jay-q

i have a 1993 4runner owned since new.... it now has ~110K mi...... over the years it has developed rattling noises coming from the center console area when doing speeds of over 70mph..... i have an automatic tranny btw..... has anyone else experienced this?..... and second question..... has anyone found a remedy to quiet and/or eliminate it..... it sounds as if there are loose parts in the casing in and around the gear shifter..... but that is just a guess.... it could be something more internal..... just not sure.... also the noise gets louder in deceleration from high speeds...... wanting to know if anyone reccomends i take the center console apart to tighten things down..... what is the process of dismantling the center console.... would appreciate direction if anyone has ever tried.... much thanks


JQ
1993 V6 4X4 4runner (auto)

gwhayduke

I'm not much help, cuz I have a manual. But I kin bump ya.

thowho1985

does it only do it at interstate speeds? If not it could be just a loose plastic piece. Also, does the steering wheel shake at all, it could be idler arm. there is a write up about that in the tech section.

Andrey

Before doing anyting else, I would definitely do the following:

1. try to do an alignment of your wheels
2. properly rotate your tires
3. balance each tire

L33T35T 4Runner

sorry no help with your question, but where in so cali are you?

Im in orange county, fountain valley

jay-q

maybe rattling noises is the wrong description of the noise... i would better characterize it as a deep humming noise....

dont think it has anything to do with the wheels.... the alignment, balance, rotation has been performed regularly.... as a matter of fact, the alignment was just done last week .... but, i didn't have it aligned for the vibration, had it aligned due to it was pulling to the right..... also the steering wheel does not shake at these speeds.....

the vibration is focused right in the center console/gear shifter area...... the sound is like a deep hum........ and happens only at speeds over ~70mph..... the hum gets deeper and louder as the speed goes higher.... and the hum is loudest during deceleration....

for those 2nd gen drivers out there...... at speeds of ~70-90.... does anyone experience any considerable humming noise coming from the center console/automatic gear shift area?

thanks for any suggestions/info

JQ

nofilter

jay, i had this same thing. just fixed it 2 weeks ago. got some help over on 4x4wire.com. it is porbably driveline related. i had the same sort of humming vibration when i let off the gas slightly, while cruising 65-80. it got louder. it isn't a tire balance thing, since it only happens at this speed.

you can drop your driveshaft and put it in 4hi and drive at 70. see what happens. i did this. noise was gone. i had my u-joints rplaced - 1 was pretty bound up - maybe from the downey springs giving too much lift?. and the driveshaft balanced.

MOST IMPORTANT - while the driveshaft is off (maybe before you balance the shaft or replace the u-joints) is TIGHTEN the flange nut on the transfer case. it is a 30 mm nut that is suppposed to be torqued to 100 ft lbs or something like that. i just used a large breaker bar, but judging by the way it turned when i first put the socket on, it was pretty loose.

i think the flange nut is your offender. btw, the noise is totally gone in my runner. just run out to sears and get a 30 mm socket and 1/2 " breaker bar. you'll need 14 mm wrenches and a ratchet, socket, extension to drop your driveshaft. i used red locktite on when puttin git back together.

let us know what you find. i am almost certain this is it.

nofilter

and mark your driveshaft and flanges so you can put it back together the same way. while the DS is off, you can also check to see if there is play in the splines. and lube everything while you're at it.

jay-q

thanks nofilter,
this is more along the lines of what i think may be the cause.... i will definitely have to check it out.... thanks for the suggestion... ill let you know if it did the fix.... btw how much was the cost of replacing the ujoints/balancing? *wondering*

JQ

nofilter

it was about $120 for the u-joints (Toyota). and $15 each to install - and $55 to balance.

like i said. try the flange nut first. i'd even try it before driving in 4Hi.

before i did this, i was starting to think my tranny was going bad. now it is quieter than when i got the truck 3 years ago.

good luck, let me know if you have any more ?s.

jay-q

nofilter,
couldn't locate any 30mm bolt in or around the transfer case.... or anywhere under the truck for that matter.... could it be they used a smaller bolt in the 93's?.... can you give me a better description as to where your's is located?.... much appreciated....

JQ

nofilter

you have to take off the driveshaft. the 30mm nut holds the transfercase flange on. the TFcase flange is the part that the driveshaft bolts to. the reason you can't find the 30mm is it is hidden by the driveshaft.

once you drop the driveshaft, and look at the end of the flange, you will see this huge nut. this is it.

use the 14mm wrenches and a socket with extension to get the DS off. if you just want to check the 30 mm nut, then leave the DS connected at the axle.

but if you want to drive it in front wheel drive to see if it is the nut and/or the DS, then drop the entire DS, put it in 4hi, and drive.

i marked my DS and flanges when i took it off, too. but i had mine balanced, so i guess that didn't matter. but mark yours with some paint so you can put it on the same way. trust me, after a drive, you will forget which rust spot matched up with which bump thingy.

hth,

jay-q

wow... that was a quick reply.... i'll have to look it over again.... at earliest this weekend....

i did try driving in 4hi..... and it the vibration did seem to lessen considerably.... but was still prevalent..... it also lessened in 2wd.... at least it seems like it....

thanks again....

JQ

nofilter

sorry if my reply was terse. i thought maybe you just crawled underneath and looked around for a 30mm bolt. you didn't mention you dropped the driveshaft.

because when i was looking for it, i was wondering about where is was BEFORE i dropped the DS, and when i did, i was like - oh, here it is!

ok, let us know this weekend.