How about a few more details on your truck. TRD? Lifted? Stock? Etc. etc.

 

My truck is a stock double-cab with the TRD Off-Road package and currently at 17,000 miles.

A review of this forum as well as others (Edmunds, Toyota Nation, TTORA) show several posts describing the exact same problems that I am having. No one has posted a definite fix from what I can tell.

This vibration is more annoying than anything, especially in stop-and-go traffic, but I also worry about it affecting the longevity of other components in the drivetrain.

Others have guessed the problem to be related to the slip yoke, carrier bearing, torque converter, e.t.c. I found in interesting that the Service Manager mentioned the factory in Mexico that produces the transmissions as "having problems" and specifically the woes with the transmissions in the new Avalon.

 

Its axlw wrap, plain and simple, want to prove it? Go C- clamp a piece of angle iron to the top of the leaf springs (Dont go flying down the hwy or anything) This will stop axle wrap for this test. Go drive around the neighborhood, notice the vibration is gone, its also gone in 4wd when the front wheels are pulling and not allowing the rear axle to wrap. I have done this test.

The rear springs are so weak the axle twists under any moderate acceleration and throws the pinion angle out.

The fixes are, stiffer rear springs, some form of ladder bar or panhard bar or some traction bars.

 

Interesting...I will have to round up some supplies and give this a try.

Have you performed any of the recommended fixes on your own truck?

Thanks for posting!

 

I had my truck in for this problem a few times when I first bought it. They never found the cause, and I'm so used to it now that I don't even notice it. But it is true that it doesn't happen in 4WD and it's alot less noticable when the bed is loaded down with weight. The axle wrap suggestion makes sense--it could just be the release of tension when you start from a stop.

 

I am not so sure about the axel wrap theory. I have a set of super springs on my truck since about 3000 miles and I have felt the vibration with and without the super springs. It has got worse over time. IMO it may be the carrier bearing with the rubber donut. It has been suggested to use shims between the carried bearing and the frame. I read where one guy did that and everything was smooth after that. I do recognize that when in 4WD and with the bed loaded down the vibration does go away (which does suggest axel wrap), but with a set of additional springs that doesn't make sense. It's got to have something to do with the driveline angle and the rubber carrier donut. When I accelerate I can feel it right between the front two seats which is pretty much right above the carrier bearing. Both theories are sound, but I wish some of these toyota engineers could just fix this problem. It is really annoying in stop and go traffic!

 

Yes, stop and go traffic is where it seem to show for me... Kinda like a little thud when you hit the gas... Though, if I go real easy, it doesn't happen... From what I've read here, most seem to agree it's normal... Not too sure about that...

 

I am not so sure about the axel wrap theory. I have a set of super springs on my truck since about 3000 miles and I have felt the vibration with and without the super springs. It has got worse over time. IMO it may be the carrier bearing with the rubber donut. It has been suggested to use shims between the carried bearing and the frame. I read where one guy did that and everything was smooth after that. I do recognize that when in 4WD and with the bed loaded down the vibration does go away (which does suggest axel wrap), but with a set of additional springs that doesn't make sense. It's got to have something to do with the driveline angle and the rubber carrier donut. When I accelerate I can feel it right between the front two seats which is pretty much right above the carrier bearing. Both theories are sound, but I wish some of these toyota engineers could just fix this problem. It is really annoying in stop and go traffic!

I looked into the supersprings for this exact problem but the way they function I didnt see if having much effect on the axle wrap problem.

The bed being loaded down would make sense since the overload spring would be in contact with the other two springs and not allow the axle to twist as easily since it would now be fighting against 3 leaf springs.

I had a 2000 F150 that has the same issue in additon to axle hop. A set of springs off of the F150 with the 7700 package (7700 GVW instead of 6300, 5 leafs instead of 3 leafs) instantly fixed the problem alsthought it did make it ride stiffer.

I was planning on building some custom ladder bar/panhard bar and welding it to the axle then attach with a pivot at the frame but have not found a good location to attach to the frame due to the gas tank. My step dad built street rods for years and many of the vehicles that came with low horsepower engines that had been upgraded to big blocks had this issue and the bar always fixed it. I even looked into designed something similar to what the 3rd and 4th gen camaros use but have not had the time to draw it out and machine it.

 

Yea, now that I have thought about it, the super springs really only kick in when there is a load on the bed or when needed. That is one of there selling points about the spings. One thing good about the super springs is that they really don't change the ride too much. I just wish somone could fix this problem because it is really driving my crazy.

 

A guy on TN said his carrier bearing bracket wasn't fully welded all around, causing horrible vibrations. His actually started to pull away from the crossmember.

