'05 Front End Shimmy

[RPh05tacoma]

Just wanted to get this out there to see if anyone has experienced similar problems with their '05 tacoma yet.

-I took my '05 access cab prerunner in for two problems: drive train vibration over about 60 mph, which was exaggerated with strong cross winds, and additionally a separate but equally annoying front end shimmy over about 65 mph.

-They replaced the drive shaft, explaining that it was somehow out of balance from the manufacturer -- this fixed the drive train vibration.

-They had a difficult time diagnosing the other problem because it was not fixed with rotation and balancing of the tires---COME TO FIND OUT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE NEW OPTIONAL SKID PLATES THAT THEY ARE STILL INSTALLING ON THE NEW TACOMA'S. AFTER REMOVING THE SKID PLATE, THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART DESPITE THE FACT THAT REMOVAL OF THE PART WAS THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM.......TOYOTA WON'T REIMBURSE UNTIL THERE IS AN OFFICIAL RECALL OF THE PART......

IN SHORT--DON'T BUY THE NEW SKID PLATE FOR YOUR '05 TACOMA--

HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS?????

[dsumners]

Nope to either. But, I will be holding off on buying that skid plate :)

[smokintacoma]

I heard they have stopped installing factory skid plates due to problems with them.

[05TRDTaco]

Nope I have not had either. ALthough my skidplate came on the truck from the factory ever since i put my 32' inch mudders on the truck I sometimes get little bit of side to side movement in the steering wheel on the freeway well the truck does not move but the Swheel may vibrate a bit left to right moving all of about 1/8 inch but it tends to be only in the same sections of the highway I drive daily and goes away on smoother sections I think its just the tires fallowing the groves.

Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. If u could give any more info on the prob with the skidplat that would be real helpful as now I will be realy watching my truck now since I read this post

-CHris

[volley]

Unfortunately I too have the same problem. I had heard that there were problems with the skid plate as well, but no official word from Toyota yet as far as I know. It sucks because I love the skid plate but the vibration especially in cross winds is terribly bad. You can not only feel it you can hear it LOUDLY and it vibrates the whole truck. Maybe you can talk the dealer into giving you credit toward a different accessory? My truck is going in next week because I think I have the leaky driver side issue. I will address the skid plate too and let you know what they say.

[RPh05tacoma]

Awe, the joys of buying the infamous new model vehicle---no way of predicting design flaws......

[RPh05tacoma]

Have them check the drive shaft to fix the vibration that you can feel and hear from the high cross winds----It blows my mind that this is something that wasn't caught in development.....

[Marc M]

I know this may sound funny, but the new skidplate may be acting like a wing. Possibly to much surface area for the wind. It may be lifting the truck up a bit in the front on the road at high speeds causing a buffeting effect (not Jimmy Buffet).

Cut some more holes in it..... :welder:

Marc :D

[RPh05tacoma]

Yeah, that was actually exactly what I was thinking that the problem was, there is practically no place for air to pass....

[DesertTRD]

I know this may sound funny, but the new skidplate may be acting like a wing. Possibly to much surface area for the wind. It may be lifting the truck up a bit in the front on the road at high speeds causing a buffeting effect (not Jimmy Buffet).

Cut some more holes in it..... :welder:

Marc :D
how much sence does that make, ive got a skid like a dam wall and i dont have any problems, and it extends all the way down... if anything im thinking the skid is shaking hard and its vibrating threw into the cab.

[Marc M]

But how is it bolted to the truck, the OEM skid plate bolts at the tow hooks then just sticks out from under the bumper, and yes could cause it to shake and the vibration transfers to the frame.....