Hey all

ive been getting a vibration above 45 most noticeable around 55. It’s not tires as it’s move of a grinding vibration than a wobble vibration if that makes sense. Is that Consistent with what a failing driveshaft feel like in one of these?

Also dont stone me for asking but I’m assuming I can’t remove it and test drive to eliminate that right?

Thanks

 

''Grinding vibration'' really sounds like a wheel bearing. Axle shafts are going to make a clicking kinda noise as well as the driveshaft U-joints. Driveshafts don't just get vibrations......

 

It’s strange I feel it in the whole car but different than a tire balance. Tried checking wheel bearings. Tough in an awd... jacked it and chucked 3 wheels and let one spin, listen and feel the spring/strut. They all seemed good.

there is the tiniest be of play in one of the shaft u joints I mean tiny barely able to be felt. that’s why I suspect the shaft as a possible cause because(I thought) a bad u-joint could cause vibration through the whole car

axels seem good if checking by looking for play

 

How old are your tires?

 

Quite old - not sure just how old but old Michelin pilots
rotating them changed nothing. It’s not a shimmy. If this makes sense, a tire makes like a large shimmy. This is like a small (so faster) pulsation

 

old tires can have broken metal cord inside, so you will have a vibration at certain speeds, balancing will not help - you will have vibration even if the tires are balanced well.
The cheapest way to check your tires is to find somebody with the same car (who doesn't have any vibration) and ask him/her to check their tires on your car. If no vibration => your tires should be disposed.

 

Check your driveshaft bushings, if these are shot then vibrations can occur. I recall the AWD system as FWD biased so it will mainly be FWD until power is needed in the back, making it hard to test. In theory you could drive without the shaft connected but I bet this would really confuse the transmission in the case power was diverted to the back.

My RX went through both of the rear bearings, they did not cause vibrations but an awful droning sound.

 

Go underneath and try to wiggle the driveshaft were the u joints are and see if there is any slop or play in them thats how you can tell if your driveshaft is going bad.

If your tires were bad it would change when you rotate them also you would only feel the heavy vibrations from unbalanced tires in the front the rule is when balancing tires, when you go to put them on the car you put the ones that are almost perfect on the front wheels so there is almost 0 vibration through the steering wheel.

 

It was the tires. Now that the weather is warm, drives great. This happened 10 years ago with a Camry Hybrid. Drove me nuts - bought new tires (becuase it was winter - warm wasnt happening) and problem solved
thanks all

 

Glad you fixed it.

 

My wife's AWD RX is having a vibration issue. But, unlike how you describe yours, hers is very noticeable at standing start from 10-25 mph. It becomes less noticeable above 25. I lifted one rear wheel off the ground and put the car in neutral. Moving the driveshaft, I see some play at the front universal joint. Now, I just need to locate one. Glad you sorted your problem out to be tires. Hers is not the case.

 

I’ve rebuilt one. NOT fun. At all. But was $40. A new aftermarket from China is $230. Factory is probably $1500. Driveshaft compatible with HIGHLANDER 01-07 / RX350 07-09