2005 Toyota Tacoma Suspension

I HAVE 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB 4X4, VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END AS IF THE FRONT TIRES ARE OUT OF BALANCE, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED TWO TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHICH DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEMS SEEMS TO OCCUR AT SPEEDS OF 55 TO 65 MPH. IT COMES AND GOES AND GET TO POINT SOMETIMES IF FEELS VERY UNSAFE TO HANDLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALER TWICE ABOUT IT AND THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG, YEAH RIGHT. *JB

POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD 29 MAR 06 05/06 TACOMA SUSPENSION DESIGN-DESIGN FLAW AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS NOT A QUESTION BUT A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT I AND OTHER PREVIOUS AND CURRENT TACOMA OR TRUCK OWNERS CONSIDER A DESIGN FLAW AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. I'M HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FRONT END METAL SUSPENSION KNUCKLE THAT SITS A 1/2 INCH AWAY FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE. THIS IS ON THE 05 TACOMA CREW CAB 4X4 SHORTBED W/TRD, TOW PKG (OC)OPTIONS. -THIS CAUSES ISSUE THIS COULD CAUSE FLEXING OF THE TIRE DURING NORMAL ON-ROAD AND OFF-ROAD BUMPS CAUSING THE TIRE TO FLEX AND POSSIBLY RUB AGAINST THE SUSPENSION KNUCKLE. THIS SITUATION IS COMPOUNDED IF A TIRE RUNS A LITTLE LOW ON AIR PRESSURE AND COULD CAUSE A PREMATURE CUT TIRE OR BLOWOUT. ANOTHER UNRELATED ITEM--THE NEW 05/06 TACOMA REAR SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT TO EASY. DURING A RECENT HUNTING TRIP OCT 05 IN COLORADO. I HAD MY HUNTING GEAR DISTRIBUTED EVENLY IN THE CREW CAB AND THE SHORTBED (APPX 100PDS IN THE BACK SEAT, ONLY MYSELF 220PD IN DRIVER SEAT, AND APPX 400 PDS IN THE TRUCK BED. THE TRUCK BED HAD APPX 275 PDS BETWEEN THE WHEEL WELL AND TAILGATE AND OTHER 100-150 MAX IN FRONT OF BED EVENLY DESTROYED. THE TRUCK BOTTOMED OUT QUITE EASILY ON FAIRLY MINOR RUTS ON DIRT ROADS AND ON HIGHWAY DITCHES THAT WERE ONLY MINOR SLOPED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSE THE TRUCK TO BOTTOM OUT. THE TRUCK WAS NOT CLOSE TO THE 50% WEIGHT LIMIT AND THE REAR OF THE TRUCK STANDING STILL WAS NOT SAGGING MUCH AT ALL FROM THE WEIGHT. I WAS REALLY SHOCKED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRUCK BOTTOMED OUT ON MINOR SLOW SPEED RUTS AND DURING HIGHWAY ROAD HUMPS OR DIPS. THIS NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY 95 OR 98 TACOMA UNLESS I HAD 75% PLUS OF THE BED CARRY LIMIT MET. I THINK YOU NEED TO BEEF UP OR RETEST/REDESIGN THE SPRINGS AND/OR SHOCKS TO MEET THE NEW TRUCKS WEIGHT AND LOAD CARRY CAPABILITIES BETTER. BILLY ARMOUR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH. THE FRONT TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE TRYING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO DEFECT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION . THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM

OVER NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE, IT HAS SUSTAINED SEVERAL PAINT CHIPS. THE PAINT HAS BEEN CHIPPED ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE BED, FROM DEBRIS BEING THROWN UP BY THE FRONT TIRES, AND ON THE ROCKER PANELS. TOYOTA OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT OF THE ISSUE BY PLACING A THICKER COAT ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. IT DID NOT WORK. THE REAR SPRINGS ARE ALSO SQUEAKING ALREADY. USUALLY NOT AN ISSUE AS THE BUSHINGS WEAR OUT, BUT A LITTLE CONCERNED AFTER ONLY 4600 MILES HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE VEHICLE. *NM

JUST BOUGHT 2005 TACOMA PRERUNNER DOUBLE CAB 4X2 TRD OFF ROAD VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND REACH SPEED BETWEEN 60 TO 72 MPH THE VEHICLES SWAYS BACK AND FORTH LIKE A PATCH OF WIND IS PUSHING THE VEHICLE OR WHEN PASSING A SEMI TRUCK THE VEHICLE WILL SWAY BACK AND FORTH. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER MECHANIC SAID THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM NOW WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS. ITS LIKE THE WIND IS BLOWING THE VEHICLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DON'T KNOW IF TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THIS COULD BE INVESTIGATED AND REPORTED TO TOYOTA FOR A RECALL AND FIX THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR A FIX TO THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS AS OF YET. *NM

BACK IN JUNE 2005 I OBSERVED A SIGNIFICANT "RUBBING" NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REPAIR I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. ON OCTOBER 24TH 2005 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR "RUBBING" NOISE AND WAS TOLD ON THIS OCCASION THAT BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS HAD FAILED. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 20 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY MUST BE POORLY MANUFACTURED BEARINGS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS WELL AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB