Undefeated Front End Vibration

I have a stock 2016 Pro that a few months back developed a front end pulsating vibration at any speed above 55 MPH, gets slightly more intense going at highway speeds. It can be heard, and felt in the floorboards and gas pedal. It's a constant cyclical vibration, think as you are approaching an intersection with rumble strips ("mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm"). Comes and goes consistently every other 1 second to 2 seconds and also lasts 1-2 seconds. No vibration or shake in the steering wheel. Can also be felt in passenger seat floorboard slightly. Starts around 55MPH and is constant whether accelerating or coasting.

It's been road force balanced, aligned three times after different repairs, drivers side wheel bearing replaced, needle bearing replaced, drivers side axle replaced at local Toyota dealer recommendation. Coil springs had to be replaced about 8 months ago, well before this started. Balance/alignment done first, then wheel bearing. After that didn't fix, master tech looked at it, said drivers side strut one adj. higher than passenger side. I've never touched it so unsure how long its been like that. He recommended needle bearing replacement, said front drivers axle was chewed up going into front diff so replace that as well, adj. strut height. Called me and said it was done and test drive fixed it. Picked it up and it's slightly better, but still there.

Before they did the needle bearing/axle, and after the wheel bearing didn't fix, they were debating whether to go the needle bearing route or replace entire front diff. So I know next they are going to say replace the front diff and previously ballparked $2500-3000.

Looking for any advice on where to go from here, already spent $1600 at this point.

 

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-8536125-toyota-8-clamshell-bushing-eliminates-needle-bearing.html

I'd have one of these installed at a 4x4 shop first...

 

What kind of tires are you running, out of curiosity?

 

The big question is does it go away if you are in 4 wheel drive

 

Very true, try this before ecgs bushing

 

Cooper Discoverer AT3s - 265s

 

I did see a lot of threads on that ECGS bushing and it seems like the way to go, but now that they just put a new needle bearing in, and it’s still there, would it apply at the moment?

 

could the driveshaft be out of balance or a u-joint acting up?

 

After doing a lot of reading after I picked it up today and before I posted, u-joints are on the top of the list to try to check myself this weekend. I wonder if the Toyota dealer would likely be able to diagnose an out of balance driveshaft or would I need a driveline shop for that.

 

I would check your tires for any uneven wear and also make sure your wheels are balanced correctly. Try cross rotating tires and see if that helps.

 

If it goes away in 4 wheel drive it’s the needle bearing…

 

double check all driveline bolts as well

 

He said it's at speeds over 55, and assuming that's on the freeway.

 

Never know, easy way to rule out the needle bearing per TSB worked for me. No harm in trying it in a straight line at 55

 

Update: got underneath this afternoon and took a look at the u joints. Nothing obvious, but did grease everything. Test drive after showed the grease seemed to help and reduce it by 50% or so to the point where at 65-70MPH had to concentrate to feel it at first. But nonetheless still there and after 25 miles or so of highway driving still had it consistently…

 

Did you try putting it into 4 wheel drive to see if it went away?

 

Yep, still there.

 

What made them do one wheel bearing and not the other? Have you checked all of your fluids to make sure nothing has ran low and damaged bearings in the differentials and such? This is a odd one.

 

I agree to maybe have the drive shafts inspected.

 

In the notes before they did the wheel bearing it had “tech was able to decrease vibration when making sharp left handed turn”. I had not experienced that before taking it. Although it also had “no noise from differential” there as well after saying they had been using a stethoscope to check around, and after the wheel bearing didn’t fix the problem, their next rec. was the needle bearing or whole front diff replacement. Just seems like they’re guessing to me now which is why I wanted to post here…especially because I think they’re next rec. is going to be to replace the front diff.

 

I fully understand and see how you could be frustrated, a 2016 shouldn’t be needing all of that I’m my eyes and just sucks when you have to turn on the parts cannon to chase a issue. Just seemed VERY similar to the damn needle bearing tsb. When I had mine done they stated poor machining of differential on my invoice I think. But that’s a very expensive gamble

 

Agreed it's an expensive gamble. At this point I have a test drive with the Toyota service manager and tech on Wednesday morning. I'm considering pushing that back and seeing about making an appointment with a driveline shop to have it looked over. If that doesn't unveil anything, really going to have to think about whether a $3,000 gamble on replacing the front diff at the Toyota dealer is worth it.

 

how long have you been chasing this issue? would it be worth reaching out to yota corp before shelling out 3 grand?

 

Over a month now. I thought about that but figured it would probably be a great deal of time with little to no chance of getting anything worthwhile out of it. If you or anyone else thinks that could be worth the time then maybe I will.

 

If you had anything documented that this happened in the first 3 to 4 years, I’d say yes, it if not, it may be a real hard battle to win.

 

@Tmiesowicz @TrailSpecial22 (sorry for the tag) and anyone else, new info I noticed after another 30 or so miles of test driving today on some winding roads where I could get up to 60-65 around turns…

Without a doubt, when going around a curve at 60MPH:
- turning to the right, the pulsating vibration becomes much, much more close together/more frequent and slightly more intense.
- turning to the left also at speed, the vibration almost completely goes away. Still there but barely…coming out of the turn and returning to straight, vibration returns.

This information leads me back to a drivers side wheel bearing. They already replaced the front drivers side, maybe this is enough to go rear next? Would greatly appreciate any input.

What still leaves me in some doubt is the noise clearly seems to be coming from the front end. Possibly traveling up and manifesting there falsely?

 

If the vibration increases while turning right, and decreases while turning left, it would actually make more sense for it to be a passenger side wheel bearing. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but that is my understanding. I went through this with both front hub bearings on my 4th gen.

 

Easy way to check is put it on a hoist and get a stethoscope on the bearing housing.

if it’s a bearing it will be quite clear with one to go after

 

I don't know how it's done, but this is one I would run by the Car Care Nut. He seems to know a lot about obscure Toyota fixes...does anyone know how to contact him?

Edit: found this: https://tccnautomotive.com/