Vibration remains after ECGS bearing swap - SOLVED!

About two weeks after I purchased my 2023 Tacoma 4x4 I installed a 2 inch front spacer lift and a helper leaf spring in the rear. (100miles). While I had it apart I did the ECGS Bearing swap.

I still get the harmonic vibration in the steering wheel and pedals around 45 miles an hour. If I switch it to four-wheel-drive high it instantly goes away. I then installed the differential drop kit which did nothing to help it. I also installed shims on the rear axle and the problem still is present. I took it back apart to make sure the axle was seated and I'm still having the issues.

I am very frustrated with this. I contacted ECGS to see if they had any thoughts. They said to get an alignment and make sure my tires were balanced. I can't imagine it has anything to do with those because switching to 4 x 4 cures it.

Has anyone else had vibrations remain after swapping the bearing?


I did the exact same set up on my 2018 Tacoma. Everything worked perfectly with no vibrations and no differential drop kit.

Any Help would be greatly appreciated.


SOLVED!
short answer: Low front differential oil was the issue.


Long answer:

Ok. Its fixed.
So I did the lift and the ECGS bushing at the same time. (no diff drop) ~150miles on the odometer. About 200 miles later I noticed a drip on the floor. So, I ordered the new seal and it took another week or so to come in. Another couple hundred miles and an occasional drip. During this time I noticed the pulsing vibration. I then figured when I put it on my lift to do the seal I'd do the rear shims and try the drop kit I already had from the 2018 Tacoma. Two more weeks for the shims to finally get here and another drip. I think you get where I'm going. I installed the shims and replaced the cv seal. There was some cleanup on the drip pan but not too bad. The vibration is still there and the leak is all good. I put it on the lift tonight to remove the drop kit and top off the diff with oil which I didn't do before because it barely dripped. 2/3 of a quart..eek... Anyways I took it out for a drive and its perfect again. I'll admit stupidity stuff to help others. I figured maybe a 5 oz of gear oil not 20ish.



I'm pretty happy its good to go.
Thanks all.

 

you need an alignment anyway after the lift.

 

Resonance can be mysterious. Switching to 4hi could possibly change the resonate frequently of a vibration caused by an out of balance wheel/tire.

Wheel balance is always my first thought when I have a vibration at a particular speed.

 

If it were tires it would have happened before the lift and bearing. It was the same feel on my 2018 until I changed the bearing.

 

Sounds like it's not a bushing vibe. When mine went bad after lifting the truck, I got the vibe from 20-60mph. You can feel it and hear it. It's a cyclical vibe. Vibe..vibe...vibe...vibe. I felt it in the floor and gas pedal.

 

Yes. it comes and goes about every two seconds. Hit 4wd and it goes away.
Were you able to get yours's resolved?
Thanks

 

Throw abt 200lbs in bed and reply back. 2 inch should not need a diff drop but again every truck can be different. What degree if any shim under leafs? 1 degree per inch of lift is a good start. Measuring driveline angles before and after lift would have helped. Double check rear built torques again

 

Rear u bolt torques

 

Maybe it's the front driver's side wheel bearing starting to go or something?

 

Sounds like driveline angle to me.

 

Retorque everything. Double and triple check specs from multiple sources.
My 16 faintly vibed on fr.d.s since day 1.
There are wedges already under stock leaf pack.
Thinking of adding a larger one because that vibe has gotten more than faint since the lift.
I haven't had any issues with it, just one of those things that bug ya, like an off center steering wheel.
I also recently did a 2.5/1.5"

 

Ok. Its fixed.
So I did the lift and the ECGS bushing at the same time. (no diff drop) ~150miles on the odometer. About 200 miles later I noticed a drip on the floor. So, I ordered the new seal and it took another week or so to come in. Another couple hundred miles and an occasional drip. During this time I noticed the pulsing vibration. I then figured when I put it on my lift to do the seal I'd do the rear shims and try the drop kit I already had from the 2018 Tacoma. Two more weeks for the shims to finally get here and another drip. I think you get where I'm going. I installed the shims and replaced the cv seal. There was some cleanup on the drip pan but not too bad. The vibration is still there and the leak is all good. I put it on the lift tonight to remove the drop kit and top off the diff with oil which I didn't do because it barely dripped. 2/3 of a quart..eek... Anyways I took it out for a drive and its perfect again. I'll admit stupidity stuff to help others. I figured maybe a 5 oz of gear oil not 20ish.

I'm pretty happy its good to go.
Thanks all.

 

I’m not following all that. What was the root cause?

 

Low front diff oil? Dunno either

 

What I am reading is that the OP tinkered with a whole bunch of stuff and the issue went away magically. That’s often my work day story.

 

I've had the exact same issue after the ECGS swap. Off/on vibration at 45-50. Thought maybe it was a wheel bearing or axle. I bought a "noise detector" off Amazon and clipped the microphones to different places on the truck. This morning, I drove with the microphone clipped to the front diff, under where the bearing is. I could hear it before 45mph. Put it into 4H and went away! Puzzled if I put the ECGS wrong or something or if maybe it was bad somehow. I will check the fluid level, but I am positive I topped it off after the swap. Just curious if your issue ever returned or if everything is still good. Thank you.