"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 ($$$$$$$$$$)...STILL NO JOY. I took the truck back to the tire shop, and described my issue. A "technician" took it for a joy ride, came back and told me, "...the drive shaft might be bent and/or u-joints might be going...(he's)had a few Tacomas in getting tires with similar symptoms..." (yeah, RIGHT).
I took the truck to my local shop, and they said no, the drive shaft/joints looked ok. They said they felt a LITTLE shaking during their test drive (on rough AND smooth roads) but didn't think it was an issue and that a rebalance MIGHT/should correct it. So, BEFORE I have the front tires checked/balanced (and/or aligned) AGAIN, does ANYONE ("...anyone, Bhueler...?" :-P ) have any ideas, suggestions, recommendations or advice before I go through another chapter of time, effort and EXPENSE of my "Never Ending Story"?!?!?!? :-O (short of sell it - I REALLY DO like my Tacoma and was HOPING to get high 6 figure miles on it). BTW, the shakes seem to be getting a bit worse at highway speeds (the plastic bags on my passenger seat shake noticeably; the stick also but no worse than when the situation began).
TIA!!!
Paul p.s. It's not the brakes - that's a WHOLE OTHER $$$$$$ 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 :-P ).