Chasing a front end shake.
 

Who had a rig that drives "like new" and what is the secret?

I purchased my 01 with 136,000 and bone stock.


It developed several driving issues that were translated through steering feel

The steering would get "stuck" or drag coming out of a turn.

Certain bumps in the road would cause a knocking in the steering

It has an intermittent vibration at highway speeds that goes from minor to severe.

Found a poorly worn set of ATRs on the front.

Jacked the front up.
TREs seem good and tight. LBJs tight
Rack and control arm bushings seemed ok when prying on them and getting very little movement if any.

Good good measure, I replaced the tires, lower ball joints, front brakes, and got an alignment.

Problems still persist.

I bought urethane bushing kits for the upper and lower control arms and steering rack.

I plan on doing the rack bushings and maybe welding the joint of the steering shaft.
See what happens and where to go from there https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...472d5b08b6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...be5df5732d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...90bd642084.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yo! I have this exact same issue. And this is going to sound weird. But for me, its calipers. My steering kept feeling unsturdy, it would pull to the left. It was really affected by bumps in the road. It wobbles and shakes. It got worse and worse until I replaced the left caliper and ta-da!
Literally PERFECT. Sooooo sturdy in the steering wheel. Bumps were no problem. Rode straight and narrow. Didnt touch the wheel for kilometers. And then suddenly the wheel started a little vibration. Pulling a bit to the right.

Keeps getting worse and worse until it was pulling HARD to the right and there was so much resistance. I get out and check the right rotor and calipers, cooking hot. Way too hot. Brake dust all over the rim. Andddddd my right caliper seized too! Both calipers seized within a week of each other.
My tires also are wearing in the exact same pattern as you!! Every symptom you had, I experienced in the exact same regard. The wheel having a hard time coming back to center. Seemingly pulling in a tight parking lot turn. Resistance. Very very strange issue that seems pretty undocumented.

But for those glorious 15 minutes, it drove great. The wheel came back to center after turns. No vibrations or alignment issues. I'm waiting on calipers that Timmy the Toolman sent me.

First of all, make sure your tires are all at 33-34psi!
So if I were you, jack up the truck, pop off the tire and spin each side checking for resistance! I had resistance at 2 spots when i spun the wheel which caused the wobble, vibration, and steering issues.

EDIT: I just saw that you replaced your brakes already. Shit. I'm sorry man! I'm not sure how to help. Did you do just pads? or calipers too?

Chasing a front end shake.
 

I did the TBU with all new components. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...40d13e0dd0.jpg

I am really hoping the rack bushings do the trick.

The pulling sensation I was told was from lower ball joint issues.
That seemed to help some but the vibration is annoying


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All my steering issues started as soon as I lifted it - sigh - you would think I learned my lesson lifting Jeeps over the years. I can never leave good enough alone. Looking forward to your results post steering rack bushings. The LBJ were replaced at 30K per the recall - wonder if 130K later, they are shot now as well.

Some of your symptoms sound like the steering rack guide. Mainly the return to center steering. I would say this would be low caster but you are stock. The guide can cause a knocking noise and poor return to center steering.

My steering has almost no shake and I have a 3' lift. As a matter of fact, I swear I've induced a tiny shake into my steering by replacing my rack bushings with the poly ones.

Can you go into detail on what this is ?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 4Runner that drives like new is the 4Runner that is all stock and has a good set of tires. Stock suspension and ball joints, seriously. A good set of Michelins really makes a difference on any vehicle. Road force balancing is a must.

I'm hoping to get lucky but they seem fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Check out this thread. One thing, you have a 2001 which should have the updated guide, but I figured it was worth mentioning.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...-pictures.html


Did you get and alignment printout? Upload your final readings mainly caster, camber and toe, if possible.

Also, take a really close look at you LBJs. Not too many things on these trucks that would cause binding steering, and the LBJs are definitely
something you don't want to miss.

Yeah, I was going to say the same thing. When I bought mine, the steering rack guide was torqued down so hard (someone tried to fix it by overtightening it) that the steering wheel would not return to center after a turn. I did have the more problem prone old roller style, not the smooth newer style that came on the later years (which you should have). If it's over tightening it can cause issues. I think that's the main reason why my rack failed a year or so later.

P.S. I had the same experience with poly bushings too. I didn't like how it felt so when my rack failed I kept the OEM bushings, since they lasted almost 200k miles anyway.

There's lots of threads on "vibrations over XXmph" on this forum. The steering shakes are the only achilles' heel on these vehicles. Here's a list of causes of steering shakes to help with troubleshooting:

1. Inner tie rods with play
2. Outer tie rods with play
3. Failing steering rack (not common)
4. Bad u-joints on driveshaft
5. Bad driveshaft
6. Lower ball joint with play
7. Bad tires/poor tire wear (cupping)
8. Bad alignment
9. Tires out of balance
10. Steering rack bushings
11. Sway bay bushings/end link bushings.
12. Bad steering rack guide

I would start with the rack guide though, since your have a steering problem. See the FSM on how to re-install it though, it is a very specific process that has to be done the right way. Are you leaking Power steering fluid though? You've got oil all over the place down there. A leaking rack indicates it will fail soon, just went through that myself. Power Steering stop leak does help delay it though.

I've gone from a 4Runner that drove TERRIBLE over 50 mph to one that drives like new. Which is good, since my 4Runner goes a lot faster than 50 MPG nowaday... lol. Maybe it's too fast for a daily driver...

I should say, it did cost over $1,300 in replacement parts though, that includes new tires and a new steering rack, both needed to be replaced though.

I'm convinced that Toyota engineers designed vibrations into these trucks just for kicks. I have heard of this mysterious unicorn of a 4Runner that drives down the road with no vibrations, but I have yet to experience it in the 3rd gens I've been in. I think those claiming their 3rd gen is silky smooth on the highway are sh** faced liars. Or delusional psychopaths. Take your pick

OEM BJs done

I'll ask for an alignment sheet but he said everything went to factory spec easily


I commented on your 1-12 list.
Also no leaks. That is undercoating. And residual brake fluid on the spindle


Mine is stock height with now OEM LBJs.
What difference does road force balancing make?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lol, well I'm not claiming mine is silky smooth, but it drives like it's supposed to. It's a high-clearance 4x4 SUV with body on frame design, you're going to feel the road bump around beneath you. But I don't feel any problems like steering shakes and all that. My wife and I frequently speed accidentally while driving it because you don't notice how fast you are going in it.

Looks like you've knocked out the major offenders then! I would definitely look into the steering rack guide then. I think that's all you have left to look at!

The road force balancing is a different way of balancing the tire. The thought is that balancing a tire with pressure on it is not the same and balancing it the traditional way. Some have had the steering shakes go away from this technique, but it's unclear if that was a result of the road force balancing or a bad balancing job. I've only had my tires aligned and balanced by Toyota, so I have nothing to add to the conversation.

Another thumbs up for steering rack guide. Mark the current position before checking it out and/or replacing with new... Torque to 18ft/lbs then back off 19 degrees I think. Also check this out:

http://www.ttora.com/forum/2-early-t...ay-rattle.html

I'll check this out.
Found out firestone didn't balance the new tires well.
All 4 were out of balance. Drives better

Just a got reply from falken after I left and apparently the paint dots are for specific mounting and balancing positions so they will need redone again


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk