Vibration on slow acceleration

[glove311]

I know there are a lot of threads about vibration when accelerating, but I can't seem to find any that sound similar to my issue.

I have a 2005 Limited with 145k miles and have just recently begun experiencing what I would call a light vibration, which I can feel in the steering wheel, when slowly accelerating. It feels as though it is coming from the front end, but I'm not positive. It occurs at around 30 to 35 MPH. It only lasts a few seconds if I keep accelerating. I do not feel the vibration at all if I quickly accelerate. There is no vibration when slowing down.

I have had the tires balanced, but the vibration is still present.

 

[DC runner]

v8 or v6? Could be a engine mount or other physical vibration elimination device. The v8 has a large counter weight and I would imagine if that was bad you would notice it.

The V6 will have a more noticeable engine vibration and if a mount or other isolation device (body mount) is bad you might be noticing it.

It could also be the tranny. At low speeds, the torque and engine vibration are resonating through the tranny?

Just a couple of suggestions.

 

[glove311]

It is a v6.

Would a bad engine mount be visible noticeable?

 

[DC runner]

Usually. Like I said, I am just spit balling. Your power steering system could be bad. I know that the power steering pump is under pressure and that you need the system the most the slower you go. You could be getting some feedback in the steering system from it.


If a mount were bad, then yea, sometimes you can see the engine "hop" in the bay. Other times, if it is just weak... then you can't see anything. If the engine is slightly out of balance.. you can feel but not see it.

I guess this is a time where you just have to start eliminating things.. you know. Does it get worse or go away in gear?? At acceleration or without? If it is vibrating and you crank the wheel, what does it do?

 

[MikeInNH]

DC is right...this is going to be very difficult to diagnose over the internet.

Could be motor mount...could even be tire out of round...

Power steering system is a good guess too.

 

[Sungod]

My internet diagnosis is bent wheel or bad tire. Both conditions can happen even with a good wheel balance.

 

[Waxhaw4runner]

Exact same problem

Your description s sounds exactly like what is happening to my '05 SR5 - started about a month ago and has gotten noticeably worse. As with you, it doesn't happen when I accelerate quickly.

I have a good friend that is a mechanic for a toyota dealer and he and a coworker determined that it is something that they haven't figured out how to repair and said out will require a new or rebuilt transmission. they said they've had a few of them doing the same thing in the past and tried to replace the torque converter but that didn't solve it. They had no other answers for me.

I'm desperate to find out what is the culprit and how to repair it.

Let me know if you come across any other answers, good luck

 

[jwild]

I too am now having similar symptoms... It only happens while accelerating, most often between 25-30mph. It seems to be coming from the passenger front. The only difference in mine is that I can't feel it so much through the steering wheel, mostly the whole front end. I had not noticed this at all until the day after a big rain and we were driving through a bunch of deep water, (sometimes at speed :surfer At no time during the drive did I feel / hear anything terrible happen, but starting the day after, this vibration is now a daily occurrence.

The vibration only lasts a few seconds and then stops. I will be trying to use my GoPro to film the suspension / engine bay components to see if i can determine what might be causing the problem.

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[Whitebeauty]

What about driveshaft bearings...aka u joints.

 

[riceandpho]

When waa the list time u grease up all the zerk fittings?

 

[jwild]

I just purchased the 4R in May 2012, so I haven't greased the zerks on the drive shafts yet. I'll try that this weekend. There's also no noise or clunk coming from the car, just a deep vibration. It feels as if I'm going over washboard for a few seconds even when the road is completely flat.

I looked at the drive shaft and there doesn't seem to be any missing balancing weights. I'll also check my tie-rods - but again the steering wheel doesn't shake at all.

I really want to get this figured out cause it's making me crazy :redbrick:

How would I tell if the motor mounts are bad - I assume visual inspection to look for cracks or deformity?

 

[NJshadow93]

Have you ever had the transmission serviced? If not, it may help to have it serviced and checked. It could be a transmission problem.

 

[jwild]

I have not had the transmission serviced since I purchased it. When I purchased it, with 51k miles, the service record at the dealer said they did a full transmission flush.

Other updates, I thought maybe a wheel weight was knocked off or something, but I just got new wheels / tires and the problem persists

Next step will be the driveline lube, and I'm going to try and get more footage of the wheels / driveline while driving with the GoPro. :shrug:

 

[boondoggle]

If you put it in 4WD does it still happen? What about 4LO? Does it still happen if the center diff is locked?

Does it get better or worse if you're turning left/right or no difference?

 

[jwild]

So 4WD Hi doesn't change anything - it still happens / feels the same. I haven't tried 4Lo at 35mph, so not sure then.. It seems to only happen when going straight, or at least I haven't been cornering too much at 30-35mph. Also if I accelerate quickly then it doesn't seem to do it at all.

I'm going to lube the zerks and go get an alignment and I'll report back.

PS: First forum post: I've been lurking for a long time and have had countless questions answered by searching! Thanks to everyone who contributes to this forum and makes it a great community. I hope to contribute what I learn along the way!

 

[jwild]

problem improved greatly!

Wanted to report back: So the new wheels, tires, and alignment did not fix the problem.

However, several days after greasing the zerk fittings on my drive shaft, and it seems like the problem has mostly gone away. I talked with an avid off-roader who works at the Firestone where I got my alignment and he confirmed that it was probably the drive shaft u joints or slip joints. He warned that if the bearings were already shot that the binding would continue. The rumble that I would feel up front was from the entire engine vibrating as the shaft would sort-of bind intermittently.

That being said, greasing did not work right away. It took a couple of days but it sure seems to be better / non-existent at this point so I'm happy for now.

 

[dcellman]

Vibration on slow de-acceleration at 30mph

Hi My 95 4R has the same problem but only a Vibration de-acceleration
at 34-29 mph if I give a little gas it goes away guess i just need to never slow down

Dcellman

 

[wolf4runner]

Wanted to report back: So the new wheels, tires, and alignment did not fix the problem.

However, several days after greasing the zerk fittings on my drive shaft, and it seems like the problem has mostly gone away. I talked with an avid off-roader who works at the Firestone where I got my alignment and he confirmed that it was probably the drive shaft u joints or slip joints. He warned that if the bearings were already shot that the binding would continue. The rumble that I would feel up front was from the entire engine vibrating as the shaft would sort-of bind intermittently.

That being said, greasing did not work right away. It took a couple of days but it sure seems to be better / non-existent at this point so I'm happy for now.

how about now?
I am experiencing the exact problem, only happens while accelerating, most often between 15-25mph.
when I was sitting on passenger seat, I could certainly feel the vibration under my feet.

 

[mrwinkle13]

are there anymore updates on this? I have the exact problem. wanting to know if greasing the zerks solves it.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

If you put it in 4WD does it still happen? What about 4LO? Does it still happen if the center diff is locked?

Does it get better or worse if you're turning left/right or no difference?

4WD wouldn't change anything, as it's an ADD system, so the Driveshaft continues to spin, but is disconnected from the differential.