Driveline vibration/hum help

diverscale

diverscale

Member
I need some kind of help here

I have a deep vibration happening mostly from 65 MPH to 75 MPH. The vibration is the most audible/strong at 73 MPH, then tapers off to be about inaudible and can't be felt anymore over 80 MPH. Vibration can be felt in the body and be heard. If feels and sound a bit like a subwoofer rumble, just not as loud as a subwoofer fortunately. Before someone mentions it, I have ruled out wheel bearings or tires if you read below:

- Problem both in 2X4 and 4X4.

- Can't be felt or heard below a certain speed, which is approx. 55-60 MPH.

- Seems to disappear above 80 MPH.

- Has a mild spike of vibration at around 65 MPH then tapers down, but comes back to be the strongest at 73-74 MPH

* I have tried replacing the driveshaft (bought a used driveshaft): problem still there.

* I have tried re-clocking the slip yoke 90 degree, and I -THINK- the problem was worse but I am not 100% sure.

* I have tried going to work and back on 4X4 with the rear driveshaft removed, and the vibration/drone was gone. I have tried every speed and this clearly ''solves'' the problem.

Now, I guess that pinpoints the rear portion of the driveline, and I don't know squat about this. I know that those bearings in the rear driveshaft are so much a PITA that some people go all-in and replace the entire differential instead of doing the bearings.

Anybody else got that same exact problem and can chime-in? Or any driveline expert, that would be appreciated :)
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
I have the same problem at the same speeds and figured it was the driveshaft outer sleeve separating from the inner, caused by the rubber between them deteriorating but haven't gotten around to tackling it yet. I've read a few threads on here about it though.
 
4R#3 said:
What happens at 90?
Click to expand...

Everything over 75-80 and the issue goes away enough that I can't feel it or hear it anymore. I went to 100 MPH to test and it does not come back at higher speeds.

Twisted Sid said:
I have the same problem at the same speeds and figured it was the driveshaft outer sleeve separating from the inner, caused by the rubber between them deteriorating but haven't gotten around to tackling it yet. I've read a few threads on here about it though.
Click to expand...

The two driveshaft I have tried (my original one and the used one I bought) all caused the strongest vibration at the same speed (73-74 MPH), but I am not sure if both were causing the same -amount- of vibrations though. I vaguely concluded that the driveshaft was not the culprit.
 
Last edited:
weird. I have the same thing have had my truck for 1 month bone stock '99 Sport 4x4 with 237k on the clock. I figured it was just tired suspension bushing, or my tires. theyre shot and most likely out of balance! have you tried that?
 
same exact thing

same subwooferish sound, same speed, but added vibration on acceleration.... not solved

no slop/play/noise from any bearings involved

history: i have 105ish on mine, previous owner used to tow a boat, dunked the rear end and sucked in water, had it rebuilt.

I am in the process of figuring the same issue out.
1)changed transmission dampener on cross brace (5 speed). result: not much change

2)had u-joints replaced...even carden. not sure how good the guys were, but it was an old school driveshaft place. result: not much change

3)had driveshaft balanced. I watched and saw it on balancer, but it was a 'straight' balance.

One dude pointed out the slip joint had a touch of play in it, and it wasn't lubed very well. It kind of makes sense that it might be an issue, so it is possible that has something to do with it. Its an angled torque on the slip joint all of the time. so a little extra play in there might be the reason for the vibration.....just guessing at this point.

Used driveshaft is next on the list when I get to it.
 
I have the exact same issue as everyone else here. I used to think I just couldn't get my tires to balance. But I know that's not the issue. Mine starts around 65 and continues to get worse up to around 80. I changed my rear u joint with a duralast part, which was probably a mistake. It seemed to have helped a bit, at least for a while. Now it's worse than ever. At this point I'm just thinking of spending the money on a tom wood drive shaft.

Has anyone considered the rear main bearing?
 
feta said:
same subwooferish sound, same speed, but added vibration on acceleration.... not solved
Click to expand...

