Vibration felt in cab

I am a new member to Tacoma World, but haven been following and reading up on multiple posts. I would appreciate any tips, help or feedback...

For about 2 months I have been experiencing subtle vibrations in the cab of my 2007 Tacoma TRD long box. Here is an overview:

Year:2007
Model: TRD 4x4 (4 door) - long box
Transmission: Automatic
Modifications: Only K&N air filter. No lift kits

1) Vibrations are most noticeable approximately around 1600 to 2000 RPM range (regardless of gear or speed)
2) Vibrations are felt primarily through the gas pedal and floorboard, (slight in the steering wheel, but very minor).
3) Vibrations are strong when the truck is under load (meaning when throttle is applied for acceleration and especially going up an incline/hill)

I have change the sparkplugs, cleaned the air filter (K&N), rotated tires and filled all tires to the appropriate PSI, and also had a Toyota dealer test drive with no confident response to the cause of the vibration.

I do not think it is the tires/alignment as the vibration is eliminate when gas is not applied or is out of the RMP range as listed above. I also do not believe that this has to do with the U-joints as it is not consistent.

Any suggestions, tips or direction would be greatly appreciated.



Cheers

 

Copy and Pasted from an earlier post
Ask yourself and try this . These are some things you need to try before you post .Not only will it help you troubleshoot the vibration but it will narrow things down for some of the guys that like to try and help you with your vibes .
Vibrations usually get all mixed into the same pot and a lot of posters try and fix their vibes using what others have done without properly diagnosing their own issue .This causes additional frustration and all kind of cash $$$$$$$$
Take some time and try and narrow it down because the dealer is not going to help you .
Dealers may try and fix the vibration but from what most people have said , nothing the dealer does fixes the vibes and shudders .
Are you effected by the TSB ? http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...n-tsb-out.html

Have you greased your driveline ?http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tec...rks-total.html
Does the truck vibrate in park or neutral and does the vibration change with accelarator pedal ?
Does the truck vibrate while holding the brakes and hitting the gas - Automatic ?
Does the truck vibrate in neutral at a stand still ?or coasting in neutral ?
Does the truck vibrate in 4x4 ?
Does the truck only vibrate in 2 wheel drive ?
Does the truck vibrate with the serpentine belt removed ?
Does the truck vibrate cold or hot ?
Does the truck vibrate if you select nuetral and coast to a slow roll without using the brakes ?
Does the truck vibrate as you are braking ?
Does the truck vibrate with weight in the truck or empty ?
Does the truck vibrate while upshifting ? Have you checked your trans fluid ?
Does the truck vibrate while downshifting ? Have you checked your trans fluid ?
When was your last transmission fluid service ?
Now that you have a lift kit installed the truck vibrates . Did you cancel your drive line angles ?
Have you looked at the condition of your tires ? Toyota says to rotate every 5000 miles .
When was the last time you rotated your tires ?
Have the balance weights fallen off the tires ?
The proper and only way to test for bad universal joints is with the driveshaft removed . You cant tell if the universal joints are seized or tight spots with the driveshaft on the truck . You may see play in the universal joints , but you wont be able to properly check the u-joints without removing the driveshaft .All it takes to create a vibration is one seized universal cup and there are 4 cups within each joint .
With this said , you cant tell if that cup is seized with the driveshaft connected .
Removing the driveshaft and manipulate each universal joint by hand from side to side feeling for tight spots as you go
If you beleive its bad motor mounts or transmission mounts , grab a big pry bar and pry at the mounts to see if the rubber is torn or weak .

CANCEL DRIVELINE ANGLES http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...tion-free.html

 

Thanks Gearcruncher for the quick reply. Here are some answers to the basic questions in Red:

Does the truck vibrate in park or neutral and does the vibration change with accelarator pedal ? Vibration is not noticeable in park or neutral. Vibration changes with acceleration pedal.
Does the truck vibrate while holding the brakes and hitting the gas - Automatic ? No
Does the truck vibrate in neutral at a stand still ?or coasting in neutral ? No
Does the truck vibrate in 4x4 ? Yes
Does the truck only vibrate in 2 wheel drive ? No, as above it also vibrates in 4x4 high and low
Does the truck vibrate with the serpentine belt removed ? I will check
Does the truck vibrate cold or hot ? Both
Does the truck vibrate if you select nuetral and coast to a slow roll without using the brakes ? No, it does not vibrate in`N`while coasting.
Does the truck vibrate as you are braking ? Yes, but my rear drum need to be serviced and any braking vibration is left at the back of the truck. I have already replaced front rotors and brake pads.
Does the truck vibrate with weight in the truck or empty ? Both, does not matter whether it is dry, loaded, or towing
Does the truck vibrate while upshifting ? Have you checked your trans fluid ? Yes, vibration is most noticeable when gears are shifting around 2000pm. transmission fluid has been drained and replaced approx. 10,000 miles ago
Does the truck vibrate while downshifting ? Have you checked your trans fluid ? None to little
When was your last transmission fluid service ? See above.
Now that you have a lift kit installed the truck vibrates . Did you cancel your drive line angles ? I do not have a lift kit.
Have you looked at the condition of your tires ? Toyota says to rotate every 5000 miles . Condition of tires is good. I still have about 30% tread left before wear indicator.
When was the last time you rotated your tires ? Less than 5000 miles ago
Have the balance weights fallen off the tires ? No

