Vibration at 65 mph to 80

[Deathpunch82]

I have 2002 4runner that at 65 mph to 80 mph starts to hum/vibrate. It stays the same whether I accelerate or coast. I have replaced both u-joints and have new tires, and it is still there. Any ideas what could be the cause? :shrug:

 

[GrampsT4R]

Could be the road you're driving on. Could need to rebalance your tires. Could be worn bushings in the front suspension. I would start with those.

 

[2k1]

a few ideas for what it could be:

Tires need to be balanced
end link and/or sway bar bushings
drive shaft could need balancing or greasing

unfortunately, there are a lot of things it could need, the cheapest and easiest things to check are the first 2

you can get poly sway bar and end link bushings and install those yourself for pretty cheap, should take vibes away if your bushings are worn out not too bad on the install expertise either, pretty straightforward

Energy Suspension 9.8105 Sway Bar End Link Grommets and Washers - 98105 Made by Energy Suspension
Energy Suspension 9.5156 Universal - Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings 3/4 in / 19mm Made by Energy Suspension
Energy Suspension 9.5161 Universal - Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings 1in / 25mm Made by Energy Suspension

and if your steering rack has some play in it, install this and it should get it nice and tight again:

Energy Suspension 8.10103 Steering Rack Bushings Made by Energy Suspension

all above are on order and looking forward to installing them, from user reviews will cut down significantly on vibration.

 

[Deathpunch82]

Could be the road you're driving on. Could need to rebalance your tires. Could be worn bushings in the front suspension. I would start with those.

It feels like its in the rear and its not a shimmy like unbalanced tires, its like a hum/drone through the whole vehicle. And you can feel it in the whole vehicle.

 

[Deathpunch82]

a few ideas for what it could be:

Tires need to be balanced
end link and/or sway bar bushings
drive shaft could need balancing or greasing

unfortunately, there are a lot of things it could need, the cheapest and easiest things to check are the first 2

you can get poly sway bar and end link bushings and install those yourself for pretty cheap, should take vibes away if your bushings are worn out not too bad on the install expertise either, pretty straightforward

Energy Suspension 9.8105 Sway Bar End Link Grommets and Washers - 98105 Made by Energy Suspension
Energy Suspension 9.5156 Universal - Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings 3/4 in / 19mm Made by Energy Suspension
Energy Suspension 9.5161 Universal - Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings 1in / 25mm Made by Energy Suspension

and if your steering rack has some play in it, install this and it should get it nice and tight again:

Energy Suspension 8.10103 Steering Rack Bushings Made by Energy Suspension

all above are on order and looking forward to installing them, from user reviews will cut down significantly on vibration.

It has had this vibration with the old and new tires, so I don't think its that. Also, it seem to be coming from the back of the vehicle.

 

[2k1]

without seeing it or too much knowledge on the subject or your particular issue, the bushings I linked for you are probably going to to be your friend...

if you think about it logically, a bushing is a cushion, you want less vibration, add better cushions wherever you can, sway bay and end link bushings could do the trick for you...

 

[RdRunNNeR]

I'm interested in this because I'm having a somewhat similar issue. Although I can feel mine at varying speeds slow and fast. I plan on greasing my driveshaft and components soon to see if it helps. I also recently got new tires thinking that was the issue but still have it, have rebalanced tires multiple times and rotated. My end links look fine and I don't have any play in the driveshaft, I doubt its a shot wheel bearing because its erratic and doesn't really make a noise like one... I've also pulled the wheel and drums and didn't see any leaking and checked for seized brake shoes. I've checked my ujoints and they look fine, the only other thing I can think of is the carrier bearings on the driveshaft. Shot rubber boots and/or carrier bearings could causes this but there would be play in the driveshaft which I do not have.... I'm stumped

 

[sawguy]

I had something similar awhile back and it turned out to be the rear diff pinion bearing.

 

[infamousRNR]

Same problem on my 99'

It feels like its in the rear and its not a shimmy like unbalanced tires, its like a hum/drone through the whole vehicle. And you can feel it in the whole vehicle.

I think it's a combination of worn out bushings and balancing and alignment..

Maybe try moving your front tires to the back

I replaced everything!!!!!! And still this dumb wobble. Moving from front to rear. Same MPH type thing too. Around 60-65 mph it would start. I would replace all bushings first since its the cheapest and best thing to do...

Those black stock 4runner bushings tend to be mush after 100k miles.

Please come back to this thread of you have any success with any of the suggested methods!

 

[Deathpunch82]

I had something similar awhile back and it turned out to be the rear diff pinion bearing.

That's one of the things I was considering too. About how much does that cost to fix?

 

[ToyOtis]

I had the same issue with my '02. A low pitched hum from the rear of the truck at speed. I had the rear u-joint replaced and the driveshaft balanced.

Tell us a little more about your "two replaced u-joints".

