FJ62 vibration

[bluefj62]

After realizing the vast knowledge of the members of this site, I have to ask questions about a problem that I have lived with for 9 years and 60K miles on my wife's '89 FJ62...vibration. Starting at about 60 mph there is a vibration that shakes through the entire vehicle. It gets pretty bad around 70-75 and seems like it subsides about 80. Of course it is worst at the speed we drive most. Have always kept wheels and tires balanced. Had driveshaft checked and it was true and balanced. The vibration almost feels mechanical. You can feather the throttle at speed and it changes the resonance of the vibration. Vehicle does seem to have alot of play when shifted from forward to reverse...thunk! Any ideas from the pros?

 

[esh]

Did they check your rear pinion? Does it happen coasting and on the power, or just when you're on the power?

Where does the vibration manifest itself? All over? Through the steering wheel? Front or rear?

Have you had new tires/wheels on since you've had it?

 

[cruiser guy]

sometimes if your steering is shot or somethings wrong with it you get the death wobble

 

[cruiser88]

Check the pinion for slop.
Do this with the rear jacked up and the tranny/transfer in nuetral. Also check the U-joints......and where the drivshaft comes out of the transfer........the output

 

[motoloco]

D-shafts may be true and balanced but I bet the joints are bad. You have not fixed this problem for 60k miles?

 

[Michael Hanson]

Engine mounts? Mike

 

[cruiser88]

If that was the case he would be having trouble with the shifter...right....at least I did.

Engine mounts? Mike

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Definitely check your U-Joints! I had the EXACT same problem and it was fixed by replacing the U-joints with OEM and balancing the shaft.

TK

 

[CSA]

You might consider the possibility of torque converter chatter causing the vibrations you are experiencing. You might try driving the truck in third gear (no torque converter lock up) between approximately 52 mph and 60 mph and see if it still vibrates.

 

[doctorjj]

Like AKcruiserfreak, I'd bet on it being something in the driveshaft. Get some new Toyota OEM u-joints and have them installed and have the shaft rebalanced. Also, make sure you don't let it slip apart between the driveshaft shop and when you get it home and installed. It has to be in phase and once it's balanced, even spinning it 180, even though it's still in phase, it may lose it's balance.

 

[62LostInMn]

Me Too!

Bluefj62-
I've had my 88 FJ62 about a month now and I have the exact same issue. Vibration starts about 58-60 mph and is there up through 75. I haven't been faster than that so far. I did a neutral coast from 75 on down through the speed range and it is still there - going away below 60. I think that eliminates the TC. Have you solved the problem?
Jim

 

[TX650L]

I have the same problem with my FJ60. Mine starts around 55. I have replaced the rear u-joint and balanced the drive shaft and it's still there...

 

[fjsixtytwo]

After realizing the vast knowledge of the members of this site, I have to ask questions about a problem that I have lived with for 9 years and 60K miles on my wife's '89 FJ62...vibration. Starting at about 60 mph there is a vibration that shakes through the entire vehicle. It gets pretty bad around 70-75 and seems like it subsides about 80. Of course it is worst at the speed we drive most. Have always kept wheels and tires balanced. Had driveshaft checked and it was true and balanced. The vibration almost feels mechanical. You can feather the throttle at speed and it changes the resonance of the vibration. Vehicle does seem to have alot of play when shifted from forward to reverse...thunk! Any ideas from the pros?

70-75, 80mph?!

I dont think my 62's ever gone that fast!

 

[Michael Hanson]

My 62s easily go 80,but one has the same problem.I figured it was the output shaft but have not had time to check it yet since it stays intown. Mike

 

[FJ40_Nut]

Ditto for the most part. Mine, an '88 with 180K, does it and it's gotten worse the last 800 miles. So, I'm going for the OEM u-joint replacement and rebalancing of the drive shaft. I measured my slop at the rear pinion and it was almost 3/8 of an inch in rotation. This was a rear wheel jacked up, tranny in neutral, and hand turning the driveshaft until the rear wheel moved.

Thanks for the thread.

Oh...my wife's 89 is smooth as silk with 190K go figure.

 

[HBFJ62]

My FJ62 Vibration was from the output shaft

I had the same vibration issue (60-65 mph)- and it took me about 80K miles and 3 tranny rebuilds to get it solved. Turned out to be the output shaft on the trasmission was wearing and the first two tranny repairs were not so good.

Had the tranny rebuilt the first time at 140K including a new output shaft- never did think it was done quite right but the shop was highly recommended. Then another tranny rebuild at 180K with the transfer case done at the same time with the TLC kit. Stupid me - I took it to the same place and again wasn't happy but it worked and I couldn't get them to redo it because was told the tranny and transfer were just fine.

Had transmission/vibration issues again at 220K and took it to Goldenwest Transmission in Westminster, CA. They rebuilt the tranny and the transfer case and told me there were a couple of plates missing from the previous job(s). GW did a great job. Best it ever drove and with zero of the old vibration.

 

[FJ40_Nut]

Progress

Well, I discovered some play on the passenger side wheel bearing. It is now snugged up and the front axle vibration is fixed. I have also removed the drive shaft to discover that the yoke on the pumpkin and the outpus flance were a little loose. The driveshaft itself will get new u-joints and a balancing this week. So far all of this needed some attention. I guess that's what happens when you buy a used cruiser and actually use it. I just hoop there's nothing with the tranny.

 

[IrollwithTojo]

70-75, 80mph?!

I dont think my 62's ever gone that fast!

x2! Mine has gone 72 downhill once....

-Carl