Driveshaft Wobble

[southerncruiser62]

I have seen mention in a post about 2008 LC having a driveshaft wobble. I have a 2008 with 67K miles and just recently installed a OME lift with new upper controls arms. Tires are new 275/70 BFG AT2's. I have also greased the DS per factory specs.

I just left NTB today after a rebalance/rotation and re-alignment. Still have the vibration and to me it seems to be coming from front driveshaft. I have removed driveshafts in the past and locked center diff but wanted to see what all was entailed in the mention of the "2008 driveshaft wobble" I have heard some have it and some don't. I am familiar with the TSB on the vibration at 1500-2200 RPMS but I get mine typically below that and at highway speeds (65-80). I saw that a few of the tundras had similar issues as well from 2007-2009.

Any information before I take time to pull the shaft(s) would be great. TIA

 

[silverhorse]

I don't know about that specific issue to the tundra and 200 but I had a similar issue with my 80 and it was the front u-joint. pulling the front shaft will save you time in the end, i would go ahead and pull it and see... Did the driveshaft angle change with that particular lift?

also, with the vibration being at that high speed makes me think a wheel/tire balance issue...

 

[linuxgod]

What wheels do you run? If they are aftermarket are they hub-centric? If not, do you use hub spacers?

 

[southerncruiser62]

OEM wheels

 

[linuxgod]

If it seems to come from the front and you want to rule out an unbalanced tire you could rotate the front tires to the rear and see if the vibration moves.

 

[southerncruiser62]

That was done yesterday

 

[THE LIRA]

I have a wobble on my 2008 LC as well. It seems like it is coming from the rear. Did the vibration move after the rotation?

 

[TexAZ]

first let me congratulate you on finding an 08 with 67K miles on it.
another member here tried to get a dyno run by pulling the front driveshaft and locking the T-case and it threw codes and went into limp mode. apparently ABS computer got confused....

did you have the vibration prior to the lift? CV joints/boots good? any marks on the driveshaft, could it be out of balance?

 

[southerncruiser62]

Thanks actually purchased the truck a year ago with 46k on the odometer.

Yes vibration/wobble was there before and that was on OEM tires.

Pre-lift as well

 

[isthatalexus]

Very old thread, I'm aware. However, I'd love to know if you ever got resolution. I'm in a new-to-me 2008 and have launch wobble.

 

[Moby]

That doesn't sound like a driveshaft issue but it's not so hard to determine if the driveshaft is balanced. Find a good driveline shop and take them the driveshaft. They can spin balance it and check it over for other issues. There are other things that go into driveshaft vibration than balancing, but you can at least rule out balance and wear issues.

Of course if you don't have access to a good driveline shop this won't work I'm fortunate to have a great one nearby.

 

[CharlieS]

@Moby is this a situation where you'd want to make some match marks so you reinstall in the same orientation, or is that not important? If so, would a paint pen do the job, or would you mark it with something more permanent (chisel mark?)?

 

[RET2]

Very old thread, I'm aware. However, I'd love to know if you ever got resolution. I'm in a new-to-me 2008 and have launch wobble.

What pray tell is a Launch Wobble? Any recent changes to vehicle? I'd advise getting a tech to ride along to further diagnose issue. Virtually everyone on this forum wants to help but details are vague at best.

 

[Moby]

@Moby is this a situation where you'd want to make some match marks so you reinstall in the same orientation, or is that not important? If so, would a paint pen do the job, or would you mark it with something more permanent (chisel mark?)?

I'm certainly not an expert but when I have removed and reinstalled with no other changes I have paint penned the flange to flange alignment on both ends and the position of the spline mating. Certainly the latter for balancing. But that keeps everything the same and I knew that I hadn't inadvertently introduced a problem. Is it strictly necessary?

When I had the driveshafts in my FJ-62 modified when changing from the A440 to the H55 the shop used a long plastic strap to keep everything aligned as they had built and balanced it. I slapped them back in keeping the alignment of the shaft that the shop set up without concern for the flange to flange alignment. So the flanges were aligned to each other via the splines but not necessarily aligned the same to the t-case and diff flanges. I figured paint would not survive the rebuilt process. I thought about marking them with a punch but didn't bother.

