vibration/shaking!

Joshv4runner

Joshv4runner

Member
Hey guys/gals I was driving home earlier from the gym and I heard this rumbling/vibration coming from the front end. It happens between 20-50 mph and gets louder. I get home and jack up the front end and check for excessive play by moving the tire up/down and left/right but hardly any play. I did notice that my driver side wheel was missing some balancing weights?
Within the last year I have replaced the following on the front end:
LBJs- OEM
LCA bushings-Whiteline bushings
UCA's- JBA
Steering rack- OEM
CV Axel's- Napa
Brakes/Rotors- Napa
Sway bar bushings- Energy Suspension
Sway bar end links- Overland Custom Design
I also replaced the rear axel seal's with all OEM stuff. Could this be my front wheel bearings that are bad or possible a u-joint?

What would cause this? TIA
 
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Joshv4runner said:
Hey guys/gals I was driving home earlier from the gym and I heard this rumbling/vibration coming from the front end. It happens between 20-50 mph and gets louder. I get home and jack up the front end and check for excessive play by moving the tire up/down and left/right but hardly any play. I did notice that my driver side wheel was missing some balancing weights?
Within the last year I have replaced the following on the front end:
LBJs- OEM
LCA bushings-Whiteline bushings
UCA's- JBA
Steering rack- OEM
CV Axel's- Napa
Brakes/Rotors- Napa
Sway bar bushings- Energy Suspension
Sway bar end links- Overland Custom Design
I also replaced the rear axel seal's with all OEM stuff. Could this be my front wheel bearings that are bad or possible a u-joint?

What would cause this? TIA
Click to expand...
If the noise increases with speed it is likely a bad wheel bearing. Does it change tone/volume if you turn in either direction?

EDIT: Skimmed too quickly first time. Like the others have said try balancing your wheels first if it looks like the missing weights are newly missing. If that doesn't fix it then I'd start looking at a bad wheel bearing as the suspect.
 
Last edited:
If it's apparent the weights have fallen off recently (like there's a clean spot where they once were or something) I would start there personally. Could be a wheel bearing but if it started abruptly I wouldn't hold my breath on it
 
The majority of front end vibrations I've dealt with had to do with the tires. My 4Runner doesn't wear the front tires very well and repeatedly goes out of balance and out of alignment. Because of this the wear pattern is poor and the tires are cupped by 40K miles, every time. Similar position, everything is new OEM stuff but keeps coming back.
 
Bad Luck said:
If the noise increases with speed it is likely a bad wheel bearing. Does it change tone/volume if you turn in either direction?

EDIT: Skimmed too quickly first time. Like the others have said try balancing your wheels first if it looks like the missing weights are newly missing. If that doesn't fix it then I'd start looking at a bad wheel bearing as the suspect.
Click to expand...

just went for a ride in my neighborhood and did not hear any noise, just could feel the vibration. Im going to take it to the tire shop tomorrow and the 2 front tires balanced again.

Will keep this updated.

Thank you!
 
gamefreakgc said:
The majority of front end vibrations I've dealt with had to do with the tires. My 4Runner doesn't wear the front tires very well and repeatedly goes out of balance and out of alignment. Because of this the wear pattern is poor and the tires are cupped by 40K miles, every time. Similar position, everything is new OEM stuff but keeps coming back.
Click to expand...

Going to get it fixed today on my lunch. Not sure how the weights fell off the tires...
 
Devbot said:
If it's apparent the weights have fallen off recently (like there's a clean spot where they once were or something) I would start there personally. Could be a wheel bearing but if it started abruptly I wouldn't hold my breath on it
Click to expand...

Man, im hoping its just the weights. Taking it to my local tire shop to get it fixed on my lunch.
 
UPDATE-

Got my tire my 2 front tires balanced since my front drivers side tire had some missing balancing weights missing. Well...that did not fix the vibration.

Drove slowly around my neighborhood and could hear a squeal at around 10-15mph. I suspect this is my rear u-joint.
 
Joshv4runner said:
UPDATE-

Got my tire my 2 front tires balanced since my front drivers side tire had some missing balancing weights missing. Well...that did not fix the vibration.

Drove slowly around my neighborhood and could hear a squeal at around 10-15mph. I suspect this is my rear u-joint.
Click to expand...
Does the vibration feel more in the floor/seat or in the steering wheel? You have a 4wd, correct?
 
Joshv4runner said:
Yes, the steering wheel. Stops shaking once i take my foot off the pedal.

2000 Limited 4WD/e-locker
Click to expand...
Hmmmm... If it was driveshaft I would suspect you'd feel it more in the seat than the steering wheel. But rear driveshaft is easy to confirm as your problem. Since you're 4wd you can remove the rear driveshaft completely and drive around with the transfer case in 4hi locked. It's essentially driving in front wheel drive and won't do any damage. If you decide to try this I would put it in 4hi locked before remove the rear driveshaft. If the vibration goes away then it's either the rear driveshaft or could possibly be the rear pinion bearing/flange. It's more likely to be the rear driveshaft than a problem with the rear axle.
 
If your getting vibes during high speeds and when you take your foot off the gas and the vibes disappear, 9 out of 10 it will be bad u-joints. Go under the truck and grab the shaft and shake it back and forth. If it moves, then u have a bad joint. Grab each end and not the middle to check the joints. My front u-joint was bad at the axle side and it shook like a mother. That’s in 2wd going 40mph.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
busmup808 said:
If your getting vibes during high speeds and when you take your foot off the gas and the vibes disappear, 9 out of 10 it will be bad u-joints. Go under the truck and grab the shaft and shake it back and forth. If it moves, then u have a bad joint. Grab each end and not the middle to check the joints. My front u-joint was bad at the axle side and it shook like a mother. That’s in 2wd going 40mph.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


How hard of job is it to change the u-joints at the Axle’s?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Sounds very similar to my issue I had with a seized u joint. It was a decent vibration at first then once it seized it was a good solid vibration.
 
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