Help me solve my vibration issue!

[Yotota]

Has anyone else had a vibration/rumbling in their truck that was confirmed to be something other than wheels and tires?

I need to get this fixed so I can go snowboarding soon!

My automatic 24 TRD OR developed a weird vibration at 9700mi and I'm going back to the dealership on Tuesday for the second time after opening a case with Corporate Toyota - the first tech test drove it with me and only said "it's a truck, it's not supposed to be smooth".

It feels like I'm driving over rumble strips, or a tire/wheel is extremely out of balance. But just in the rear half of the truck.

My truck doesn't fall under the transmission recall either.

Details:
Started suddenly at 9700mi.
Speed dependent, 20-40mph, worse on decel/coast. No change when I shift manually to different gears.
Not in the front end - felt through the seat and chassis only.
Not the engine - no change when I shift to neutral while coasting.
Not the front driveshaft/diff - no change in 4wd.
Not tires/wheels - no change when I swap back to stock, or rotate to different positions.
Not the tonneau cover or bed mat - removed them.
No change with 500lb loaded into the bed, squatting the rear end ~1.5".

My thoughts are that it's either the transmission, rear driveshaft, or rear diff.

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[izzy]

No vibration here but I do have a hollow tapping noise when deaccelerating from 35-0 which you can feel through the seat and hear over music/conversation. Seems like it's the driveshaft to be honest.

I guess you could call it a vibration. It doesn't feel like a wheel balance issue (which is really obvious when you have it).

Only happens when I am off the throttle, so when the power is going wheel>diff>driveshaft>trans.

Truck has 13836 miles.

It was just at Toyota at 12000 miles, 4 oil changes so far and they haven't said anything looks weird. I'll probably have my independent shop do the 15k service and when the truck is on the lift do a thorough walk around.

 

[Yotota]

No vibration here but I do have a hollow tapping noise when deaccelerating from 35-0 which you can feel through the seat and hear over music/conversation. Seems like it's the driveshaft to be honest.

I guess you could call it a vibration. It doesn't feel like a wheel balance issue (which is really obvious when you have it).

Only happens when I am off the throttle, so when the power is going wheel>diff>driveshaft>trans.

Truck has 13836 miles.

It was just at Toyota at 12000 miles, 4 oil changes so far and they haven't said anything looks weird. I'll probably have my independent shop do the 15k service and when the truck is on the lift do a thorough walk around.

Interesting. That sounds like a mild version of what my truck is doing.

Is yours a 5ft or 6ft bed? The double cab long bed trucks have a 2 piece rear drive shaft, which can have extra issues.

 

[Taco Ji]

Sounds like a rotor being warped issue.

 

[izzy]

Interesting. That sounds like a mild version of what my truck is doing.

Is yours a 5ft or 6ft bed? The double cab long bed trucks have a 2 piece rear drive shaft, which can have extra issues.

5ft bed, one piece driveshaft

Pic from many thousand miles ago and pre-offroad use:

I had a 2G TRD OR with a bad carrier bearing, was considerably worse vibration than this. Ofc no carrier bearing on 1 piece driveshaft.

It's possible the aluminum driveshaft allows for a lot of normal resonance through the drivetrain that steel wouldn't.

 

[Yotota]

Sounds like a rotor being warped issue.

That would be a consideration, except it doesn't change while braking or not braking.

 

[AspenThicket]

Have you considered the clamshell bushing?

Does the vibration go away when you put it in 4WD

 

[828findadventure]

Has anyone else had a vibration/rumbling in their truck that was confirmed to be something other than wheels and tires?

I need to get this fixed so I can go snowboarding soon!

My automatic 24 TRD OR developed a weird vibration at 9700mi and I'm going back to the dealership on Tuesday for the second time after opening a case with Corporate Toyota - the first tech test drove it with me and only said "it's a truck, it's not supposed to be smooth".

It feels like I'm driving over rumble strips, or a tire/wheel is extremely out of balance. But just in the rear half of the truck.

My truck doesn't fall under the transmission recall either.

Details:
Started suddenly at 9700mi.
Speed dependent, 20-40mph, worse on decel/coast. No change when I shift manually to different gears.
Not in the front end - felt through the seat and chassis only.
Not the engine - no change when I shift to neutral while coasting.
Not the front driveshaft/diff - no change in 4wd.
Not tires/wheels - no change when I swap back to stock, or rotate to different positions.
Not the tonneau cover or bed mat - removed them.
No change with 500lb loaded into the bed, squatting the rear end ~1.5".

My thoughts are that it's either the transmission, rear driveshaft, or rear diff.

Ok, things it could be. I own a 25 Tacoma SR5 4x4 and a 25 4Runner SR5 4x4, which are the same but not the same, even though the drivetrain is identical.

BUT first we need tire information, size, load rating, All terrain-Mud terrain etc.

What cold air pressure do you run?

Does it happen on deceleration, applying brakes?

 

[Yotota]

Ok, things it could be. I own a 25 Tacoma SR5 4x4 and a 25 4Runner SR5 4x4, which are the same but not the same, even though the drivetrain is identical.

