Vibration Blues

[daverami]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone would share their story about dealing with driveline vibration issues after doing a lift. I have an '06 Tacoma, and after much research, I put a mild lift on, an Alcan leaf pack, Bilstein 5100's and Donahoe coilovers. It's a little over an inch in the rear additional lift, and the front is lifted to just sit a tad lower than the rear, less than 2 inches in the front. Anyway, I've tried the shims, the carrier bearing drop (made it worse) and I think I am going back to stock in the rear, and adjust the front to level it out. I'll leave the coilovers on as I want to put an ARB bumper on the front eventually.

I know lots of people who have never had an issue. It's rather frustrating. I know some have gone to a one-piece driveline, and/or custom made, but I think I can use my funds elsewhere.

Thanks

 

[erin]

I feel your woes, as I was one of the fortunate few to experience this also. I had some luck and improvment by adding a 2 degree shim on the rear, but also believe some comes from the front shaft also, due to the true trac spinning it full time now. Not sure how bad your is, but mine will vibe the mirrors a bit, but the feel through the seat is not noticable anymore.

 

[Blizz]

I don't think that minimal amount of lift is doing your driveline vibrate... And you've a long wheelbase truck so the angle is less...

Did you or a shop undo the diffs? Maybe they let the splines of the slip yoke get out and mounted it rotated...

I've a 3'' lift in my 4Runner and I have no vibrations...

David

 

[daverami]

I feel your woes, as I was one of the fortunate few to experience this also. I had some luck and improvment by adding a 2 degree shim on the rear, but also believe some comes from the front shaft also, due to the true trac spinning it full time now. Not sure how bad your is, but mine will vibe the mirrors a bit, but the feel through the seat is not noticable anymore.

Yeah, it's really not that bad, and I can live with it, but I don't feel secure anymore knowing that parts are wearing out prematurely.

 

[daverami]

I don't think that minimal amount of lift is doing your driveline vibrate... And you've a long wheelbase truck so the angle is less...

Did you or a shop undo the diffs? Maybe they let the splines of the slip yoke get out and mounted it rotated...

I've a 3'' lift in my 4Runner and I have no vibrations...

David

I had a good shop do it and I'll have to check if the splines of the slip yoke came out. You can tell that the angle out of the rear has increased some, but not a lot.

 

[Howard70]

Shims worked better than washers for us

We had slight vibration in our 2004 Doublecab after the lift (about 2- 2.5"). I first added some washers between the frame crossmember and the carrier bearing mounts (this is where the two pieces of the rear drive shaft couple). I added washers until it seemed as though the angle of the rear u-joint at the differential was almost straight. I had read somewhere that it was unwise to add more than 1/2" or so of space there. Ours took less than that to straighten. This reduced the vibration noticably.

However, there was still some vibration and I worried about the alignment of the carrier bearing (I spend more time worry than I should) so I tried the 2 degree shims under the springs and removed the washers. The vibration seems about the same, maybe slightly less, than with the washers and I think the rest of the driveline is better aligned so I like the shims better.

I can't feel any vibration up to 70 mph. Above 70 I get some but I'm not sure it isn't related to the 255/85/16 Mud Terrain tires. Basically I'm happy with this set up.

Howard L. Snell

 

[xcmountain80]

How do you determine if it's driveline or crappy balance?

Aaron

 

[erin]

Its kind of a feel thing, usually in the seat of your pants, literally. Both my shafts were balanced 3 times, by two different, reliable shops. The installer of the gears said he sees it 1 out of 100 or so, just some are lucky. Keep in mind, my occurred after gear swap, lift was already in place.