2011 4runner TE steering too sensitive

J

JustLeft

New member
Been on a number of long road trips recently and am finding that my TE's steering is very sensitive at high speeds (70 or higher). Most of the vehicles i have owned have speed sensitive steering. My TE doesn't seem to have this. Steering wheel resistance doesn't increase with speed. Sneezing while driving can get interesting. Is this common with all 4runners? Is it possible to adjust this somehow, or is it just live with it?

Love the TE in every other way, but this is very annoying.
 
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All the Toyota literature and magazine write-ups say the 4Runner has speed sensitive steering. Give the service dept a call and let us know what they say.
 
Not just you, or the TE. I just bought a 2011 SR5 last weekend, and have noticed the same. It does force you to stay engaged while driving, which I guess we always should be. Not that big of a deal to me though. Love my new T4R regardless.
 
What other vehicles have you owned? I came off a BMW e92 so to me it was like driving a boat with no rudder in comparison at first. With that said, after a year of driving the TE I think it handles great and have no issues
 
Grape Ape said:
What other vehicles have you owned? I came off a BMW e92 so to me it was like driving a boat with no rudder in comparison at first. With that said, after a year of driving the TE I think it handles great and have no issues
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Got a Camry SE which has much firmer steering. This is my 2nd 4runner, this is much touchier than my previous one. Owned a number of trucks previously. The steering doesn't change from when i am in a parking lot to when i am driving on the highway.
 
Have them align your vehicle. Request them to push the caster as high as possible (+4 if possible) while keeping everything else within spec. I could parallel park my trail with my pinkie finger when I bought it. It was WAY too easy and sensitive. When I had it aligned, I had my wheels pushed forward (caster +4). It drives MUCH better and even stays in the lane without me having to correct it all the time.

I got the idea from Haper7, who mentioned this in one of his lift threads.
 
For what it's worth, I've never noticed any odd steering behavior with my TE. It handles much like most other trucks I've owned.
 
JustLeft said:
Got a Camry SE which has much firmer steering. This is my 2nd 4runner, this is much touchier than my previous one. Owned a number of trucks previously. The steering doesn't change from when i am in a parking lot to when i am driving on the highway.
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That is kind of the point of power steering. Without power steering, it is very, very hard to crank the wheel at low speeds. High speeds were relatively easy. Power steering's impact is felt more at low speeds than high.
 
I have never experienced any steering issues in my TE...And I pretty much drive it like I stole it. For a heavy body on frame, I like the way it handles, personally.

I have a few driving courses under my belt at Pocono and VIR, and I highly recommend some sort of high speed driving course for anyone who can afford it.
 
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I noticed the same thing with my 2011 SR5 the first time I drove it for a long distance. I've gotten used to it over time, but it can be corrected with a caster adjustment if it really annoys you. I personally like the tight steering compared with my other truck, which is a 2011 Suburban 2500. That beast is necessary for work (8000lb trailers), but the ancient, sloppy recirculating ball steering makes me love my 4Runner every time I drive it.
 
I noticed on my last road trip (post 285s and lift) that the steering seemed a lot more touchy. Prior to that I had no issues at all, seemed to track just fine.
 
ATL4R said:
Have them align your vehicle. Request them to push the caster as high as possible (+4 if possible) while keeping everything else within spec. I could parallel park my trail with my pinkie finger when I bought it. It was WAY too easy and sensitive. When I had it aligned, I had my wheels pushed forward (caster +4). It drives MUCH better and even stays in the lane without me having to correct it all the time.

I got the idea from Haper7, who mentioned this in one of his lift threads.
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I'm scheduled for an oil changd in a couple weeks and i will talk to the dealer about getting the caster changed. Thanks for the suggestion! On two of my recent trips I let my wife drive. She was constantly overcorrecting the wheel to stay in her lane. It was like being in a bumper car.





Jtraskell said:
Move the Caster, it is a life changing experience! Merry Christmas.....
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I noticed the same sensitivity last night on I-10 driving between Pensaclola, FL and Biloxi, MS(the Beau Rivage Casino was awesome). Winds were about 8-14mph, but I had to constantly give the steering wheel attention and adjustment. There were certain times where I thought I was going to get pulled over because I thought it looked like a drunk driver from the rear. I hope it does not look so ugly from behind where someone might call the cops someday to report a possible drunk driver... lol It is what it is?
 
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Pensacola33 said:
I noticed the same sensitivity last night on I-10 driving to and from Pensaclola, FL to Biloxi, MS(the Beau Rivage Casino was awesome). Winds were about 8-14mph, but I had to constantly give the steering wheel attention and adjustment. There were certain times where I thought I was going to get pulled over because I thought it looked like a drunk driver from the rear. I hope it does not look so ugly from behind where someone might call the cops someday to report a possible drunk driver... lol It is what it is?
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Exactly the experience I have had. It is always worse in windy conditions.
 
I got in a scrap with the late great Seattle Mike about this. Exact same issue. Feel free to do a search for it, but the gist of it was a combination of moving the caster forward, as mentioned, and replacing the 'craptastic' Bridgestone Dueler 684 tires. With the caster reset and a new set of Goodyear Duratrac tires, issue solved.
 
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