking at the speedometer. What is the procedure to get Toyota managment to fix this?

 

geotaco, i dont think toyota management is going to fix it to tell you the truth. people on here and on TTORA have said that the delaership will replace the rear diff, the driveshaft, the slip yoke, everything and in 600 miles the noises/vibes come back. if flipping the driveshaft around fixes it once and for all, like it seems to from other posts, whynot do it? it was a toyota rep who told everyone about doing it on TTORA, so if toyota says its ok why not do it? tell your garage you want it flipped, then demand they flip it if they tell you no. fixed.

 

Are these national reps, or are there reps for each state?

 

I just posted this on another thread RE: driveshaft noise -->

"I may have posted too soon about the success of this procedure. Flipping the driveshaft got rid of the grinding noise, but introduced all kinds of very uncomfortable vibrations during acceleration. I ended up flipping it back last night because I'd rather hear grinding and have a smooth ride, than have the entire truck vibrate during acceleration through all the gears.

I checked my universals, there's absolutely no play in them. When I greased them for the first time @ 18,000 miles, it only took 2 pumps before the old grease started coming out of the caps.

I may just start saving up for an aftermarket 2-cardon shaft, but I'll just put up with the noise for now."

Just wanted everyone to know that it didn't quite work out for me, but it seems to work for other people. It's such an easy procedure that I suggest giving it a try before deciding to spend the money on a new shaft.

 

Try a different dealer.

Did you rotate the tires and see if the vibe feels differently?

 

It's a rubber dampener

 

Replaced tires, sounds the same.

I think dealers may have been told to say it is normal, or they do not hear or feel anything. I may try calling another one though.......

 

Hello all. Just joined after finding this thread. Bought a new 2011 TRD Crew Cab 4WD a couple weeks ago. Experiencing the same vibration right around 60 mph. Not in the steering wheel at all, only felt through the floor and seat. Leased a new F150 crew cab 4wd in 2006 and had the exact same problem. In and out of the shop throughout the 2 year lease to try and fix the problem. NO FIX! The only thing they tried was new tires and "road force balancing". Was finally told that this was a characteristic of the vehicle and within Ford specification. Even took it to arbitration to try and get a buyback and lost. Most of my driving is at this speed range, so I'm constantly feeling the vibration. HATED the F150 because of this problem. Glad I leased it. Please tell me there's a fix, because I really don't want to regret this Tacoma purchase! We've owned a new 2002 Corolla and my wife is currently driving a 2005 Highlander that we also purchased new. We love both of these vehicles, which is why I went with Toyota on this truck purchase.

 

I finally got a chance yesterday to mess with mine a little. I spaced the drive shaft carrier bearing down about 1/4" and it's still there. BUT it's now changed a bit. Before I would feel it from about 58 all the way up to about 68-70. Now it's gone completely at 63 or so MPH. Cruising at 65 it's smooth as can be. Seems to be lessened a bit at the 58-62 range also.

I'm not at all surprised that Toyota considers this to be normal. They probably do "all do that" and some people notice it and others don't. And it's certainly not the transmission. Like I posted earlier mine does it in neutral as well as in drive. It's such a minor vibration that engine revs from shifting into 4th mask it pretty much completely too. I recall in the early 90's a friend of mine had an 85 extracab and I had an 84 extracab. His had a 2 piece rear driveshaft with a carrier bearing and mine had a solid shaft. His truck vibrated at certain speeds and mine was smooth as could be. He swapped my driveshaft in one day and the vibration was gone. This is honestly so minor I doubt I'll bother going to a one piece rear driveshaft. But that's probably going to be the fix. And it's not going to hurt the truck. I've got nearly 120k on mine.

 

Ok I had the same problem you guys were having on my new truck. Shit was such a pain in the neck trying to track this one down. Finally they installed two new tires on the back and road forced balanced the tires. I kid you not when the service manager got out my truck and said " I can't believe how much of difference that made...." So in closing my truck is FIXED!!!!!

 

Were you watching them if they made some other mods to your drive shaft, and theny just charged you for new wheels?

I changed all 4 tires, test drove another one and it also makes the same sound; it maxes out at 62 if you keep the gas down. If you let the gas off and let it cruise, the vibration goes down. It sounds like drive shaft design issue to me.

 

No I can promise you these are new tires. All I know is I am very particular with my cars and now mine is finally perfect!

 

It's either not the same issue or it's going to come back. I played with my carrier bearing a bit last weekend and it initially felt better but I think now it's worse than it was before after a few hundred miles. Back to the drawing board! I'm going to take the washers out and put a strip of rubber between the carrier bearing mount and the bearing next. Probably won't help but it's only 2 bolts.

 

Either way man but I have 400 miles on it now and still smooth as the 2011 Camry we bought the same day

 

Mine seems to be getting worse over time and it's to the point I don't want to drive the dam thing anymore. If I could describe the noise in words it would be like a wom wom wom wom sound between 60-65 mph and 1800 rpms only when on the gas. Im thinking it's because the rear leaf spring tsb or a trans mount.