Toyota is now extending the warranty for its 2005-2011 Tacomas for customers who experience trouble with driveshaft vibrations and shuddering. The Toyota program is called “Customer Support Program ZH2 – Coverage For Propeller Shaft Universal Joints.” Torque News has viewed the documentation on a recent repair courtesy of Tacoma owner and Facebook Toyota Tacoma Enthusiasts Club contributor, Daniel Delatorres, who gave us permission to use his above.
Tacoma prop shaft, or driveshaft and universal join troubles are not new to owners. CarComplaints lists 41 technical service bulletins for the 2007 Tacoma (just an example) and at least ten of those are related to the prop shaft.
Daniel reports that his (unlifted) Tacoma experienced a vibration and he took it to his local dealer. To his surprise, the dealer replaced both halves of the prop shaft assembly and the universal joint and hanger. There was no charge for the service or parts. In addition, Daniel was provided with a Toyota internal memo to dealer service department managers dated October 30, 2017.
The key elements are: – 2005 through 2011 Model year coverage – Produced from Mid-September 04 through early December 2010 – Unlimited Mileage – Program runs till April 2019 – Vehicles repaired once will then be covered 12 years from the primary coverage (unless we misunderstand that)
Our thanks to Daniel for his detailed overview and his permission to share this with a wider audience. If you are not already a member, Facebooks Toyota Tacoma Enthusiasts is a great club for owners.
How Long Can You Drive With a Bad U-Joint?
If you think you might be dealing with a bad u-joint, you should address the problem right away. A u-joint that fails completely can cause the driveshaft to fall out of the undercarriage, potentially causing significant damage to the vehicle and even an accident, maybe.
The Driveshaft Explained
The driveshaft is a cylindrical component that connects the gearbox and differential. Its purpose is to shuttle power from the engine to the wheels. The driveshaft is especially important in rear-wheel-drive cars. Vehicles ranging from Toyota and Subaru models to luxury brands all contain a driveshaft.
The driveshaft typically doesn’t give out completely. The wear happens little by little, and there are usually signs that alert the driver that something is wrong.
Squeaking noise when starting to move (forward or reverse)
The bearing components of each universal joint are greased at the factory, but may not have a grease fitting to allow further lubrication after the vehicle is put into use, limiting their service life. Since the bearing portion of each universal joint twists a small amount with each rotation of the driveshaft (but always in the same location) the grease can evaporate, or be thrown out of the bearing cup. The bearing becomes dry, metal-to-metal contact is made, and the u-joint bearings will squeak as the drive shaft rotates. The squeak usually cannot be heard once the vehicle moves faster than 5-10 mph because of other vehicle noise. The squeak is a warning that the universal joint should be serviced by a professional mechanic. You can certainly extend the life of your existing u-joints by doing so.
FAQ
What does u-joint noise sound like?
What are some signs of u-joint failure?
- Clunking/clanking noise when you shift gears.
- Vibration when accelerating or decelerating.
- Loud metal-on-metal banging (this is a sign that the u-joint will completely fail very soon)
How do you know if your u-joint needs to be replaced?
- Clunking/clanking noise when you shift gears.
- Vibration when accelerating or decelerating.
- Loud metal-on-metal banging (this is a sign that the u-joint will completely fail very soon)