They were so smooth after this work. It was kind of the last piece in the puzzle. Prior to this I completely gutted, rebuilt and upgraded everything in the front axle. All of a sudden I realized that engaging 4WD High was not supposed to have rumbling and vibration associated with it. The previous owner, or someone, had obviously been into the front axle. But the bearings and races were hammered, knuckles were leaking and they reinstall it with any preload shims under the steering arms (hence the hammered bearings). New bearings and races, Amsoil synthetic grease in the knuckles, Longfields installed, 2* caster shims under the leaf springs and the correct amount of shims using the SST. It still wasn't perfect but the driveshaft work addressed the last bit. Smooth in all modes and tracked perfectly on the highway at 75 even on heavily grooved roads.

 

[isthatalexus]

What pray tell is a Launch Wobble? Any recent changes to vehicle? I'd advise getting a tech to ride along to further diagnose issue. Virtually everyone on this forum wants to help but details are vague at best.

Hey @RET2. Good questions, both. My issue (and truck setup) appeared to be very similar to the one OP described, so I did not go deep on details.

Launch wobble is my short hand for a shimmy in what feels like the front-end, which causes 1/4" to 1/2" quick left-right movement of the steering wheel when going from full stop to ~45 mph. This issue existed but was much less pronounced before I went from 285/75/17 with 1.5" spacers to 285/70/17 without spacers. At first I thought it was just the brand new tread hunting a little. I run TRD RW rims. (NB: I downsized the rubber and pulled the spacers to replicate the known-good configuration @gaijin runs.)

Concurrently, I think I have an intermediate steering shaft issue (not yet diagnosed by a professional), which causes clackety-clacktey noise and significant road feedback when on the dirt. Recent front-end refresh includes new LCAs, tie-rods, steering rack, firewall steering shaft boot, and a ton of rubber and bushings in the same area.

New tires, balanced, twice aligned, and recently checked for top-bottom and front-back wiggle on the wheels. Since this is an older truck with a known history of hard wheeling, I might be in the throws of the 'you fix one thing, you find two others' cycle. Taking truck to SDHQ next week for a Dx date.

Please holler if unclear or if you'd like more details, and thank you for reading!

 

[gaijin]

(NB: I downsized the rubber and pulled the spacers to replicate the known-good configuration @gaijin runs.)

Just in case anyone is not familiar with Toyota's recommendation for this configuration, here's a link to the Toyota info sheet: Toyota Installation Sheet for 17" TRD Alloy Wheels

TLDR; Toyota recommends LT285/70R17 tires @40psi on the 17" TRD RW wheels for Tundra, Sequoia and Land Cruiser.

HTH

 

[Bendcruiser]

I had this issue on my 91 - 80 series, drove me nuts! I had the shaft rebalanced never could get rid of it. Had a master (Shadetree) mechanic puzzled by the whole thing? His Son had the same vehicle so he switched driveshafts and my vibration went away? He marked the shafts so the splines lined up on both installs. It remained a mystery that never got solved.

 

[RET2]

Hey @RET2. Good questions, both. My issue (and truck setup) appeared to be very similar to the one OP described, so I did not go deep on details.

Launch wobble is my short hand for a shimmy in what feels like the front-end, which causes 1/4" to 1/2" quick left-right movement of the steering wheel when going from full stop to ~45 mph. This issue existed but was much less pronounced before I went from 285/75/17 with 1.5" spacers to 285/70/17 without spacers. At first I thought it was just the brand new tread hunting a little. I run TRD RW rims. (NB: I downsized the rubber and pulled the spacers to replicate the known-good configuration @gaijin runs.)

Concurrently, I think I have an intermediate steering shaft issue (not yet diagnosed by a professional), which causes clackety-clacktey noise and significant road feedback when on the dirt. Recent front-end refresh includes new LCAs, tie-rods, steering rack, firewall steering shaft boot, and a ton of rubber and bushings in the same area.

New tires, balanced, twice aligned, and recently checked for top-bottom and front-back wiggle on the wheels. Since this is an older truck with a known history of hard wheeling, I might be in the throws of the 'you fix one thing, you find two others' cycle. Taking truck to SDHQ next week for a Dx date.

Please holler if unclear or if you'd like more details, and thank you for reading!

WAG but have you checked brake calipers to see if one is hanging up a bit? You have a mystery for sure.

 

[isthatalexus]

WAG but have you checked brake calipers to see if one is hanging up a bit? You have a mystery for sure.

Adding this to the check list! t/y