Vibration after lift???

[Freb_mc]

As a little back story, a few months ago the rear end was rebuilt(was making loud growling before), just did a tundra brake swap and oem front lower ball joints a couple weeks ago. All along I have had a light vibration at hwy speed 65-70 mph. Assumed tires or usual for wear(225k miles) changed to a new/used set of wheels and tires. No difference. Same vibration.

Today I put in a 3 inch front and 2.5 rear spacer lift, diff drop, and 1.5 inch wheel spacers. As soon as I got the lift on, I took off to get my new tires. The alignment was off as expected but I headed down the road just a few miles.

As soon as I tried to get to hwy speed it had a horrible high paced vibration over 60mph. I figured the alignment was just that bad and got my new tires put on. Went down the road to get an alignment done, and I drove much better but still the vibration remains. I checked everything underneath, everything was tight, the front axles don't seem too bad of an angle. Next I tried to shake down the ujoints, seems fine. The shake is constant and worsens the faster you go over 60mph. Doesn't change with acceleration or deceleration, coasting or under load. Feels straight under the middle. Seems like a bearing vibration or ujoints if I had to guess. Any ideas? Has anyone else seen similar issues after a lift? I know it's hard or impossible to diagnose over the Internet, but if anyone has had a similar experience and can point me in a direction it would be greatly appreciated.

Besides, I really like the way it looks and don't want to put it back...

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[PWD4R]

I can tell you after my 3" lift I experienced no vibration so I don't think it's directly the lift.


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[Black798]

Start with the simple stuff. Try greasing all the u joints and slip joints. Especially the rear one because it is now sitting further extended due to the lift. While your under there make sure the flange bolts on the driveshafts are tight.

 

[averyislost]

Would it be possible to take the wheel spacers off with your current wheel/tire set up to see if that alleviates some of the vibration? I'm sure that's not your issue seeing as though you had vibrations prior to lift/spacers but those will certainly make it seem like the vibration is worse then before

 

[Freb_mc]

I wish it was, but now the tires are too big to clear without them. Maybe I can borrow the wheels off my father's 4runner and give it a shot tho. Recently greased everything, but I'll give it a go again. I'm figuring something is being exaggerated because of new angles. The slip is possibly an Avenue I hadn't considered...

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[jman11788]

Yes wheel spacers will magnify any problems you have with the truck. Make sure they are hub-centric by checking to see if there is a lip on them. Also get your tires road force balanced, makes a huge difference believe me.

 

[Freb_mc]

Ya I made sure when I ordered them and before installing. I think the tires are good. The problem was there with the old dueler revos and with the new nittos.

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[Joe Z]

Try jacking it up on all 4's put the vehicle in neutral with all brakes off (very important no strain is on the ujoint and they spin freely) and go underneath and push each U Joint up and down, left and right and see if any of them are different than the others in movement........ if that's fine slowly rotate the driveshafts and observe the u joint to see if it moves jumpy/grindy like...
The way you describe the problem as the same before the lift and after the lift and different tires and a good alignment i go with ujoints as the next step....
Also push up and down at the universal and TCase and spin the yokes.
Outside manually rotate all 4 tires and feel/listen for abnormalities
This is all free and it may save you a lot of money

I read your first post and as you did some of this stuff already but wasn't sure if you had the driveline freed up.
You could just jack up the back first then do the front......same difference

 

[PWD4R]

Try jacking it up on all 4's put the vehicle in neutral with all brakes off (very important no strain is on the ujoint and they spin freely) and go underneath and push each U Joint up and down, left and right and see if any of them are different than the others in movement........ if that's fine slowly rotate the driveshafts and observe the u joint to see if it moves jumpy/grindy like...

I think you mentioned great points, however, with the way I am thinking with minimum common sense, if this only arises at 60+ I guess I just can't logically conclude OP will notice much by any jump in the driveshaft. Of course all respect intended and I am openly admitting I don't have experience in this.. just my thought is all.



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[Joe Z]

If you have one of the cups on the u joint starting to go bad you may be able to feel with your hand as you spin the driveshaft using your palm to cup each one as to feel any unsmooth operation.
I'm really old school and found many doing this...
After that i would go to each wheel and follow the moving parts and hopefully find it....just do a lot of easy turning left and right and keep hunting..... check for metal particles in the bottom of the diff and tcase could also tell a story
He could always run it til it gets worse and maybe easier to find
I believe he said it stays there on the acceleration and decelleration so i still tend to lean towards ujoints....but doing in online like this is not perfect

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

What sizes tires do you have? That front end looks a little jacked. Also, 'looks" like some positive camber up front. What are your hub to fender measurements. Take a picture of your CV joints.

 

[Freb_mc]

I'll be switching wheels and checking ujoints today or tomorrow and I'll have to let you know how it goes. And sorry the pics are pre- alignment. It had a lot of camber, caster, and toe issues. It's much better now. Tires are 285/70r17.

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