Loose steering and wobbly steering wheel even after steering rack bushing replacement - Page 2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Bad Luck · 07-03-2022, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrateWanderer

Hey everyone, hope I dont get flamed too much for resurrecting an older thread, but the amount of threads on this topic is up there.

On my 98 I have a vibration in the steering wheel that's always there but more noticeable at higher speeds. I've replaced the front strut assemblies, brakes, steering rack bushings, inner and outer tie rods, tires balanced 3 times, alignment, sway bar end links and LBJ replaced, greased every zerk I could find, and rotated the front tires to the back and vice versa. No change at all. Tires are about a year old, thunderer ranger at, 265/75/16 on stock split spoke wheels. No lift.

Before I throw more parts and money, what could I narrow down the issue to? Steering rack? Bad tires? Every shop tells me "everything is tight".

I've searched and read through what seems like hours of threads and have done most of what was suggested. Just looking for some direction. Thanks in advance!

Less than a year since the last post so no where near my top 3 lol

On a more serious note I would recommend trying to find someone with wheels and tires that you can swap over to eliminate that as an option. I had thunderer tires on a prior vehicle and it was very hard to get to balance right.

mtbtim · 07-03-2022, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrateWanderer

Hey everyone, hope I dont get flamed too much for resurrecting an older thread, but the amount of threads on this topic is up there.

On my 98 I have a vibration in the steering wheel that's always there but more noticeable at higher speeds. I've replaced the front strut assemblies, brakes, steering rack bushings, inner and outer tie rods, tires balanced 3 times, alignment, sway bar end links and LBJ replaced, greased every zerk I could find, and rotated the front tires to the back and vice versa. No change at all. Tires are about a year old, thunderer ranger at, 265/75/16 on stock split spoke wheels. No lift.

Before I throw more parts and money, what could I narrow down the issue to? Steering rack? Bad tires? Every shop tells me "everything is tight".

I've searched and read through what seems like hours of threads and have done most of what was suggested. Just looking for some direction. Thanks in advance!

Vibrations at speed are usually wheel balancing issues. Have you brought it to a shop that does Road Force Balancing?

If it's not the wheels, I'd look next at the lower control arm bushings. Worn control arm bushings could be the cause.

IrateWanderer · 07-03-2022, 04:02 PM

One of the shops I took it to claimed they did road force balancing but no documentation...so a little sketchy if they actually did.

Unfortunately no one I know has wheels that will fit so I'm scouring Craigslist.

Thanks yall!

IrateWanderer · 07-17-2022, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrateWanderer

One of the shops I took it to claimed they did road force balancing but no documentation...so a little sketchy if they actually did.

Unfortunately no one I know has wheels that will fit so I'm scouring Craigslist.

Thanks yall!

So it was my tires. I bought a set of FJ wheels that had some clapped out tires, put them on and no more shaking/vibration.

I removed my wheel weights on my 4R wheels and put in 6oz of balance beads in each tire, no change. Looks like I'll be getting a set of tires for the FJ wheels now!

Thanks to everyone on this forum for all the help!

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