4runner highway handling

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Gecko123

New member
I have 2006 4runner limited. On the highway the handling is poor. I know it's. It a sports car and not suppose to handle like a regular car either, but are the following normal

1 car has tendency to wander on highway, even though it tracks fine on city streets on normal speeds
2. When it's windy you can feel the car being pushed around on the highway.
3. Steering seems light and I have to constantly do minor correction on the hgihway

I have brought it to two different alignment shops and both times they made some adjustment and said the alignment is fine, and I believe them as it does track straight on city streets going 30-40 mph, but on highways it's a different story especially f there's imperfection on the road

It's not the tire pressure as I set it to 32 psi

It's not likely my Michelin tire as I experience the same problem with my Yokohama snow tires. So different tires still the Same issue


Is this behavior quite normal for a 4runner


Thanks
 
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I think that our Gen4's are known for this. I wondered the same thing when I got mine, but have gotten used to it. I've also added 2" of lift to the front which reduced the upper range of my caster angle (still in spec, but a lesser degree) and made it a little more noticeable, but I git used to it again. I played with air pressure for a while and just ended up using what is best for my tires.

How long have you had your 4Runner?
 
Gecko123 said:
I have 2006 4runner limited. On the highway the handling is poor. I know it's. It a sports car and not suppose to handle like a regular car either, but are the following normal

1 car has tendency to wander on highway, even though it tracks fine on city streets on normal speeds
2. When it's windy you can feel the car being pushed around on the highway.
3. Steering seems light and I have to constantly do minor correction on the hgihway

I have brought it to two different alignment shops and both times they made some adjustment and said the alignment is fine, and I believe them as it does track straight on city streets going 30-40 mph, but on highways it's a different story especially f there's imperfection on the road

It's not the tire pressure as I set it to 32 psi

It's not likely my Michelin tire as I experience the same problem with my Yokohama snow tires. So different tires still the Same issue


Is this behavior quite normal for a 4runner


Thanks
Click to expand...

1. Mine tracks like an arrow on highway. They say your alignment is correct - what are the actual numbers?

2. Normal, all SUVs get pushed around by the wind.

3. Do you have a V6? Part time 2WD will do that to the steering.
 
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Doozi said:
I think that our Gen4's are known for this. I wondered the same thing when I got mine, but have gotten used to it. I've also added 2" of lift to the front which reduced the upper range of my caster angle (still in spec, but a lesser degree) and made it a little more noticeable, but I git used to it again. I played with air pressure for a while and just ended up using what is best for my tires.

How long have you had your 4Runner?
Click to expand...

I've had it for about a year and half but only started to drive on hwy more since we move to our new house.
 
ClockWork said:
1. Mine tracks like an arrow on highway. They say your alignment is correct - how much camber do you have in the front?

2. Normal, all SUVs get pushed around by the wind.

3. Do you have a V6? Part time 2WD will do that to the steering.
Click to expand...

I will have to check how much camber.
It's a v6 with 2wd and 4wd drive modes.
 
It is very possible to completely and accurately align a vehicle while still creating an unstable front end. The term you need to bring to your alignment shop is "caster". Think of a shopping cart. The same geometry that causes the wheels on a shopping cart to automatically spin around when you move forward or backward is the geometry that you want dialed into your front end. After my lift I took my truck to get aligned. It was super sketchy on the freeway, seeking out and following every little pavement irregularity or gust of wind. I asked them to realign it while maxing out the caster. They were able to achieve approx. 1.5 deg...a far cry from the 3.0 deg set from the factory. I drove with these livable yet unstable settings for over a year before noticing some uneven wear on my front tires. Took it back to a different but very highly recommended alignment shop and requested them to max out the caster. These guys were able to achieve 3.5 deg and let me tell you, this thing is now like driving a train down the tracks. My suggestion is for you to take it back to the alignment shop and request a max caster alignment, shoot for 3.0 deg if you can.
 
Synister said:
It is very possible to completely and accurately align a vehicle while still creating an unstable front end. The term you need to bring to your alignment shop is "caster". Think of a shopping cart. The same geometry that causes the wheels on a shopping cart to automatically spin around when you move forward or backward is the geometry that you want dialed into your front end. After my lift I took my truck to get aligned. It was super sketchy on the freeway, seeking out and following every little pavement irregularity or gust of wind. I asked them to realign it while maxing out the caster. They were able to achieve approx. 1.5 deg...a far cry from the 3.0 deg set from the factory. I drove with these livable yet unstable settings for over a year before noticing some uneven wear on my front tires. Took it back to a different but very highly recommended alignment shop and requested them to max out the caster. These guys were able to achieve 3.5 deg and let me tell you, this thing is now like driving a train down the tracks. My suggestion is for you to take it back to the alignment shop and request a max caster alignment, shoot for 3.0 deg if you can.
Click to expand...


Interesting. I heard toe in helps, so now I'm confused. I do understand what u mean about the shopping cart effect. I will check out this option as right now it's no fun driving on the highway.
 
Mine does track fine, but the steering is "lighter" at highway speeds than other vehicles I've driven... add some cross-wind and it's definitely more noticeable. It was just something that I noticed when I first bought it, but have gotten used to it and I did a 2200-mile road trip this summer without any issues. My alignment is dead-on and the caster is at 2.6-degrees.
 
I have a 4wd V8 so it's always in 4wd. I have the same complaint ever since I bought it. Wanders all the time, and I am always making an adjustment in steering. City driving is fine. Hwy is the worst and if we have winds is horrible.

Mostly just have gotten used to it. I will have to look into the caster specs. Good info here.
 
I've driven over 45,000 miles in my 4runner in all types of conditions. I have the 4x4 V8 SE and love how it drives. I feel comfortable doing 80 mph, drives great.

I do notice from time to time the car does wander...its not the truck, its the terrible roads in the pnw.
 
Oh don't get me wrong, I love the ride too, but it wanders more than anything i've ever driven.

Just checked caster specs and I'm at 3.0 and 3.1 from last alignment
 
It's a v6 with 2wd and 4wd drive modes.
Click to expand...

that is a grt option....i wish i could change from 4 x 4 to 2 x 4, for the gas.

Your concerns does not seem major. Kinda read a bit trivial for your part. Remember its a 4runner not the Lexus version.
 
I would have to say this problem is not common to all 4Runners. Ours has 37k miles and handles like a dream at all speeds. Unless we're talking wind gusts of over 30 knots, it is rarely affected.

My wife and I consider this our vehicle of choice for road trips even though we have another vehicle that is more luxurious and gets better gas mileage. The T4R ride is wonderful, and because it steers so true I can drive all day without being exhausted. Absolutely love it.
 
4RunnerFan said:
I would have to say this problem is not common to all 4Runners. Ours has 37k miles and handles like a dream at all speeds. Unless we're talking wind gusts of over 30 knots, it is rarely affected.

My wife and I consider this our vehicle of choice for road trips even though we have another vehicle that is more luxurious and gets better gas mileage. The T4R ride is wonderful, and because it steers so true I can drive all day without being exhausted. Absolutely love it.
Click to expand...

What year is your 4runner and is it a V6? I'm just wondering how one 4runner can vary so much compared to another. If there are differences,then I assume it must be how the alignments are adjusted from one 4runner to another.
Do you have your alignment specs?
 
I just installed a Daystar 2.5/1.5 lift today and I added a set of Spidertrax I got from a fellow T4R member. I took it in for alignment and they told me you can't adjust caster on this vehicle. I am pretty well out of specs in caster, but my toe and camber are within range. My front caster speck range is 2.5 - 4.0 degrees. I'm at 1.2 on left and 1.5 on the right. How does this register with what others are seeing? It drives good, but if it should be in range and it's not, I want to know why and have it corrected. I haven't had it on the interstate or had much highway time yet, but it seems to handle pretty good. Since it drives well, do I leave well enough alone? Or do I take it back and tell them they are full of crap and that the caster CAN be adjusted. I shouldn't have any weird wear on my tires since toe and camber are in spec, but like I mentioned, my caster is out by quite a bit. Thoughts?
 
When conditions are windy it can track a bit. 4Runner's are built on truck frames with a high center of gravity. It's just how it is.
 
Gecko123 said:
What year is your 4runner and is it a V6? I'm just wondering how one 4runner can vary so much compared to another. If there are differences,then I assume it must be how the alignments are adjusted from one 4runner to another.
Do you have your alignment specs?
Click to expand...

We're original owner's of a '08 Limited V6 4WD. Stock (no lift), so lower center of gravity.

Edit: oh yeah, forgot to mention it has Xreas.
 
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