Hello,

I have been chasing a ghost wobble in my 2004 Tacoma 4x4 since late 2006. It seems to have a vibration in the seat/steerer between 65-75 miles per hour. I've replaced tires twice, even put different wheels on, several balancings, alignments, etc. It's been to one dealership twice and another dealership once. Both gave me the "dunno" chat and sent me away.

Today, I decided to give it another look. As I was going down the highway, the wobble was there and I could feel it in seat and see it in the steering wheel. I later took the front left wheel off, and was able to turn the rotor to watch the axle. It looks bent to me when I turn it. Another person verified my observation. How much warpage is normal on these things? Could this be the cause of the wobble/vibration at speed? If so, how could the dealers miss such a visible thing?

Thanks.

 

uhm...YEA!..that would cause the vibration..i'd get that dude changed outta there before it decides to fly apart...haha

 

Thanks for the reply. I just took off the right wheel and spun the rotor. The right axle seems to exhibit a similar sort of warpage, perhaps slightly less than the left side. How would/could 2 Toyota dealers miss this sort of thing if this could be the issue and perhaps a safety problem?

 

So is your rotor warped..?

Umm, I'll throw out a couple ideas...

Is your truck lifted..? If so your cv joints could be shot...
My other idea, The doulbe cardan joint on the rear driveshaft could need to be serviced...

Thats all I got..

Search over at TTORA, in my sig line, For common tacoma vibration problems

 

The rotors seem OK. They are aging but don't seem to be too bad right now. We thought that initially they could be causing it. Truck is stock. I guess my real question is how much warpage/bent the front drive axles may seem when I turn the rotor (e.g. should they look almost perfectly straight when I spin the rotor or is it OK that there is visible movement when I turn the rotor)?

I'll check out that other spot on TTORA. Thanks!

 

I believe they should look mostly straight when you spin in...

Deff check out ttora, they have many more taco's over there..

 

how about the engine mounts? I've heard of others having that fixed. I think I should get mine checked as well because I had serious vibrations but just got new tires and an alignment and it kind of went away. I've had several alignments before with the older tires and still had vibrations. perhaps I just needed new tires. I have a positive camber problem but I hope they fixed. it.

 

Whenever you have an alignment performed...Always ask for a print out of before and after specs...No guessing after that!

 

Another cause may be the center support bearing. I believe your truck has the two part drive shaft. Where the two meets there is a bearing that should exhibit very little to no play. I am waiting to change mine out as there is a lot of slop in it and I get vibration right around 70 MPH.