Warning! Check your bracket! Mine broke!

Just a thought...

 

Thanks for the tip. I plan to inspect as soon as I get a chance.

 

Anybody have experience with this traction bar kit?

BudBuilt - Traction Bars

It sure beats the setup from Pro Comp, which reduces the clearance.

 

Anybody have experience with this traction bar kit?

BudBuilt - Traction Bars

It sure beats the setup from Pro Comp, which reduces the clearance.

I wouls sure like to see the results of that installed on a 05+ Tacoma. I bet the problem goes away.

 

I think I feel that in my '06 Taco PreRunner (quad cab long bed) and I'm also having an issue with the rear suspension bottoming out. My bed cap added 150 pounds to the rear, but that really should not affect the suspension much at all. Seems that the springs and/or shocks are too weak. I see that Performance Products has a bolt-on leaf spring stiffener, think that would help? BTW, I recently wrote a letter to Toyota about the rear suspension. My dealer checked it out, found nothing wrong, but agreed that the rear suspension is too weak. I'm curious to see what Toyota does to help.

 

I think I feel that in my '06 Taco PreRunner (quad cab long bed) and I'm also having an issue with the rear suspension bottoming out. My bed cap added 150 pounds to the rear, but that really should not affect the suspension much at all. Seems that the springs and/or shocks are too weak. I see that Performance Products has a bolt-on leaf spring stiffener, think that would help? BTW, I recently wrote a letter to Toyota about the rear suspension. My dealer checked it out, found nothing wrong, but agreed that the rear suspension is too weak. I'm curious to see what Toyota does to help.

I went round and round with both the dealer and many many emails to Toyota about the soft rear suspension which ended up getting to the point they would not respond. I even went as far as loading the truck with bags of soil to its rated payload which had it sitting on the bump stops and the dealer said that was normal for "Toyota" no other truck I have ever owned acted similar. I ended up cutting off about an inch from the rear bumps stops which really help. It will still bottom out but it doesnt just slam into the bump stops.

 

Yes, cutting the rubber stops is a fix, but even over 'average' bumpy roads the rear end feels sloppy. One other clue that the springs are weak is seeing how much the rear sags (gets lower to the ground) with even a small load. Just sitting on the tailgate (I weigh less that 200 lbs.) lowers the rear excessively, at least compared to my T100 and Silverado trucks.

This issue and the rather strange transmission shift pattern are my biggest gripes. I just read a posting here that Toyota is working on a fix for the auto trans.

I hope that Toyota makes things right... if so, I'll continue to be a long time customer. Otherwise, the forthcoming Silverado could be my next truck!

 

Video of 2007_DC_Bearing - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Seems like this is pretty conclusive evidence about the origin of the shudder.

 

Video of 2007_DC_Bearing - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Seems like this is pretty conclusive evidence about the origin of the shudder.

Yea still tells me its from the axle traveling forward to the carrier bearing.

 

Mike keep us posted on what Toyota does about that, I have the same thing and would like to get it taken care of while I am under warranty.

 

Yea still tells me its from the axle traveling forward to the carrier bearing.

So you feel that the vibration of the carrier bearing is caused by the weakness in the rear springs?? causing the pinion angle to change resuling in binding and thus a vibration???

 

Has anyone tried the Toytec Rear Axle Degree Shims? $20 seem to good to be true, but cheap enough to be worth a try!

 

Video of 2007_DC_Bearing - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Seems like this is pretty conclusive evidence about the origin of the shudder.

That's just ridiculous. Look at that thing. It's completely sloppy. No wonder 1-piece driveshafts cure the vibration/shudder problem.

 

That's just ridiculous. Look at that thing. It's completely sloppy. No wonder 1-piece driveshafts cure the vibration/shudder problem.

You'll be trading off for another problem, a vibration at about 55mph.

 

Video of 2007_DC_Bearing - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Seems like this is pretty conclusive evidence about the origin of the shudder.

I suspect that the reason for that shudder is the cv joints are out of Phase.

The TW one piece shaft can fix this issue but like it has been mentioned before, there may be other vibrations that develop.

If you look at the older Toyota trucks they use the two piece drive shaft, BUT! They have a double cardin joint by the carrier bearing.

Hopefully if enough complaints come in Toyota will correct this problem.

Good Luck!

 

NOT the new Michelin tires, NOT the rims. what a nightmare!!!!!!!
waiting to hear back from toyota because this sucks bigtime. I can handle having to get a new tailgate, springs, heater blower, and now the wiper motor is making a high pitch noise but the transmission? torque converter? driveshaft? vibrating is just too much to take! :headbang: