Vibration while coasting -> horrible shutter while braking

Hi Everyone,

I'm brand new here- google searched, searched the forum, and still stumped. So though I better ask the experts-

A week or so ago I first noticed a bad shutter when breaking, felt like the truck was stalling, but I was in neutral. first noticed it a day after hauling a bed full of topsoil (~1000 lbs). thought maybe the load sensor thingy was stuck and causing braking issues. Next day I got another load of topsoil- no noticeable shudder with load. Then the shutter magically seemed to go away. Thought it healed itself.

A few days ago it came back- shuttered and made a noise like a click click click when braking- possibly from drive shaft? dunno- it still felt like it was stalling when braking but I was in neutral. Then started noticing a low rumbling when coasting, then when I brake it does the shutter/clinking thing. Today it was a lot worse- noticed it seems like the noise may be there when keeping a steady speed too. Also noticed rumbling while coasting seemed worse when coasting through a sharp curve in the road. The noise while braking is now really bad.

U joint? my front u joint went out 3 years ago, but only vibrated on acceleration and steady driving, not coasting and braking. Could this be U joint again? anything else?
My only day off between now and Tuesday is Sunday, so I can't take it to a shop. I'm stumped... and I'm really hoping something awful doesn't happen between now and Tuesday, like my drive shaft dropping out. Is this serious enough to pull the bicycle out and ride to work?

Any advice really appreciated.

Thanks,
Kristy

 

U-joints or rear suspension troubles would be my first checks - its possible you have a broken rear leaf spring or the rear axle has shifted on the springs, causing incorrect driveline angles. A seizing front caliper can do these sort of things too, but a hot brake smell will accompany the offending brake after driving the vehicle any distance. A cracked brake rotor is a possibilty too, bit can't say I've heard of a tacoma cracking a rotor. If you feel anything abnormal in the steering, a check of the front wheel bearings would be in order too. In any case, I'd take the truck out of service until you know whats going on, even IF there isn't a safety concern, the possibility of causing more (and expensive) damage is very high.

 

Good suggestions so far. Do you have someone who can pull it forward and back while you sit to the side and watch for indicators?

 

Thanks for the help!

I'm going to have to drive it drive it to work in the AM (only 3.5 miles), but I'll have plenty of help there to do some more checking. What indicators should I look for?

 

Ok, so I gave the drive shaft a good shaking. Rear u joint is solid. The U joint just behind the carrier bearing seems solid.

Axially the carrier bearing is solid. Laterally there is a little play, but I'm assuming that is normal.

The front u joint seems solid, although there is play just forward of the u joint where shaft enters the transmission. Is play there normal?

Thanks again for the suggestions.

-kristy

 

Yeah, a little play is normal. Did you get a chance to look at the leaf spring packs in back? For now, if you have no help to give it a really good check, you can look at the packs. Just look at them from the sides, and look over the entire length of each spring leaf. Check to see if there are any cracks/gaps in them. Also, look to see if you rear axle is straight. Check each rear tire, and see if it seems to be flush in the wheel well. It's possible that when you had the topsoil in the bed, it could have busted a leaf, or even sheared the retainer pin that holds all the leaves together in the pack. You can visibly find a busted leaf, usually, if you can see each one well. Checking for the retainer pin is a little harder, as you will need to take off the U bolts and drop the axle away from the leaf pack.

 

The clutch! Who would have figured that???

Thank you all for the responses. I looked into all the suggestions and then ran it by some very mechanically knowledgeable friends (one even re-checked everything that I had already checked). Short of getting down and dirty and dismantling the drive train, we had delved into just about every possibility. The vibration while coasting and awful clicking/clanking sound accompanied the stuttering on breaking just got worse. So I finally took it to a trusted local mechanic to dismantle my poor Taco.

Background- I've driven vehicles with manual transmissions since I was 9 years old- never even owned an automatic... I sold my last truck (ford ranger) with the original clutch, which worked as new, with 190k on it... this wasn't user error.

The Springs/bushings in the clutch were bad... really bad. The springs rattled around in there so bad I could easily bring the plate assembly to church tomorrow and the thing could double as cymbals! Other than the cymbal issue and some dust, it looked perfect. It could have easily made it another 100k.

Anyone heard of this before?
Hopefully this thread will help someone else out if they ever have the same issue... the clutch was one thing that was never considered... I sure was in disbelief until I held the thing in my hands. Who would have thunk?

 

No, that's weird. But more importantly, at least it was found. The clutch in my 82 is about due for a change too, but no issues with it at all. Just getting to where it grinds a tad when shifting into 1st, and rev, and running out of pedal travel.. lol.

 

Yep seen that dozens of times on anything automotive. Heavy loads, WOT starts towing heavy trailers they all contribute to that. They are reaction springs the center spline and the friction material are not solidly made together the springs smooth out the engagement of the clutch. If you have even driven a rally car/race car with a solid clutch they are a bear to drive very easy to stall.

 

hi everyone, I have a 2005 tacoma with 240+ thousand miles on it. Its an automatic, so the fix above won't be my solution. I am experiencing much of the same symptoms Tim saw above. Truck feels to roll down the road really well but when I slow down, I mean down to 5mph or lower It feels like the truck is jerking, and I feel it right in the seat. I've put the truck in neutral and the issue still exists, I've tried stopping with the emergency brake and the issue still exists. I haven't checked the leaf springs yet nor looked to see if the axle is our of alignment. I will do that this afternoon. Anything anyone else can recommend looking at that would be helpful. thanks