Transmission shudder '15 5.7 in first gear

I just got this truck less than a week ago but I think I might be detecting a light shudder in first gear during acceleration. Like around 15-20 mph and say 1,500ish RPM. It's not bad at all but at 52k miles maybe it's just due for a flush and new tyranny fluid.

I'm tardy in getting the rig into get a rotate and balance and wanted to source the good minds here for some knowledge of any known issue before I ask them to specifically check it out.

Side note, what's the best granny flood (tranny fluid) to run? Thanks!

 

Never had any granny flood...lol

 

Ahhh autocorrect. You missed the "tyranny fluid" as well!

 

Is your vehicle lifted?

 

Yes, about a 3" suspension lift.

 

I've noticed this too but it was before my lift.

 

Sounds to me like it's time for a DAP tune...

 

Could it be your driveshaft angle? I’d try a cheap carrier bearing drop.

John

 

Doubt that could be the issue as leveling kits don't have the bearing drops

 

UPDATE

So I had the transmission serviced at the dealership about 2k miles ago and gave it a few months to see if it worked out the issues in the OP. Not so much, and I'd be curious to know what anyone might think the issue is. My plan is to take it back to the dealership and have them investigate the issue as I'm at about 54k miles and want this dealt with before the 60k power train warranty is up.

Off the line, I still feel a shudder mid first gear under normal acceleration conditions, dry pavement, etc. It feels like the rear tires are breaking traction if I were hammering the pedal. Then, most shifts into second is harder than any other gear shift across the spectrum. It's not a bang, but it's 2x the buttery shift I feel across the rest of the tranny.

Last, I was making a right hand turn in second gear yesterday and I decided to fully accelerate. It may have been due to a weak moment when I got cut off but that's a story for another time... When the truck shifted down into first during the turn, there was a quick slip and a sound similar to when the ABS engages. A crunch/grunt... Otherwise no changes since that happened.

I'm thinking I have something wrong with the transmission and hope to hell the folks at Toyota find something and deal with it under warranty. A cursory DuckDuckGo search produced no real persistent issue across the fleet.

Thank you, in advance!

 

UPDATE 2

After three visits to the dealership for this issue which was unable to be replicated, I'm now at 63k miles and guess what? Full slipping and grinding under moderately high acceleration in first gear at about 1,500rpm. Taking her back to the dealership with the same service rep and gearing up for a power train warranty battle.

Sound is coming from directly below the center console, possibly slightly behind it. It's a chattering sound that also comes with a loss of power. I jump off the accelerator pretty quick though so it's tough to really measure the loss of power.

This sucks. But, I'm glad it'll be fixed because it gave me pause in towing or really heading up the trail with a question hanging over my truck like this.

 

Since the issue has been documented while your truck was under warranty, they should fix it since you're not that far out of your warranty. and it's been an ongoing issue. They shouldn't give you much fuss. If they do call corporate and let them know what's going on.

 

I'm not trying to be funny, but try replicating the power loss grunting sound while you have traction control OFF. If I hit the gas in the middle of a turn I am guaranteed to break the rear end out and the nannies start doing all sorts of things including reducing power

 

with your truck being lifted, the shudder that you described in your initial post sounds like your carrier bearing. changing the drive shaft angles when lifting the rear can cause the carrier bearing to vibrate. eventually, that carrier bearing can become damaged and vibrate like crazy. have you taken a video of your driveline in motion?

here is an example of that drive line shudder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkIiTWDSKQ0


Also, it sounds like your traction control is very sensitive. when that kicks in, that can cause a lot of noise and power loss. with the lift, you may need to do the zero point calibration. just a thought.

it will be interesting to hear what the dealer says.

 

Damn I never knew that's what driveline shudder looks like! Appears doing that for not too long will cause wear on whatever it is holding all in place, it moved up and down a whole lot, wow!

 

UPDATE 3

It's in the shop early. I dropped it off tonight because I had to nurse it from the gym and din't want to chance going home first. Anything above granny-level torque it was slipping heavily and chattering (sounds like if you were running a power tool on a stripped screw head). We shall see what the Service Department tells me tomorrow.

I have not filmed my drive shaft but with subsequent loss of power with the chattering and it being right under the console it has to be the transmission slipping, IMHO.

