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"dohhhh" <huh@server.com> wrote in message
news:Zachh.3007$aD6.66@trndny02...[color=blue]
> "Help Me Obi Wan" :-)
> Looking for advice on a particularly ANNOYING issue which neither the
> dealerships (note the plural) nor my local shop can figure out (they don't
> seem to feel it!!!!)
>
> My Tacoma is a V6 (3.4L) X-cab "Limited", standard shift, 4WD; it had .7
> miles on it when I bought it in 2001 and now has going on 230k (yes, the
> regular maintenance schedule has been kept). I've had new rear
> (Biltstein) shocks/struts along with a couple of other brake related
> issues repaired under warranty (don't ask :-{ - wasn't pretty) at around
> 40K...I was told the front shocks were fine at the time (go figure). At
> any rate, over the last 8 months, the vehicle appears to have acquired
> Parkinsons - the frond end (mostly) has some kind of shaking/vibration in
> it. In fact, I've had numerous balancings, alignments, checks, etc.,
> etc., etc., and the "shakes" are STILL there (they started at around
> 100k). I've also had the front end inspected for abnormal wear in the
> front end suspension components...I had this done when I heard about the
> ball joint recall (mine was not subject to it, or so I was told, BUT I
> WONDER...it was made 7/2001...anyway)...
>
> About 3 months ago, I also noticed the front tires were "cupping" (mostly)
> on the inner edges of both front tires, and based on some research,
> THOUGHT it might be time to replace the front shocks...did it (went
> generic :-{ because I couldn't afford the premium for the Biltsteins);
> both front and back ends were aligned AGAIN at the time...NO JOY...the
> shakes were STILL THERE :-{ no better, no worse!!!
>
> Since then, the cupping worsened and the tires were getting a bit low on
> the tread, so I had new rubber put on all around last month. I AGAIN had
> the front and back ends ALIGNED ($$$$$$$$$$)...STILL NO JOY. I took the
> truck back to the tire shop, and described my issue. A "technician" took
> it for a joy ride, came back and told me, "...the drive shaft might be
> bent and/or u-joints might be going...(he's)had a few Tacomas in getting
> tires with similar symptoms..." (yeah, RIGHT).
>
> I took the truck to my local shop, and they said no, the drive
> shaft/joints looked ok. They said they felt a LITTLE shaking during their
> test drive (on rough AND smooth roads) but didn't think it was an issue
> and that a rebalance MIGHT/should correct it. So, BEFORE I have the front
> tires checked/balanced (and/or aligned) AGAIN, does ANYONE ("...anyone,
> Bhueler...?" :-P ) have any ideas, suggestions, recommendations or advice
> before I go through another chapter of time, effort and EXPENSE of my
> "Never Ending Story"?!?!?!? :-O (short of sell it - I REALLY DO like my
> Tacoma and was HOPING to get high 6 figure miles on it). BTW, the shakes
> seem to be getting a bit worse at highway speeds (the plastic bags on my
> passenger seat shake noticeably; the stick also but no worse than when the
> situation began).
>
> TIA!!!
>
> Paul
> p.s. It's not the brakes - that's a WHOLE OTHER $$$$$$ nightmare...the
> vibration is no worse/better when I brake or brake hard (and yes, I know
> what ABS "pulsing" feels like :-} )thx...PMS (my real initials AND the
> state this nagging problem is putting me into :-P ).[/color]

Ball joints, tie rod ends, CV joints