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