Mine does it much, much more when torque is applied to the driveline too. Under deceleration, only a slight vibration can be felt.

I just ordered a u-joint rebuilt kit from toyota. These things aren't cheap at 130$ canadian
 
I was chasing a very similar issue in my 2nd gen Tacoma recently. I replaced the axle-end u-joint and all the vibrations went away. This is the 2nd Taco I have seen this resolve the same way.

YMMV
 
Coward said:
I had the same issue. I replaced the rear u-joint and that solved it for me.
Click to expand...

tx_shooter said:
I was chasing a very similar issue in my 2nd gen Tacoma recently. I replaced the axle-end u-joint and all the vibrations went away. This is the 2nd Taco I have seen this resolve the same way.

YMMV
Click to expand...

Thanks a whole freaking lot to you guys who mentionned the rear u-joint!

I just replaced it and it fixed my issue, even if the old one was tight and had no play.

I'm glad as hell and drinking a beer to you guys.
 
diverscale said:
Thanks a whole freaking lot to you guys who mentionned the rear u-joint!

I just replaced it and it fixed my issue, even if the old one was tight and had no play.

I'm glad as hell and drinking a beer to you guys.
Click to expand...

"Had no play" to our hands and us pushing/pulling on it is significantly different than have a few thousandths of play at 30-50 mph. After comparing the cost of a u joint to the other possible answers I will always start with the u joint. I am glad it fixed it for you.

Cheers!
 
tx_shooter said:
"Had no play" to our hands and us pushing/pulling on it is significantly different than have a few thousandths of play at 30-50 mph. After comparing the cost of a u joint to the other possible answers I will always start with the u joint. I am glad it fixed it for you.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Thanks guys.. I know this is an old thread but replacing my rear u joint was the solution to this exact same problem with my 1998 4-Runner. Started with balancing my drive shaft which actually made the vibration worse. I was getting a terrible low frequency hum between 70-80 mph that went away at higher and lower speeds.

After reading the posts on this forum I thought I'd give replacing the u joints a try.

The drive shaft technician i took it to said the u joints were good and scoffed at the proposition that I was asking him to replace a perfectly good u joint. He thought I was wasting money chasing the wrong cause of the problem.

Much to my delight he was wrong and y'all were right!

Thanks again. Even in 2021 you can find helpful people and hints for fixing old vehicles!
 
savajoe said:
Thanks guys.. I know this is an old thread but replacing my rear u joint was the solution to this exact same problem with my 1998 4-Runner. Started with balancing my drive shaft which actually made the vibration worse. I was getting a terrible low frequency hum between 70-80 mph that went away at higher and lower speeds.

After reading the posts on this forum I thought I'd give replacing the u joints a try.

The drive shaft technician i took it to said the u joints were good and scoffed at the proposition that I was asking him to replace a perfectly good u joint. He thought I was wasting money chasing the wrong cause of the problem.

Much to my delight he was wrong and y'all were right!

Thanks again. Even in 2021 you can find helpful people and hints for fixing old vehicles!
Click to expand...

Glad you were able to find some useful info and it worked out for you.
 
I need to add this to my list. Same exact thing at ~67-77mph. It makes me speed, 80+ cause it's too annoying to sit there and vibrate lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Driveline question: UJoint/DC/Tranfer Output?
Replies
10
Views
1K
BuffaloBass
B
T
vibration/pulling to left side when braking
Replies
16
Views
4K
19963.4lsr5
1
chickenman9102
4LO Light Flashing, Loss of Speed After Heavy Pull – Transfer Case Actuator Stuck?
Replies
3
Views
2K
rdruss
rdruss
gh25_
vibrations above 60 MPH
2
Replies
23
Views
11K
gh25_
gh25_
S
Replacing 4x4 v8 rear transfercase cover - seals needed?
Replies
0
Views
1K
super_kev
S

Members online

Total: 304 (members: 4, guests: 300)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,066
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top