pendrag

So last week, I was leaving work and I heard a rapid, loud metal-on-metal clanging that increased in rate with speed. I couldn't stop where I was, and the sound stopped about a half mile down the road.

However, it was replaced with a deep vibration, almost like a diesel engine or engine brake, when I was at > 60 mph and I apply the gas pedal. Over the last few days, the vibration has become more noticeable at high speeds and also at lower ones now. Now it's noticable at all speeds, particularly when I apply gas, but also when my foot is off the pedal.

I've heard suggestions of (a) vibrating driveshaft with a loose U-joint; (b) bad CV joint; (c) flat spot on tires.

Here's two videos of me under the car wiggling my driveshaft at the rear and front. How much play is normal on the driveshaft? I can get the whole transmission shaking at the front.

This really has me worried! Can someone give me some ideas on how to diagnose my trouble? Apologies for the crappy video.

REAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4H52kjnaY8

FRONT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tix2gSFKn7o

pendrag

Anybody? This is why I hate the 4runner 2WD subforum - there's less traffic than the regular 4runner forum so posts here get lost.

pendrag

Well, if anyone's following this, the latest:

Took the car to a "general stuff" shop, the mechanic took it for a test drive and came back telling me, "it's not the U-joints, it's the transmission. Take it to the transmission specialist." They didn't charge me for the 'diagnosis'.

Took it to the tranny specialist today. Nice guy who I felt knows his transmissions. We took it for a test drive, he immediately says he think's the tranny's fine and it's the driveshaft. When he lifts the truck, he reported "a warped driveshaft (probably need to be replaced) and something wrong with the ring and pinyon which is making a loud clunk sound when it engages into gear. Take it to the foreign auto guys down the road." He wouldn't take a dime for the diagnostic either.

So, Monday morning, I will take it to the foreign auto guys. Maybe third time will be the charm and I'll get a firm diagnostic.

Moonfish

I have a 2runner, not many on this site do. I've just had an issue with my t100 vibrating down the road. If you really dig through the posts about u-joints you will find out you can't see they are bad and wiggling doesn't really find them either. So your video they look fine but that doesn't mean anything. As far as metal on metal sound, I don't know. Hard to diagnose so when you go to a shop they will tell you whatever. I'd take it on say you want u-joints and see what happens.

mikealike

I've had a shaking problem with my t100 for awhile know. 60 mph the steering wheel will shake but then the whole truck shakes, I figured it was tires out of balance, but i switched to the newer tundra 20 and it still does it. I called and talked to several guys at toyota and they told me that theyve had alot of tacomas coming in with bad driveshafts. once replaced (including the center bearing) problem solved. Im going to get my d/s taken to the drive shaft shop and have them rebuild and balace my unit since the truck has 280K on it.

pendrag

The shop had my driveshaft off today and I went by and took a look. Both U-Joints were grinding and hard to turn in both axes. The mechanic said he was surprised they hadn't locked up during his test drive. They're going to replace both of them. I'm looking into getting greasable u-joints on them this time around. Mechanic said he could get higher quality non-greasable ones or lower quality China built greasable ones. He said he'd check and see if he could get better quality greasable ones, but if not, I'm going to have non-greasable u-joints put on.

There is still something possibly going on with the rear end, I think (loud clunk when going into gear), but we'll see how much the U-joints help that. I've also noticed when we had the truck off the ground that when you spin the rear tire, the passenger side one is catching on the brake and not spinning freely. It catches and is hard to turn for part of the rotation, then spins freely over the rest of the tire. Don't know what that's all about yet - something warped in the brake I suppose.

pendrag

They replaced my U-joints on both ends of the rear driveshaft, and this appears to have corrected my problem. I'm still feeling a minor vibration while driving, but this may be normal vibration that I'm being hypersensitive to. Replacing the u joints also completely fixed the clunk when going into gear, so that's great. I got out for about $190 including labor and two new universal joints.

lakeville22

Hopefully you went with grease fittings, i found neapco makes them well, i had heavy duty non-fitted u-joints on 3 different occasions in my t100 and well lets say they didnt last a year! i like being able to pump grease into the fitting and seeing if any metal flakes erupt or just satified the new grease has taken over and pushed out any water or fluids that dont belong...... hope it all works out for you!

BLMiller0280

This is the exact issue that we are having with my 2002 4Runner, I'm hoping this is the same fix for mine! We ran it up on some jack stands and while I revved the engine, my husband noticed the drive shaft wobbling. I had previously informed him of a loud "clunking" noise when I shifted into drive as well.

toyrunner01

are there greasable U's for these trucks?