Shuddering on Acceleration from Stop

2007 Tacoma TRD 4x4, with automatic transmission and 162+ miles.

I've read several threads with similar conditions, but wanted to outline my particular issues. This recently started as a condition in which I feel a pretty severe shudder/vibration when accelerating from the stopped position. I don't have to be accelerating hard for this condition to occur. It somewhat levels out within several seconds. Above 40-MPH or so, it seems fine. Most recently, I now have squeak coming from somewhere underneath, only while moving slightly forward and backward, moving while idling only in gear. I don't know if it's a byproduct of the shudder/vibration issue or something totally different.

In reading some previous posts, it was mentioned to test the condition while being in 4x4 mode. I tried that and it drastically reduces the amount of shudder/vibration from a stopped position, while accelerating.

Any help would be appreciated. I'm not a techie type, so doing anything on my own related to this is a stretch on my abilities. From what I've read, it could be any combination of u-joints, cv joint, carrier bearing, center support bearing and axle itself.

Again, thanks for whatever feedback you can give to me.


Thanks.

 

All of those are possibilities.
How often have you greased the u-joints?

 

Could also be the torque converter

 

all the driveline stuff is easy enough to check for play, if all that seems tight and right could be the torque converter

 

id start by pulling the driveshaft and checking the ujoints for play. The noise at low speeds kind of points to these as the culprit. Is it a rotational squeaking that you're getting at low speeds? bad universals can also cause weird driveline vibes like you mentioned..

 

Thanks everyone. Looks like I have some work to have looked at. Unless a dealer lubes that stuff as part of a normal service, I suspect it's never been lubed.

 

Anything I can easily do to eliminate or confirm a torque converter issue?

 

Well no actually, nothing easy for the torque converter.

Start with the easy stuff first ( Universal Joints ). These are the most likely culprit anyway as it is a 2007 and only dealer serviced ( they never grease the drive shaft ). I would place my money on a universal joint.

If you do find that one is bad, do yourself a favor and replace them all at the same time. If one is done the others are not far behind.

3 universal joints on the PreRunner.
5 universal joints on the 4X4.

 

How often should I be greasing the ujoints?

 

Every time you change the oil is my recommendation. Every 5K miles.

 

Sounds exactly like the carrier bearing. I believe the stock play allowance is 1/4". I lived with it for a while. Even if you replace the carrier bearing, it will come back eventually. The best option is to replace it with a 1 piece driveshaft with a double cardan joint (about $600). If you go with a new carrier bearing, its about $70. Id also check u joints since you mentioned that you never greased them, but those are pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things.

Is your truck lifted?

 

check the u-joints as mentioned

 

Dealer doesn't lube the U-joints during normal service. You would have to pay extra for it. And the carrier bearing has no grease fitting, so it's on-condition replacement.

 

Thanks again all. No lift, no mods. Stock from the dealer lit 12-13 years ago.

 

My truck is a manual, however it did what you are describing. Turns out, my intake and especially the throttle body was dirty....

Cleaned it all out, problem solved

Even if that's not your problem, it wouldn't hurt to clean out the whole intake anyway

 

Thanks, but I can guarantee this isn't the issue. It's definitely in the drivetrain. I do appreciate the reply and suggestion.

 

U-joints ... do all while you have it out. You’ll know which one is bad as soon as you remove it.

 

After you have changed out the CB (cause it wont hurt to do this) and greased everything down there and you still have the shudder
(as you will). Find a good local transmission shop. Not a chain store. Find by word of mouth.
Ask them to determine about the torque converter, as that is what this sounds like.

 

Change the transmission fluid to Maxlife. Try lube guard platinum or red bottle additive to the transmission. People had said it fixed the shutter issue.

 

I had a similar low speed shudder. No squeaks.

Checked the 5 U-joints, all were tight, but very very very dry. Got busy with my grease gun to pump in about 5-8 strokes for each joint before I saw any purging. Consumed about a 1/2 mini-tube (3 oz) of grease. I used a lithium base EP grease with Moly additive.

The shudder disappeared. Hopefully, I got to the joints before any serious damage. Time will tell.

Also at 109 kmiles, replacing U-joints would not be a big surprise either.

These will get a squirt at each oil change.