Mysterious Vibes

Hello,

Purchased a used 2016 Tacoma earlier this year. Did not notice the vibe I will be describing until after purchasing (did not notice it during test drive). However, I have a rear vibe that occurs most noticeably between 54-58/59 Miles an hour. Some days it will be so noticeable that not only do you feel it, you can also see it (side mirror can see the bed bounce). I was told that it was a tire that was out of round and had a second tire that also had excessive road force. Fast forward a few months (about three months ago) I saw a nice set of used Toyota Alloy Wheels with the factory Firestone Destinations. Thinking this issue was definitely the tires, I went ahead and purchased. The issue is still present. The kicker is that it does not happen all the time (approximately 75% of the time). For instance, yesterday I drove about 20 miles and for the first half of the trip it was extremely noticeable at 55 (put on cruise control). Nearing my destination, I once again cruised at 55 and it was almost not present. Leaving and driving back home, the vibration was still not very noticeable. Stopped at Autozone to grab something and left the truck running as my wife stayed in the truck. Drove to the next errand and it was once again noticeable. What the hell gives????

The truck is all stock. No lift and no change to anything else.

Do not really feel it in the steering wheel. The vibe is in the seat/floor and when its really bad the bed shakes. I was hoping it was just a balance issue but this has been present with different wheels and tires and comes and goes.

First time I informed Toyota (first set of steel wheels and tires) they said its the tires causing the issue. Stated they checked everything over and it appears in good working order (I use the term "checked everything" loosely).

 

You mention you've noticed it with different tires and wheels but didn't specifically mention having the wheels balanced. Did you have them balanced at any point?

 

check ujoint/carrier bearing.

 

The first set I had road force balanced. One tire was bad and the other had excessive road force. Replaced the two tires and still present (could have gotten two shit tires again which i guess is unlikely but not impossible). Tires were very cheap as it was a lease and they threw the cheapest tires on it before resell. The Destinations however, I have not had them re balanced. The seller stated they rode nice and smooth. I guess my next step is to re balance these new tires now and see what they say.

 

Are you sure it’s not the Torque converter kicking it because that thing does have a buzzy vibration

 

I am not sure, but it's extremely annoying. To the point that if its the time of the day that it wants to Vibe, I will not drive between the problematic speeds.

 

Anyone else have similar issues?

 

Mine has the same exact vibration at the same speed range. Two weeks, two days old, all stock and around 400 miles on odometer. It seems like a resonance frequency that builds if held at the same steady speed. It can actually numb my hand... dealer is 65 miles away so, I need time to get there.

 

Keep me posted. Do you feel it in the seat/floor or just the steering wheel? Mine is mostly in the seat. I am taking my truck to have the tires rebalanced again at a different shop. If that does not fix it I’ll be going back to the dealer.

 

Some in the floor and gas pedal nothing that I noticed in the seat.

 

I have a vibe in my brand new 2019, happens at various speeds and is cyclic in intensity. It did it on the stock Toyo tires, and continues to do it on the Falken Wildpeaks I just had mounted the other day. I don't feel it in the steering wheel like an unbalanced tire, it shakes the whole truck. I haven't really looked into troubleshooting it yet, but I suspect it's something to do with rear pinion angle/carrier bearing/u-joints. Yes, a trip to the dealer is in my future.
You could feel something similar in the '16 OR I had pervious to this truck, but it was very faint and not annoying at all. Lol, that one had a very apparent rear diff whine though.

 

Sounds very similar to mine. Having the tires rebalanced by another shop next week to completely rule that out. Let me know what the dealership says as that will be my next stop. This shake does not happen all the time and when it does it drives me nuts.

 

^^^^ This!

 

Will do.

I'll be asking for a ride-along, as I don't want them to dismiss this out of hand due to the tire swap etc.

 

Had my first appointment, I was told by the service manager before they drove my truck that this vibration is a symptom in these trucks and the auto transmission seeking the correct gear. The fix of balancing the rear tires did absolutely nothing... it was Friday afternoon and I had to get on the interstate to go home and reach 50mph so, I just continued home. I have now run the truck in sport mode and various gears with and without the ECT Power mode and it is still present in all and especially, noticeable under power and at a steady speed. I will call to reschedule so, what should I say ? I specifically said, I feel it in the gas pedal and steering wheel a pulsating vibration. It feels like a defective wheel bearing where the faster you go the worse the vibration.

 

I had mine rebalanced yesterday. Mechanic whom is a friend said each wheel was out an ounce. Smoothed it out but the shutter/shimmy is still there. Going to move the tire to the front and see if it fixes the rear shutter. If not... will probably look at axels and the carrier bearing. I would imagine this isn’t common so in that case I would ask to drive another truck to see if it’s present. I may just trade in this 16 for a new one if I cannot figure it out as it’s wearing me to the bone!

good luck and let me know what happens.

 

Again, have them check the carrier bearing and U joints. There have been CB’s bolted up crooked.

 

Yep. This is next on the list.

 

Thank you, will do.