BUT first we need tire information, size, load rating, All terrain-Mud terrain etc.

What cold air pressure do you run?

Does it happen on deceleration, applying brakes?

Tires and wheels aren't the issue - it does it with my OEM wheels and tires at 32-35psi (I tried a few different pressures), as well as my LT275/70R17 C rated Falken AT4Ws on Method wheels at 35-38psi. The vibration doesn't change when the wheels are rotated to different positions. It's more noticable with the aftermarket wheels and tires though - likely due to the added stiffness and weight. Maybe.

No change in the vibration with or without brakes applied, but, it is definitely most noticeable on decel and coasting. I have shifted my automatic transmission to neutral during the vibration and there was no change. I have manually shifted to different gears with no change.

 

[bigd9247]

That's a bummer! I hope they're able to figure it out. Keep us posted.

My truck has the needle bearing/clamshell vibration in the front, but nothing that appears to be coming from the rear. It doesn't bother me enough at this point to swap over to the ECGS bushing. Maybe in the future.

 

[Yotota]

That's a bummer! I hope they're able to figure it out. Keep us posted.

My truck has the needle bearing/clamshell vibration in the front, but nothing that appears to be coming from the rear. It doesn't bother me enough at this point to swap over to the ECGS bushing. Maybe in the future.

Yeah, the needle bearing vibration is more of a "buzzing" (and felt through the steering wheel) while the vibration I have is more of a rumbling/thumping and felt through the chassis. It's a weird one.

 

[828findadventure]

5ft bed, one piece driveshaft

Pic from many thousand miles ago and pre-offroad use:

I had a 2G TRD OR with a bad carrier bearing, was considerably worse vibration than this. Ofc no carrier bearing on 1 piece driveshaft.

It's possible the aluminum driveshaft allows for a lot of normal resonance through the drivetrain that steel wouldn't.

Tires and wheels aren't the issue - it does it with my OEM wheels and tires at 32-35psi (I tried a few different pressures), as well as my LT275/70R17 C rated Falken AT4Ws on Method wheels at 35-38psi. The vibration doesn't change when the wheels are rotated to different positions. It's more noticable with the aftermarket wheels and tires though - likely due to the added stiffness and weight. Maybe.

No change in the vibration with or without brakes applied, but, it is definitely most noticeable on decel and coasting. I have shifted my automatic transmission to neutral during the vibration and there was no change. I have manually shifted to different gears with no change.

I have the same exact tires on Toyota wheels. Is the vehicle lifted? If lifted over 2.5" with any type of lift, it could cause a needle bearing issue. BUT, only when driving slow or coasting at 35-40 mph. On my lifted 3rd gen I had that issue between 35-40 mph and never fixed in the five years I owned it. Never had an issue, I just got used to it.

Before throwing down on a needle bearing install $$$, I recommend a good road force balance and an alignment. Get the road force balance at Discount Tire; they guarantee their work, and I recommend an alignment at a Toyota Dealer since they do a lot of them on your vehicle.

 

[Yotota]

I have the same exact tires on Toyota wheels. Is the vehicle lifted? If lifted over 2.5" with any type of lift, it could cause a needle bearing issue. BUT, only when driving slow or coasting at 35-40 mph. On my lifted 3rd gen I had that issue between 35-40 mph and never fixed in the five years I owned it. Never had an issue, I just got used to it.

Before throwing down on a needle bearing install $$$, I recommend a good road force balance and an alignment. Get the road force balance at Discount Tire; they guarantee their work, and I recommend an alignment at a Toyota Dealer since they do a lot of them on your vehicle.

No lift, tires are road force balanced, just got it aligned at the dealership.

 

[828findadventure]

No lift, tires are road force balanced, just got it aligned at the dealership.

Note: balancing is hit or miss; they may have slung a weight. As for alignment, if you brushed a curb or did any off roading on rocky trails that could have messed up the new alignment, curbs especially. I would take it to another shop and have them re-balance the wheels/tires. Other than that, if you live in the mountains or haul anything, long or hard braking can warp the rotors. While rare on Toyotas it does happen and will vibrate under braking, say exiting the highway at high speeds etc. The dealer should cover that under warranty. I doubt it is the drive shaft on this new gen, but I will tell you running 35psi with c rated tires in the morning makes the Tacoma ride rough, especially compared to the 25 4runner SR5 we have with the same tires.

 

[maxx075]

Note: balancing is hit or miss; they may have slung a weight. As for alignment, if you brushed a curb or did any off roading on rocky trails that could have messed up the new alignment, curbs especially. I would take it to another shop and have them re-balance the wheels/tires. Other than that, if you live in the mountains or haul anything, long or hard braking can warp the rotors. While rare on Toyotas it does happen and will vibrate under braking, say exiting the highway at high speeds etc. The dealer should cover that under warranty. I doubt it is the drive shaft on this new gen, but I will tell you running 35psi with c rated tires in the morning makes the Tacoma ride rough, especially compared to the 25 4runner SR5 we have with the same tires.

Can confirm about the rotors. 99% positive mine are warped.

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