Did you do them or did a shop replace them?

The rear driveshaft has one rear u-joint and one double cardan joint.

 

[woodro]

Check wheel bearings , had a vibration after 55 mph and it ended up being a bad wheel bearing .

 

[02SE]

I had the same issue with my '02. A low pitched hum from the rear of the truck at speed. I had the rear u-joint replaced and the driveshaft balanced.

Tell us a little more about your "two replaced u-joints".

Did you do them or did a shop replace them?

The rear driveshaft has one rear u-joint and one double cardan joint.

That's true if it's a 4wd. If 2wd, it has a u-joint on each end of the driveshaft, and a slip-yoke at the transmission.

The described vibration does sound like it's related to the driveshaft. Either the driveshaft is out of balance, or if 2wd, I suspect the slip-yoke and transmission output shaft bushing might be worn.

 

[ToyOtis]

That's true if it's a 4wd. If 2wd, it has a u-joint on each end of the driveshaft, and a slip-yoke at the transmission.

The described vibration does sound like it's related to the driveshaft. Either the driveshaft is out of balance, or if 2wd, I suspect the slip-yoke and transmission output shaft bushing might be worn.

Good point! With no sig it was hard to tell. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Deathpunch82]

I had the same issue with my '02. A low pitched hum from the rear of the truck at speed. I had the rear u-joint replaced and the driveshaft balanced.

Tell us a little more about your "two replaced u-joints".

Did you do them or did a shop replace them?

The rear driveshaft has one rear u-joint and one double cardan joint.

I had the front and rear u-joints replaced by a shop, which helped a lot! But the vibration is still there. It's a 2wd, so no double cardan joint.

 

[02SE]

I had the front and rear u-joints replaced by a shop, which helped a lot! But the vibration is still there. It's a 2wd, so no double cardan joint.

Was it a driveline shop, or just a general repair shop?

I suspect it was a general repair shop, since such shops rarely have a driveshaft balancer.

If it was a driveline shop, I'd take it back so they can inspect and correct their work.

If it wasn't a driveline shop, I'd find a reputable one, and have them diagnose the problem.

There's really only three things it could be: improperly installed u-joints, an unbalanced driveshaft, worn slip-yoke and trans output shaft bushing. Or a combination of one or more of those issues.

 

[frank_socal]

similar issue with my 2000 4runner, 4x4, 5speed, SS1.2 lift. vibration starts around 60MPH. It does not feel like tires, It is more towards the rear.

 

[Deathpunch82]

Was it a driveline shop, or just a general repair shop?

I suspect it was a general repair shop, since such shops rarely have a driveshaft balancer.

If it was a driveline shop, I'd take it back so they can inspect and correct their work.

If it wasn't a driveline shop, I'd find a reputable one, and have them diagnose the problem.

There's really only three things it could be: improperly installed u-joints, an unbalanced driveshaft, worn slip-yoke and trans output shaft bushing. Or a combination of one or more of those issues.

What about rear pinion bearing? That's been mentioned a few times, and a few of my friends have said the same.

 

[02SE]

I was referring to the driveshaft itself. If the vibration is driveshaft related, which it most likely is, there are only a few things to check and correct which I already stated.

The pinion is part of the 3rd member. Certainly bearings in the 3rd member can wear out, and cause vibration. But more often than not, u-joints and slip-yoke and trans output bushings will wear out long before the bearings in the rear end.

It's easy to check the pinion bearings for excessive play, or roughness as the pinion turns. They should be checked out.

Hopefully the Mechanic that diagnosed and replaced the your u-joints, would take the time to rule out the 3rd member bearings.

But I've seen some shoddy work from so-called Mechanics, so the 3rd member should be checked to rule it out.

 

[ToyOtis]

Was it a driveline shop, or just a general repair shop?

I suspect it was a general repair shop, since such shops rarely have a driveshaft balancer.

If it was a driveline shop, I'd take it back so they can inspect and correct their work.

If it wasn't a driveline shop, I'd find a reputable one, and have them diagnose the problem.

There's really only three things it could be: improperly installed u-joints, an unbalanced driveshaft, worn slip-yoke and trans output shaft bushing. Or a combination of one or more of those issues.

Agreed.
When I was searching to find the source of my vibration I kept coming across the same answer, this hum/rumble seems to be a rear driveline issue. Almost always a bad rear u-joint or a driveline imbalance.

-Imbalance issues were typically solved by balancing the driveshaft by a driveline shop.(A couple exceptions were- a missing flange bolt/nut throwing off the balance, and I also remember one guy had the trans output shaft nut re-torqued)

-For the other posters with a similar problem, you really need to drop your driveshaft to check the u-joints. Don't just visually inspect them or just try to wiggle them. You could have a dry/seized cup that will only be obvious when the shaft is removed and the joint rotated in all directions.