8:29 pm
The truck has a vibration that steadily seems to be getting worse. It happens consistently between 40 and 45 mph (41.2387 to be exact). It's in the actual body of the truck meaning I don't really feel it in the steering wheel but the body of the truck vibrates. I'm pretty well convinced that it's not the tires since it was there with the old tires but it is worse now. I'm pretty well convinced that it's not the lift since it was there before the lift - again, it's worse now.
Are the drivelines the next place to look? Worn out U-joints? When I crawl under there and wiggle the drivelines I don't really see any play in the u-joints. Should I just replace the u joints? I don't see anywhere on the drivelines that looks like a weight may be missing. I hate spending money to replace parts without something more than a hunch. I've though about setting up a camera under there so I can watch them to see if they vibrate but I'm not really sure how well that would work.
I know my brake rotors are warped since I feel that when I brake, is it possible that they are so warped they they act like an unbalanced tire? Seems like they would have to be in terrible shape for something like that.
What's next? Drive it until I can't bear it anymore and by then I should see something that obviously needs to be fixed? Don't drive at 41.2387 mph? Buy a new truck?
8:42 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline How about wheel bearings? Rear wheel bearings. How do you feel the vibration? Or do you here the vibration? Side note- can you here vibration or is that a rattle?
Um...what?
8:51 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline Steering box play maybe? Years ago my Dad had a '76 Datsun pickup. It would get a vibration pretty regularly that felt like it came from the body. I'm pretty sure we adjusted the steering box when it would start up again.
9:28 pm
"finder_87" wrote: How about wheel bearings? Rear wheel bearings. How do you feel the vibration? Or do you here the vibration? Side note- can you here vibration or is that a rattle?
How do you test the bearings aside from pulling things apart? I don't think I really hear a vibration other than things rattling around in the cab but I'll listen more closely on the way home.
"FAM" wrote: Steering box play maybe? Years ago my Dad had a '76 Datsun pickup. It would get a vibration pretty regularly that felt like it came from the body. I'm pretty sure we adjusted the steering box when it would start up again.
Weird. I don't feel any play during normal steering but I'll see what I can wiggle around in that area.
11:27 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline If you jack up the rear axle and grab ahold of the tire when it's off the ground and shake it. If there's any play it will be the wheel bearings. I had to replace wheel bearings on my Toyota almost once a year running 38s.
Um...what?
1:18 am
Try this site http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f8/v ... ndex2.html
Souded like your problem, maybe.
2:00 am
"rick-rock" wrote: Try this site http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f8/v ... ndex2.html
Souded like your problem, maybe.
That's one of the reasons I was leaning toward u-joints. Just don't want to spend money on them when I can't feel anything wrong with them when I wiggle them. Maybe I'll pull the front driveline and see if it still vibrates.
2:02 am
Also...no real noise when it vibrates other than stuff moving around. I'll have it on a lift sooner rather than later so I'll give the tires a good wiggle.
2:43 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Can you do your DL u-joints in your garage for $20 bucks each and a vise? Maybe its just some easy maintenance?
When I was using DL of stockton they were $20 a joint, replaced. I just brought it in (calling ahead) and they did it while I waited.
4:05 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Gremlins
I used to wheel a lot. . .
5:45 am
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline I hope it's not related to those weights we removed from the frame (per instructions) when installing the rocker rails. 😯
5:42 pm
August 28, 2011
Offline sounds like drive line
make sure you undue one end before you check it
and dont try to spin while its on vehicle
move side to side and up and down
easy fix
and while you have it out replace them both
if one is ok throw it in a box for a trail spare
6:25 pm
"JohnDF" wrote: Gremlins
I'm pretty sure I've never fed them after midnight so I should be cool.
"kevheb" wrote: I hope it's not related to those weights we removed from the frame (per instructions) when installing the rocker rails. 😯
It was definitely there before the lift/sliders/bumper. Just not as bad. I had assumed it was the tires and didn't worry about it since I was getting new tires. Then it didn't get better. 🙁
"Rayzor" wrote:
make sure you undue one end before you check it
I tried to move it up and down but didn't undo one end. I figured I'd be able to feel it still attached...not true???
6:35 pm
August 28, 2011
Offline if one end is going it will vibrate under load
you said it does it around 40 mph can u put that much torque with just your hands on it
i seperate at one end that way i can check each end unless its really bad the good end will hold it solid if its attached
and if its seperated you can usually tell which cups have lost the needle bearings
7:48 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline I know what you're problem is, and the solution is simple! TOYOTA!!! 
8:56 pm
August 28, 2011
Offline "BKGM Jeepers" wrote: I know what you're problem is, and the solution is simple! TOYOTA!!!
thats just mean
9:00 pm
"Rayzor" wrote: [quote="BKGM Jeepers"]I know what you're problem is, and the solution is simple! TOYOTA!!!
thats just mean
Thought about that. They're just so dang expensive. Even with this plus the money I've spent on the pile of other issues I couldn't have bought a similarly equipped Toyota. At some point it has got to stop though...
11:48 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Sorry Keane, I didn't mean to poke you with a stick. I was just joking.
My Tacoma ran fine and was cheap becuase it had 120K miles on it when I bought it (2 years old).
My tundra wasn't cheap, though it had 28K miles on it when I bought it.
5:17 am
"BKGM Jeepers" wrote: Sorry Keane, I didn't mean to poke you with a stick. I was just joking.
You're going to have to work harder than that to poke me! I've been around for 8ish years and for a while was the only one that wheeled in something other than a Jeep!
5:58 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Good point!
6:07 pm
Anybody got an opinion on u joint brands? I doubt CTM makes one for my application and I can't imagine them being necessary. I just want something that will last. Spicer? Napa? Does it really matter? I've read the Nissan joints fail because they aren't greaseable and dry out so I figured I'd get some that are. Anything else matter?
Also...Fred...steering seems tight.
7:08 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline I use the napa gold u-joints in my DL's. They are greasable which I think is the most important part.
3:47 am
So I swapped out all 4 joints today. I'd say it's 90% better but I also found a spot on the front driveline that clearly had a weight on it at one point. I figure I'll have it rebalanced and at that point I should be good.
I also dropped the gas tank and fixed the "fuel level sensor." Been a while since I had a gas gauge. 😀
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