himileage27

Ok! I have had enough of this trouble shooting on my own, and I need some expert help. This is going to be long, but accurate for you mechanics out there to help diagnosis;

subject; Shaking / Vibration
Object; 1995-1/2 Toyota Tacoma, 240,000 miles 2.7Liter 4x4 Extra
Manual Hub Front
Running fine;
Put on ARB Bull bar / Bilstein Shocks 5100's $1000.00
Front end sags
Put on Swayaway Front / Bilstien 5100 longs rear / NWOR rear springs. $1350.00
Adjusted front to 3-1/2" height to closely match rear.
30x9.5" Les Schwab MT's w/ Fake Lock Wheels by Unique 550.00
Slight vibration occurs;
Add 4 degree shim for rear differential. $30.00
Still some vibration.
Have alignment done at Les Schwab. $75.00
Re-balance Tires
Still some vibration.
E-mail pic of SAWS to SAWS to verify collar lift height ok.
SAW's say it is fine.
Still some vibration.
Have clutch done at Toyota Bremerton. $700.00
Put on 33x10.5's on wheel at Discount Tires. $1060.00
Discount tells me that wheels are rubbing on disc calipers front.
Put on 4.88's ring & pinion w/ ARB front & rear $3600.00
Break in at 30-40mph for 500 miles.
New Wheels. / Standard Black Wheels Allied. $125.00
Grind Brake calipers for clearance room.
Change out rear diff fluid.
Still vibration.
take to driveline shop. Put in new drive shaft $560.00
re-alignment $75.00
Re-balance.
Still Vibration.
Change rear end 4 degree shim to 6 degree shim $25.00
Still vibration.
Buy new 33' x 10.5's BFG AT's w/ new rims. $750.00
Vibration more defined with tread change.
New Front Wheel bearings / New steering rack. $1800.00
Vibration still there.
Vibration continues in and out of gear. Most defined between 40-60 mph. Still there regardless of gear or rpm.
If take out of gear during vibration and apply breaks, the vibation stops immediately during moderate pressure.
What is it? I am tired of throwing money to solve a problem that is not getting better.

Thanks - Desparate
himileage27

GRNTACO

WOW!!
I would say you have tried everything.
Maybe the flywheel was machined wrong.

Ben

zedex

I would say since the vibration started after you lifted the front end that the cv angles are causing the vibration. But since you have manual hubs, are you sure your cv's aren't spinning? Maybe your hubs arent unlocking properly causing cv vibration.

rpeAMP

How about the u-joints? Did the driveline shop change or inspect these when they replaced the driveshaft?

GRNTACO

Loose motor mount??

platform389

My money would be on steering rack bushings.

Have someone sit in the driver's seat and move the wheel back and forth while you watch the rack under the truck. If it moves at all, that is your problem.

I didn't have the miles you do, but the problem was the same with my 2001. Went to three places, including the dealer, with no solution. The kind folks at TTORA told me what the problem likely was. And they were right.

Energy Suspension makes excellent replacement bushings that will solve the problem. Make sure to torque the bolts to spec.

Have the wheel alignment checked when you finish as well.

himileage27

Ok. I will check CV rotation to confirm hub activation. Motor mounts - I will check as well. Energy suspension bushings - so help me, if that solves it there will be several murders in the greater Seattle area after all the money / headache / frustration that has gone into this. I will get those right away.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I will let you guys know the outcome, hopefully sooner than later.

Patrick

himileage27

Yeah - the drive shaft included all new u-joints, and new carrier bearing.

thanks,

Patrick

zedex

ohhhh. Something else you might check. Tranny mount. Check that sucker. I went through hell trying to find my vibration problems and i stumbled on to it. That was it all along. Get someone to rev your vehicle while your under it. See how much movement there is. Or if your brave and really trust the guy in the truck. Put it in low with brakes fully applied and torque up on it to see the motor really move in its mounts. Then you will see if there are any mounting issues. Good luck.

