New to me Tacoma

[dlargo]

Greetings all,

I recently picked up a 2006 SR5 4x4 with 140k on the odometer. It is a DCSB Superwhite thing of beauty. However, there is one issue I may be taking it back to the dealer for. I have a 60 day warranty and want to take full advantage of it for any little thing I can before I pick up the tab. During takeoff I get a vibration in the driveline, drivetrain, engine, or a combination of those things. It is worse in 1st gear around 10 mph and then again in 2nd gear around 15-20 mph. There is no vibration outside of that it is runs like a top. Everything was changed out (fluids) before I picked it up but I will be doing them again when I hit the 145 mark. I will be doing my own maintenance most of time. Any specific things I should check out or be on the look out for for the next 60 days or so. Also, should I just stick with what the dealer recommends as far as fluids or have things advanced alot since 06. I am coming from a 01 Jeep XJ 4x4 and it is world of difference...loved the Jeep but I love the Tacoma and would not go back.

Thanks
Danny

 

[Crom]

www.tacomaworld.com <--Great community of Tacoma owners and enthusiasts. I've have learned a boat load over the years and have contributed my own mods there. A little juvenile (and humorous) at times, but still a great place with very helpful people. You may want to consider cross posting there.

Is the suspension completely stock? Usually driveline vibes are caused by someone who added a mild lift and changed the drive line angles a little bit. Although a little drive line shudder can be normal which is sometimes caused by a phenomenon as axle-wrap. The factory service interval and fluid recommendations are all fine, although some folks change the transmission fluid more frequently than the 100K recommendation.

If you visually inspect the truck and check things out you should be pretty good.

Congrats on the Tacoma!

 

[dlargo]

As far as I know everything is stock. I visit tacomaworld as well as the tacomaforums and will be posting there. I visit here more often and thought it would be a good place to start.

Thanks
Danny

 

[DaVikes]

There is a tremendous amount of info on driveline vibrations at tacomaworld. A potential cause of the vibration you're feeling is a worn carrier bearing. It's a pretty straightforward repair. Check out TW and you will probably be able to diagnose it before taking it in for service.

Another little thing is to run your HVAC fan on low and see if you hear any ticking or squeaking. It's one of those things you might not notice right away, but it gets annoying. Toyota has improved the fan by replacing a bushing with a bearing.

Also inspect the rear leaf springs. At 140k, they are probably sagging a bit, and sagging is probably not covered, but look for a cracked or broken leaf. If you find one you could get a new set for free.

Good luck!

 

[dlargo]

DaVikes...thanks. I will check the carrier bearing and the springs. The driver side has a horrible squeal to it right now.

Danny

 

[hilux30]

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/254438-driveline-vibration-tsb-out.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/244535-drive-shaft-vibrations-solved-step-step.html

These threads contain lots of info on this subject. After trying many things from re-angling(shimming trans/C.bearing/axle with digital angle finder), carrier bearing replacements using different types rubber stiffness to solid type, re-balancing the shaft etc etc... In the end, I concluded that there is an engineering/design flaw with these trucks. The 2-pc factory shaft contains less joints compared to 1st gen Tacoma's and other trucks, theoretically it means that there are less joints to absorb 'out-of-frequency' vibrations and places a harmonic 'burden' on the shaft(s).

I have come to conclude that not all Tacoma frames are made the same, some experience this issue where the dealer curing it, some try everything 'affordable' and nothing works and some report no vibes stock or lifted.

In the end, what worked for me is a 1-pc Tom Woods shaft. That cured 10-15 and 25-35MPH vibes (again, not all vibes happen in the same speed range), but the take off shudder did not totally disappear untill I replace the transmission mount with a TSB one (just ask for an 09 mount or say post TSB to dealer parts dude he/she should know, I think they are all sold that way now). .. Note: rear end is on Dakar leaf packs that do some angling them selves.

There are some D'shaft shops that would be willing to add a double-cardon joint that seems to be the ultimate fix and retain the 2pc shaft... basically make it look like the 1st gen shaft design..

so much can be written about this subject that it could be a master's thesis on drive-line vibrations. ..