Vibrations/shaking while accelerating only at 30-35mph

Hey guys, brand new Tundra lover in the house I just got my first one recently and I want to learn how to work on these things (0 mechanic experience whatsoever, learning from internets). It's an 05 work truck, kinda beat up. It definitely has multiple issues but firstly I'm trying to figure out this vibrating because it feels the most serious.


In case it helps, all the issues I've been able to visually identify are... a very small rip in the outer cv axle boot, the center support bearing has a wee bit of play and seems to have actually been redone recently, driver side front lower control arm forward bushing is pretty toast, and also my front differential seems to have a little leak going on. Pray for me? lmao

 

Rotate the tires (fronts to rears). Does it continue?

At that specific speed range, the first two things that come to mind are brakes and tires. Either cupped tires, out-of-balance tires, or similar. Brakes-wise, poorly adjust rears, or rear drums being out of round can cause all kinds of weirdness. You wouldn't believe it, but it's happened to many.

Granted, it could be the carrier bearing for sure. It could even be that the driveshaft is out of balance. But I'd stick with the cheaper stuff first.

How's the rust on your frame? What cab type, engine, is it 2WD or 4WD? Mileage? All of these details in the box where you have "Beat up Tundra" will help others help you, you can edit/update those here, under "Vehicle One-Line Description": https://www.tundras.com/account/personal-details

(You may also be able to edit your "Custom Title" to not be 'New Member' anymore, and maybe add your "Location" if you so desire, since a rust-belt location introduces you to a whole mess of other potential issues...)

 

Thank you for the suggestions! Rust isn't bad at all luckily. There is so much to mention I don't want to flood people with unimportant information, but I did forget to say my front driverside tire has intense wear on the inside of the tire, as if it is out of camber (all studded winter tires btw, still looking for summer tires) Bearing getting replaced asap, I am almost positive it is going out. I do notice another slower shake that feels tire related while going about 30+ and doesn't stop at any speed. The shaking/vibration I'm most worried about feels way tighter, and I can hear my dashboard rattling. Thanks again for your suggestion I may focus more on getting new tires. Is it a bad idea to grab some coopers from walmart? Since I'm kinda low on cash it's either that or keep searching for used ones

 

Don't get new tires w/o an alignment. And I mean, honestly, if your local Craigslist is anything like mine, you might find a full set of used OEM wheels with good 50%+ tread tires, or a set of wheels you can buy and swap the same-size tires off of, from another Toyota vehicle. Try this:

• Go to your local craigslist home page
• Under the "For Sale" section, click on "Wheels + Tires"
• Copy/paste this exact phrase into the search box: toyota (rims|wheels)
• Sort the results by "Newest" and see what's there.
• Go back to the local craigslist home page
• Under the "For Sale" section, click on "Auto Parts"
• Copy/paste that same phrase into the window, search, sort by "Newest"
• The latter is a better way to find OEM take-offs from wrecks...

I have a full set of OEM 17" on my CL right now, sitting for about 2-3 weeks, good tires, $500 (bet I could get 'em for $400). But honestly, just swapping the out-of-balance tire to to front/rear could lessen the shake, if so, you know that's the issue.

Anyway...

Sounds like you need to get the truck aligned before or immediately after getting tires. And yeah, I can see rotating potentially helping.

Wheel bearings going out could cause vibration, but usually you'll notice a WUB WUB WUB WUB WUB sound that increases or decreases to match speed to go along with it. Sometimes they'll also squeak/squeal intermittently or constantly, or sound like constant rubbing.

4WD has driveline zerks, people often forget to grease every 3-5k miles, causing a number of issues related to vibration and sometimes a THUD when stopping abruptly or accelerating from a dead stop. The slip yoke zerk is one that's specifically problematic, but it's also not a simple "pump with grease and done" zerk. If you have a grease gun with NLGI 2 grease (I like

$13 Valvoline VV985 Valvoline Moly-Fortified Gray Full Synthetic Grease 14.1 OZ Cartridge

Valvoline VV985), LMK, I'll give info on where to grease and how to hit the slip yoke right. 5mins could make a world of difference.

 

Here's a good tire example. If I drove about 1h45 round trip, I could have four 50% treat Michelins in OEM 265/65/17 size for $250, then probably sell the wheels for $150:

https://athensga.craigslist.org/pts/d/franklin-springs-toyota-tacoma-wheels/7523793477.html

 

You will find this forum has a wealth of very helpful ideas & knowledgeable people. It might also cost you extra $$ with all the suggestions you’ll see & read about for upgrades & modifications.

 

When hunting down vibration on a vehicle with multiple driveline issues, you just have to fix everything one issue at a time. You have about four things going on that could cause vibration so just start with whatever you can afford.

The low speed nature of your problem points me towards U joints but it all needs to be done one way or another.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Aerindel that does seem to be true, I think I'll be going for the bushing first because I'd think it might keep my alignment from being consistent? Then align -> swap tires -> driveshaft components

I did plan on checking my u joints considering it looks like there's a newer center support bearing and already has a small amount of play, making me think something nearby is bad and wearing the bearing out.

Ordering parts and trying some work asap

 

Definitely replace any front suspension bushings that are blown out before alignment