4runnerx4

i got the same problem with my 87 and have checked and replaced almost everything, i did notice the other day that it looked like one of my lower pulley's was bent/wobbeling. i dont know if it's the cause of my problem yet (could be shaking my engine?) take a look at yours with the engine running, i feel your pain! vibrations suck!!! if you find your cause be sure and post.

keisur

himileage, is it sort of an intermittant vibration between 40 and 60? Mine does this too. I got my rear 3rd from Randy's with the 4.88's and the ARB and I think it is in there. Hope you find out what it is and post it. Of course, I called randy's and left a message 5 times last week and they won't return my call. That's what I expected from that shoddy place.

himileage27

Yeah, the vibration is somewhat intermittent, in gear or out of gear, in 3rd or 4rth or 5th gear, at around 40 to 60mph. I quincidentally got my ARB with 4.88's installed at Central 4wd in Kent. They admittedly have said that they don't think anything is wrong with it, but that they will look at it when Toyota is done monkeying around with it. I hope that is solved at Toyota, but if not, I will be back at Central 4wd Drive to get there 2 cents, or was it $3600.00 - oh yeah, here is the Credit card bill.

I will definitely post as this unfolds for all to learn.

Patrick

keisur

those are my exact symptoms too. My rear diff seems to have a little play in it when it is parked and I climb under and try to rotate the driveshaft by hand. I can rotate it the tad bit that it is supposed to and then I can force it another little bit, almost like the spider gears are loose and letting the arb turn a little after the lash is taken up.

GRNTACO

I have 3rd members I bought from Randy's Ring and Pinion with the ARB and 4.88 gears (will be installed this week)....................I better not experience these problems or there is going to be a VERY angry person at their door step.
keisur, they back their parts and labor so they should fix your problem

keisur

but look where I live. also, they won't return my call, I guess I could try calling a salesman again. but they just forward me to the service tech dude, Mack I think he calls himself, and I get his voice mail and he never calls back.

Short of pulling my third and flying up there with it, my hands are tied.

dusty98

Not to sound too simple, just another perspective:

If I read it right, the vibration occurred after you installed 30x9.50 tires and new wheels?
What happens if you install your original Toyota wheels and tires?

himileage27

Nothing too simple at this point; Good question / suggestion. I tried that as well, and the vibration was still there, although I do believe that I had created two different problems / solved the one with the wheel / interference with the calipar, and the current vibration is a different one? or a result from? or new?

thanks for the tip!

Patrick

PS; I am now fighting with the dealer over the new wheel bearings and the steering rack that did not solve the problem. I suggested them take off the driveshaft and drive in 4wd high, to isolate the vibration to front or is it really the rear. I am waiting for them to call me back on there perspective / result.

rickgoof

i have a such a similar problem its disturbing....

my vibration occurs at exactl 33-37mph 49-54mph and 73-+ mph

in or out of gear it is there, rpm doesnt seem to matter.

the only mods i have is OME springs in the back. THATS IT

my four runner is an auto with 125k on it.


wheels and tires are all balanced as far as i know.

it seems we have similar problems?

ill let you know if i solve mine.

keisur

even if you do that, that only tells you if the rear driveshaft is the vibe source. the rear diff will still be rotating so if that's where the vibe is then it will more than likely still do it even without the driveshaft.

dusty98

"I have a such a similar problem its disturbing....
my vibration occurs at exactl 33-37mph 49-54mph and 73-+ mph
in or out of gear it is there, rpm doesnt seem to matter.
the only mods i have is OME springs in the back. THATS IT
my four runner is an auto with 125k on it."

I had the same problem and similar mileage when I installed my rear coils. One of the u-joints in the driveshaft was in the wrong way. A local shop reinstalled it correctly and its been fine since, that was 5 years ago. There was no drivetrain work done previous to the lift so I don't know how it happened, but it was an easy fix.