vibration help

I recently got in a wreck avoiding a deer, stupid I know, should've just taken out the deer. Essentially I did a 180 and slammed sideways into a tree. The initial estimate I got from the local shop said I needed a new axle, but then they said it was just a bent wheel and the axle was fine.

When I got the truck back I noticed it seemed to be vibrating at low speeds but it isn't very noticeable and is tough to tell if it is just rough pavement I am driving on. It is very noticeable at 60 mph and above, and is what I would call a harmonic vibration. The vibration lasts for about half a second, goes away, and then comes back and keeps repeating this process at about 1 second intervals. The faster I go, the shorter the time in between these vibrations. They are audible and sound like tire rubbing but I have checked the tires and they seem to be clear. I also noticed that if I am going above 60 mph and the vibration is there, but I am taking a long left hand curve, the vibration goes away, which makes me think it is something to do with the steering components. I can feel the vibration in the gas pedal if that helps.

I also noticed that they had only replaced my springs with the 3 leaf pack, even though I had the TRD shocks and the 4 leaf pack. So I thought that might be the cause but after getting a 4 leaf pack put on, the vibration is still there.

At this point I am going to bring it to a Toyota dealer and see what they can do but wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on here, so I don't get hosed by them. I have to imagine if it was an axle issue it would be noticeable at all speeds and would frankly be much more violent vibrations. My truck doesn't shimmy or shake, but the vibration is definitely noticeable.

Any ideas or thoughts about how to approach the dealership about it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Oddly enough even without crashing into something, I have this very same vibration. With mine it feels like it goes from the back of the truck to the front. Same thing, comes for a few seconds, then goes away like clockwork.

 

Funny, I've had exactly what you describe since day 1. I've repeatedly taken it in, and nobody can hear or feel a thing. P's me right off!

Are you two guys driving manuals by chance?

 

yep 6 spd... sorry to hear you guys have the same issue without even had something that might cause it.

 

Nope, auto.

 

There lies the problem. These 6 speeds are shit.!

 

I've loved mine so far and minus this, have had no issues so far. The vibration doesn't seem to change at all if I change gears though. Seems to be more based on the speed I am going.

 

Yup. You are lucky I guess. I'm on my second clutch and 3rd t-o bearing. 40k miles. My neighbor has an FJ with the same tranny, his literally flew apart. The whole tranny.

 

yikes that sucks man. This truck is my first vehicle with a manual and I don't think I can go back to auto. I really hope it's not something the gearbox or anything expensive

 

anyone else out there have some ideas?

 

Sounds like it could be a wheel bearing, especially with the way it changes on cornering. The first one I'd check is the one that took the hit.

 

Thanks I'll have to check it out. From watching some videos online it seems like if I take the wheel off, and the wheel bearing has any wiggle in it this could be the issue. Does that sound like the right way to check it?

 

If you can get movement in the bearing or if you feel any roughness when turning the hub then you have definite evidence of a bearing failure. But, wheel bearings can be tricky, just because it passes the above testing does not always mean it's fine. A cracked race or localized pitting in the bearing may not show up until there is load on the bearing, and of course, its very hard to inspect it under those conditions as the truck is moving. If nothing turns up easily, I'd probably replace the one that took the hit. If it bent the wheel, there's a good chance the bearing is damaged. Which wheel took the impact? The right rear?

You don't have to remove the wheels to check the wheel bearings, just jack it up, and use the wheels as leverage to try to get movement.

 

Awesome thanks so much. Actually it was the back left wheel. I was thinking the same thing that if the wheel got bent, something else back there probably got F'd up too. Thanks again for the help.