Regarding traction control, I went out and drove it heavily in fresh snow and got it to break traction in 2WD and 4H and could never get the conditions replicated. It only occurs when first gear is under moderate torque.

 

People will tell you that a 3 inch lift doesn't need a carrier bearing drop and they're full of shit. Mine did exactly what yours is doing after my lift. Shop kept telling me I didn't need a drop. I went to Lowe's and bought a bunch of washers and added about 3/4 of an inch of carrier drop. Problem solved. I then bought a proper carrier bearing drop kit.

Edit to add, not every install will need one due to different kits and suspension tolerances. If you've got a lift and shudder, chances are the carrier bearing drop will fix it, and 3 bucks in washers and 5 minutes of your time can cofirm it.

 

I'm of this opinion also. makes a difference for a lot of guys on here...

 

Dealership says, "REAR DRIVESHAFT CENTER BEARING WORN AND SHAFT HITTING CROSSMEMBER ON ACCEL."

$1,500 (they say part is like $1,300 of that and the labor isn't much of a big deal.

I'm not familiar with a bearing drop kit. Should I buy a proper one and have that done all at once?

 

Do NOT let them replace anything without trying a carrier drop yourself. It's an easy fix, takes 5 minutes.
Under your truck, look up at your rear drive shaft, it has a joint in it that is bolted to the truck. That is the carrier bearing.
Take one bolt out, go to nearest hardware store using a different car and buy about 20 washers that the bolt will fit thru (you're doing to need about 1.5" of thickness total, 3/4" for each bolt).
Add about 3/4" inch worth of washers on each bolt in between the bearing bracket and the truck and torque it back down.
Go for a test drive. If it fixes it, order a proper carrier bearing drop kit.


I cannot stress this enough. I had what sounds like the same issue after slight lift/level kit. I took the truck back to the specialty shop that lifted it and to Toyota as well. They kept telling me the geometry was in spec and that it was normal axle rap from a lift. They were both wrong.

 

Here's what a carrier bearing drop installed looks like, one of these aluminum spacers on each side of the carrier bearing mount. It mostly smoothed out my truck with ~3" lift as well. I'm going to mount a go pro and see if it needs to be shifted around a little bit to make the driveshaft perfectly happy.

 

Alright, my dudes. I'll do what you recommend. I think I'll go ahead and get the drop kit anyway since I'd need it regardless. How do I figure out how much drop I need?

You guys dont have concerns about the bearing being trashed?

Many, many thanks.

 

For a 3/1 lift level, 3/4 of an inch should cut it.
I do not believe it is trashed, and I don't believe the shaft is hitting the cross member. That's a pretty damn significant failure to get the shaft to hit the cross member. In my opinion you'd be getting a significant amount of shudder and a whole lot of noise.

In my opinion they have no idea what's going on and are throwing parts at it.
At least this way you can test for yourself before forking over that kind of dough. Go get some washers and find out for yourself.

 

If it is trashed I think a replacement is only around $ 150 - $ 175

Let us know if the issue is resolved if you get the chance!

 

Ordering one now and will collect the truck and not drive it until installed.

To note, I snuck a peek under their $70k TRD PRO on the showroom floor and it did not have a lift installed there either.

 

Ordered this one just now: https://www.roughcountry.com/carrie...6box1.html?find=2015-toyota-tundra-4wd-374252. I liked it because it looks to be adjustable with the number of spacers are put in it. I have to head out of town tomorrow so it should be here when I get home on Thursday. Install looks easy.

I hope this works!

 

wow... your carrier bearing was that bad? so bad that it hit the cross member? holy shit!
and they want $1500 for the carrier bearing?!? look elsewhere. it shouldn't be more than $500. after you get a new carrier bearing, then you can put the drop kit on yourself.

EDIT:
you should mount a camera under your truck and verify for yourself that the bearing is bad and your drive shaft is vibrating that bad.

 

if his carrier bearing is as bad as described, then a drop kit will not fix the vibrations. he needs to have the carrier bearing replaced immediately.

 

Fellas, recommendations on where to get the carrier bearing? Better brand/types? I pay for increased quality and parts where I can.

Again, I appreciate the assist, gents.

 

you can call other dealers to get a quote. You can also try a local independent shop.