I could be wrong, but I strongly believe that based on the fact that there is no vibrations when I am in `N`gear and coasting (any speed) this should rule worn U joints or unbalanced drive shaft. Also the vibrations seems to be coming from the front end of the truck.

I just hope that its not the transmission starting to go....

Appreciate any other advice and suggestions.

 

Thanks Rough rider , you answered the questions we needed to know and truly narrowed the issue down .
Sorry about all the questions . Its a generic questionare I made up and now I can see I need to refine the questionare a bit more
.
From what you are saying , I beleive the issue is driveline related and rpm sensative , not engine or brake related .
Now if the issue was universal joints , you should have fealt a seized universal when you were coasting
. I hear a lot of guys are replacing the carrier bearing on the driveshaft .
I would be inspecting the motor and transmission mounts .
Have the tires been road force balanced by Toyota using the Haweka adapter on the tire machine?
Sorry for more questions , still have to break your issue down a little more .
Almost sounds like you have 2 different vibrations

 

Since my last post, I had brand new tires changed and balanced, still vibration issue remains.

I will be taking my truck to a buddy's this afternoon. He has a hoist, so we will get a good chance to have a look underneath. We will look for any noticeable play in the u-joint along the drive line, and I will also check the wheel bearings for any play, and visually inspect the CV joints just in case (doubt this is the problem as I do not hear any knocking noises, and based on what I already know from the symptoms). As well I still check mounts as much as possible just to start eliminating possibilities.

I will also check the transmission fluid drain plug, and will let everyone know if anything is out of the norm (color or shavings for example). If I am not sure, certainly I will share pictures.

I have a tentative appointment again with a Toyota dealership next week primarily to get another opinion (test drive free of charge). Last time I took it to the dealership, they said "vibrations noticed near front of the truck vibration is coming from engine rotating assembly, dynamic balance issue problem somewhere from the torque converter forwards to the engine. Extensive time may be required to diagnose. Need to remove serpentine belts and run engine to inspect...

In other words "make it rain $$$$$$" which I happily declined.

 

Even some Toyota dealers do " NOT " use this or know about it http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/tsb/ToyotaLandCruiser/tsu00296.pdf

Not saying this is your issue , but its highly suspected .
The bearing on the driveshaft is also another highly suspected area .
Trying to diagnose vibes over a keyboard is difficult for sure .

 

Check and see if there is a line of grease on the body, by the drive shaft's u-joints. There was a guy on XRU recently, who was describing nearly the exact same symptoms. It turned out to be a bad U-joint.

 

^^^What Tor said..so many vibe issues are at the u-joint...its a cheap way to determine...Good luck..!

 

I will check my u-joints again, but I did not notice any play when I last checked them... Which specific u-joint are you suggesting? in between the tranny and carrier bearing? or the two on the line up to the rear diff? I also have been told that u-joints are usually speed related or constant at certain speeds. Vibration is eliminated when coasting in "N", so I am really scratching my head on this one.

I had a close friend take it for a test drive and had a closer look underneath while lifted on a hoist last weekend. He believes that it might be a bad mounts, or something is off balance, perhaps the flywheel... the good news is that he doesn't think its transmission related and doesn't think it is serious. Its more annoying that anything.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions thus far, please keep them rolling in.

 

The proper and only way to test for bad universal joints is with the driveshaft removed . You cant tell if the universal joints are seized or tight spots with the driveshaft on the truck . You may see play in the universal joints , but you wont be able to properly check the u-joints without removing the driveshaft .All it takes to create a vibration is one seized universal cup and there are 4 cups within each joint .
With this said , you cant tell if that cup is seized with the driveshaft connected .
Removing the driveshaft and manipulate each universal joint by hand from side to side feeling for tight spots as you go