Driveline Vibration Issue & Fix: Replace Rear Driveshaft

[TacoKiwi]

Last time something like this happened to me was a splined shaft on a Jeep. Turned out to be dry and had worn the splines so it vibrated. For some reason manufacturers don't want us peons to grease joints, suspension and driveshafts etc. The fix is probably disassemble, add a grease nipple, reassemble and grease every oil change.

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[JayTech]

Last time something like this happened to me was a splined shaft on a Jeep. Turned out to be dry and had worn the splines so it vibrated. For some reason manufacturers don't want us peons to grease joints, suspension and driveshafts etc. The fix is probably disassemble, add a grease nipple, reassemble and grease every oil change.

The thing is, the joints felt fine. Nothing felt like it was too tight or binding. And one of the failed ones was a brand new truck so grease shouldn’t have been dry.

 

[shackley]

I work at a Toyota dealer and have been seeing many complaints about a driveline vibration at speeds below 50mph and no one has been able to fix them with the dealers most people have been going to being of no help. It seems most would either say it is normal or try to balance tires with most vehicles vibrations not being fixed.

We had a couple arrive with this issue at our dealer starting with a brand new Trailhunter to be sold on our lot so we started by balancing the tires, swapping the rims and tires with another truck with known good wheels/tires, and then tried removing the shaft and test driving it in 4 High. We found the vibration went away with the rear shaft removed so we have isolated the problem to being the driveshaft. We then tried the same thing, removing the shaft and driving in 4 high on the other trucks and it has solved the vibration for all of them. So far all cases of the vibration problem we have experienced have been Tacomas with the 2 piece rear driveshafts(6ft bed), so there definitely appears to be an issue with the rear driveshafts. Replacing the shafts with new units has solved the vibration concerns in all of the Tacomas we have had in for this problem.

This may also apply to some people experiencing the same vibration in the 5ft bed Tacomas with a single piece shaft but we have not had any in with this concern yet to verify if that is the case or not. One of these trucks the rear shaft pushed the rear end out of alignment so this may also be why some people are seeing the rear end out of spec while also experiencing a slight vibration.

Hopefully Toyota addresses this concern soon and hopefully this will help some of you experiencing this issue and pointing out this being a known issue to the dealers if they try to tell you "this is normal", as this is definitely NOT normal.

I have a 2026 TH, and no problem yet.

 

[395North]

2025 PreRunner. Smooth as glass.

 

[Sancheesy]

My 24 OR is smooth as silk but my 2014 was vibrating too much for my liking, especially after i put new shoes on it. Turns out 1500. later it was my driveshaft or rather the ujoint that is all one unit. I'm not sure if they're the same as the 2nd/3rd gens but of the u joint seizes it's no beano.

 

[YourOnlineHero]

Without diving into all of the details (for legal reasons), my 2024 TRD PRO had to have the entire drive shaft replaced due to a manufacturer defect that was discovered by the dealership. It's been a nightmare to say the least.

I will update my post explaining everything I've experienced once I receive an official response from Toyota. I'm unable to dive into the specifics at this time.

 

[EatMyTaco]

I’d be wanting to take it to an Indy shop and have them check over the trans case, bearings, etc for damage due to the vibration causing excess wear.

Toyota is just going to throw a part at it and call it good.

 

[konga056]

With lots of dealers trying to say this is normal what would happen if you continue to drive without getting this resolved?

 

[EatMyTaco]

With lots of dealers trying to say this is normal what would happen if you continue to drive without getting this resolved?

You’re going to increase wear on the bearings at the trans and the pumpkin where the shaft connects, etc.

Potentially the trans housing.



if Toyota won’t fix it. Would be worth paying to have a driveshaft cut for you on your own $.
Nothing good ever comes from vibrating things that aren’t supposed to vibrate, especially heavy steel. Vibration = stress.

 

[redlimitediforcemax]

I've had a vibration at about 60mph that stops after 65mph. Tires rebalanced and replaced made some differences. It's not as bad now that i've got more miles on the new tires but I can still feel the vibration. Mine is full time 4wd so I always thought maybe one of the driveshafts were out of balance. Haven't had a chance to get it checked out yet.

 

[JayTech]

I’d be wanting to take it to an Indy shop and have them check over the trans case, bearings, etc for damage due to the vibration causing excess wear.

Toyota is just going to throw a part at it and call it good.

If it has been vibrating for a very long time, yes damage to the transfer case, rear carrier, etc might be a cause for concern but the vibration would have to be extremely violent for it to cause damage on anything new or low mileage. Output seals and pinion seals would be the first sign there might be more damage as they'd be the first thing to fail.

 

[NH Marine]

If it has been vibrating for a very long time, yes damage to the transfer case, rear carrier, etc might be a cause for concern but the vibration would have to be extremely violent for it to cause damage on anything new or low mileage. Output seals and pinion seals would be the first sign there might be more damage as they'd be the first thing to fail.

JayTech, Thanks for your posting. I brought it to my service manager and he agreed to remove the driveshaft and test it as you described. Gonna happen next week. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[JayTech]

@JayTech, I have a question for you:

My truck was perfectly good and smooth for 14mo and 9700mi, then the vibration/shaking/shudder very suddenly began from one day to the next.

On the trucks you've seen with driveshaft issues, where they present from day one? Or did they suddenly appear after time?

We had one that did not exhibit any kind of issue until it had around 30k KMs and when we inspected it, we found the rear driveshaft had deformed. So it is entirely possible to not experience any issues at first and then later find a problem.

 

[Lennyz1]

Wow, I had this issue with a Ram 1500. Right around 65 MPH it would start vibrating. once you get to 70 - 75 it was fine. Went to dealer many times and nothing could be found. I always had suspected the tires since the factory 20" tires were junk. I finally replaced the factory tires around 55,000 miles and figured I would drive down the road and no more vibration. Nope still there. I went back to the dealer and had them pull the front drive shaft and drove it. No difference. I left it there and told them that they need to find the issue. The service manager said the put it up on a lift and put it in gear and ran it up to 70 PMH on the lift and they saw the rear drive shaft was bent. WTF, how does a new vehicle come off the line with a bent or incorrectly welded drive shaft?? Dodge never warrantied the drive shaft even though complaints registered and work done trying to find the issues since I first rolled it off the lot. So this vibration issue cost me $1200.

 

[JayTech]

Well damn. That's crazy. From the sounds of it, there may be a manufacturing or material defect on the rear driveshafts from Spicer.

Was the tube itself deformed? Yokes? Slip joint?

I'm slightly tempted now to try having a custom shaft made. Or re-tube an OEM shaft. If Toyota doesn't do anything for me, I may dive into that option.

Not exactly sure on that one. I wasn't involved in that one but it says the driveshaft was warped. It also wasn't the exact same complaint. The ones we have now were for driveline vibration. That one was making clunking noises and rotational noise when in 4WD.

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