96 Lc Vibration

[DMGINC21]

I have been having a vibration problem for the past 2 months. I have taken it to a local toyota dealership for the replacement of the front wheel bearings twice and it still occurs. The noise/vibration feels like I am riding a "rumble strip" and usually lasts a couple of seconds and recently as long as 25-30 seconds. The vibration occurs at high (50+ mph) and low (25-30 mph) speeds and feels like the tire rubbing something inside the wheel well. When it occurs the vehicle does not push or pull and goes away when I turn the steering wheel back and forth. Most occurences happen when I hit bumps in the road or make left hand turns.

If anyone has eperience with the problem described, your input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[e9999]

welcome!
you may want to introduce yourself, btw

presumably since you had the bearings changed, you don't feel any play in the wheel when you jack the axle up and try to wiggle the wheel, right?

 

[DMGINC21]

Sorry about not introducing myself, I'm new to this and also at work.

My name is Joe and I'm from Winchester, VA. and I own a unmodified 1996 TLC.

Yes, the wheel off the ground movement check was done and everything appears to be fine. I can't find anything that could possibly be rubbing either.


Thanks for your reply,
Joe

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Joe, Welcome to the forum. Its really nice to see someone close by. I'm located in marshall, just a little east of you and as you can see from the sig line....i'm big into cruisers. I dd an 80 and just resolved this probelm. turns out it was a loose pinion flange i think. cost like 100 to fix. i would start there.

 

[DMGINC21]

Thanks Cruiserhead05 for the reply and info, I drive by Marshall everyday on my way to work in Vint Hill.

Joe

 

[IdahoDoug]

Highest probability is that your spindle bushing is dry. This is the bronze bushing that locates the axle stub as the axle stub comes through the spindle. Only way to grease this is to pull the spindle and hand apply grease.

A pinion flange would be unaffected by the steering wheel movement, so I'd respectfully disagree there. Steering would cause axle movement changes that impact the spindle bushing. And the wheel bearing repack did not require removing the spindle, but would need to be done again as the bearings come off to get the spindle off.



DougM

 

[njfzj80]

Any luck solving this problem?

i'm heading into a shop tomorrow to have this same problem diagnosed. I've been trying to figure out what is causing this vibration for a few weeks now. Instead of being a typical rookie and posting a thread, I searched for some possible solutions and performed some PM that I thought would remedy the situation (new diff oil, new trans oil, drive shaft lube, adjust throttle cable,etc.) No dice. I'd like to head to the shop tomorrow with a couple of places to look in mind. My symptoms are exactly as you desribed...feels like i'm driving on washboards for 15-30 seconds, then stops. It's happened three times over the past month, with no discernable pattern. I'm heading on a road trip in 3 weeks and I'd like to have this figured out.

Here's some more info:

-previous owner towed a small boat...never touched the rear wheel bearings
-recently on the highway I noticed my third row seats vibrating (loud enough I heard it over the Back Street Boy...I mean AC/DC)
-truck seems to be shifting poorly (clunk on acceleration in low rpm's)
-loud squeak coming from the rear when in reverse
-waiting for some free time to do the front axle rebuild

Other then these minor inconveniences the truck has been running great. So much so that my girlfriend commented on how much nicer it road than when I first picked it up.

Any ideas you guys may have would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[hobbes]

DMGINC - Do a search on Doug's suggestion. First thing I thought of as well.

NJ - you are going to have to provide more details for anyone to provide much advice. Sounds like a couple issues.

 

[njfzj80]

What issues are you thinking of?

 

[wileetoyote]

NJ

this is also an innocent attempt at a Thread Hijack! I'd suggest you post your issues in a new thread so the two different subjects (the original post) don't get too mixed up and intermingled.

That said, your driveline 'clunk' could be dry DS yokes. I believe its been well documented here so happy searching. Just make sure you don't try to add grease via the zirk. that won't work and could do more harm than good. gotta take it apart and grease by hand.

WET

 

[njfzj80]

WET...I may have added grease via the zirk ( I followed the grease points per the FSM). I'm going to have to take it apart anyway I guess.

 

[Darwood]

WET...I may have added grease via the zirk ( I followed the grease points per the FSM). I'm going to have to take it apart anyway I guess.

If you just barely greased the spline zerk you should be ok. Now if you pumped it full of grease you'll have a problem. Unlike most driveshafts, the only place for grease to go in these driveshafts is out the splines.

 

[crowt]

First post. Up here in Alberta Canada looking for some help. Was there ever a resolution for this issue? I have the same issue in my truck 97 FZJ80 72k miles. I just had the full-front axle service done by a cruiser mech. and he inspected and lubbed the spindle bushing. Vibration is exactly as described by DMGINC21. very intermittent, seems to be caused by a rough patch of road, vibe starts off slowly, and then builds to a full-fledged shaking of the vehicle just like rumble strips, felt vibe mostly in the rear, and I can feel it in my seat. No steering wheel vibration, no pulling to either side. If I stop and reverse slowly, there is a thump....thump...thump with each revolution of the wheel/driveshaft (not sure which) coming from the rear. At all other times reverse is perfectly normal (silent).

I visually inspected the all U-joints and drive shafts did the wheel bearing test on each wheel - all seems fine. Also of note is that, if I drive when the problem is not occuring and I pull up the park brake lever, I get a very similar vibration. I'm going to pull the park break drum apart this weekend and have a look.

please help