Hey all,

I have a 1990 truck v6, 4wd with 130k on it, as of a month ago it started making a loud, low frequency rumble? noise? from the center of the truck. I figured it was the trans but didnt have the time of the money to spend on it, works been crazy, yada yaa.

Now its gotten to the point where the noise is so loud i can barely drive it. It shifts fine, and the engine runs fine. The noise occurs only when i am in gear and slowly gets worse as i get up in speed.

Say i am driving 45mph, the noise is almost unbearable, loud and much vibration. If i take it out of gear quick and throw it back in gear the noise stops, only to return when i press the gas again. IMO it sounds like a bearing, but with limited know how with trannys i cant say what it is.

Im an able and willing mechanic, ive done plenty of other fixes to my baby, including a wood flat bed, new rear half (welded in from doner truck), leaf springs, and inner rear axles, along with numerous other fixes. The tranny has always intimidated me, *le sighhh*.

I have off this weekend and its either try to go at it myself, or patronize my local mechanic, or (dare i say it) just buy a new truck (seriously dont want to but the boss man needs me and i need to be reliable).

PLEASE HELP, you guys are great and i check in time to time for some awesome advice, ask me some questions and ill be back to you asap, ill be watching this thread all night and day tomorow. Again, Thanks so much.

-Breeze

 

Get under and examine the driveshaft and u-joints before condemning the tranny.

 

If it's a two-piece rear shaft, be sure to examine the carrier bearing also. It's a hanging type bearing that the driveshaft passes through essentially. If there is any movement in that stupid thing, it will groan and vibrate/buzz like crazy, and it will resonate through the whole truck.

And as mentioned, check the u-joints. And maybe verify that the rear pinion nut is torqued and staked.

You may also want to make sure you're in 2wd. And that a hub didn't get jammed up and is causing a bad front CV axle to rotate while at highway speeds.

And verify all drivetrain fluid levels are full and in good condition with the proper viscosity in each component. I usually run 75W-90 throughout.

 

Heya I realize this is an old thread but it sounded like what I have going on. 2001 4runner SR5 making a loud car shaking vibration starting at about 55mph. Tried to make it happen in lower gear at high rpms and nothing, seems to require both higher speed and gas. Noise stops completely at any speed when I let off the gas.

Assuming that checking joints in the driveline is first priority, just curious about any other thoughts.

Thanks in advance