Can you please tell me where you ordered your driveshaft online. I have checked around here and only one place can "rebuild them" and online I have found alot of places that don't look very legit and only one that looks normal but I can't find anything on the reputation. Sorry I'm looking for my husband who knows the problem and I'm just the "finder"...Thank you for the pictures and all of the information so far.... :

Does the new joint have greasable zerk fittings? Did not see any in the pictures.

I dont see how a driveshaft could go bad? I would have just replaced the u-joints, I did my rear one and i think it was about $10 and took about 30min. no way would I have paid someone 200 or order a new driveshaft.

There are quite a few places you can find online that will build a new drive shaft. Most notable is Tom Woods... Very well known with a stellar reputation.

Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Tom Woods Custom Drive Shafts Custom Driveshafts Specialist

No experience with this company...

Toyota 4x4 Truck driveshaft, constant velocity repair kit, u-joints, flanges, h-yokes, front driveshafts

Your best bet is to search locally. I had one built locally that set me back $450. Cheaper than new OE, and serviceable.

If you have a 4wd, I can get the part numbers from my receipt for the one I had built. Ive been able to find most all of the individual parts at various places online.

OP stated his drive shaft was bent. Thread is over 1 year old.

Thanks a million for a great post!

Popping in to say thanks so much for posting this. Super helpful!

Jmildoc;

I have 150,000 on my 2005 SR5 V6 DS. Agree that changing the DS was probably not necessary unless the Ujoing failed completely and the DS flew off.

I've never greased my UJ and am afraid to do it after 15 years of ignoring them.

My DS is solid.No movement at all.

When our 3rd gen gets up in age/miles and you get the vibration of death. The OEM DS has a rubber gasket in the top half that goes brittle. It is not serviceable nor can you try to balance it. It is a wrap. REPLACE.

I am having vibration issues and I thought swapping the drive shaft was the answer but nope. Still having issues. I’m new so I can post a new thread yet but I’ll start a new thread when I’ve made it off probation.

I went threw a driveline balance issue with my 4runner. I have a few questions[

1. are you sure its a driveline issue sometimes front suspension and tire balance can feel like driveline.

2. have you tried the drive line in different positions on the differential yoke.

3. is the driveline a original driveline with a rubber liner

One thing I have found to help and Isolate the problem is to put your 4runner drive wheels on jack stands and chock wheels as needed if 4wd it is best to put all wheels on jack stands. When this is done start the 4runner put trans in D slowly bring speed up to vibration speed. If you tires are balanced and you feel a vibration then it is the drive line. You can trying to move the drive line in each spot on the yoke.

HEY!!! thanks alot very helpful,i was having vibrations on de-celeration and my u-joints were fine...so i decided to change out my drive-shaft like you did and it fixed it...oh yeah my vibrations started happening right after a 3"lift and most noticeable after reaching a speed of 50 mph. Everyone was saying pinion angle but all it was was the drive shaft..

3rd gen 4runner 2wd have a rubber coupling in the driveshaft that can go out of balance you can get it retubed or buy a new one but they do "go bad"