annoying shimmy... need advice

[(4)runnin'it]

took my runner in saturday to get the tires rotated. they rotated but appearently forgot to balance them. i got on the highway and it was almost undriveable from 50 and up and i was the last car to be worked on so they were closed before i could take it back. i had a shimmy a while back and got it taken care of at the dealership but it started coming back slightly and i realized it was time to get my tires rotated which is why i took it in. anyways the place that rotated them was closed on sunday so i took it to another place and this is what they said after balancing them: 1. i had a slight warp on my rim and 2. they had to put on 4 oz. to balance them but since they are mud tires they are always going to have some vibration. well i left and got on the the interstate and it had improved but not very much. i think the best idea would be to take it back to the place that rotated them and and tell them to take all of the weights off and rebalnce them all.

on a better note. i watched them jack it up to do the roatation and they got it about 3 inches up before the tires came off the ground so i will be getting a lift ASAP.

update... read last post, still need opinions

 

[bgmac]

I had the same problem before. I just keep taking it back (3 times) until they got them balanced. Its been fine ever since. They tried giving me the same bs...that my one wheel was warped and put on a bunch of weights, but the funny thing is that the manager at the store balanced my tires himself the last time and didn't seem to any problems getting them balanced. It takes more precision to balance bigger tires than it does smaller tires.

 

[Sloan]

mine only shakes when i hit 70 and up. so you think i have the same problem and need to get my tires balanced? i dont think i have ever had them balanced or rotated since i've had my 4runner.

 

[(4)runnin'it]

that could be a problem. i would suggest getting them balanced and rotated. But the other funny thing i forgot to mention is the shimmy is actually less intense at 70 than from say maybe 55 to 65.

 

[trd_4runnin]

that could be a problem. i would suggest getting them balanced and rotated. But the other funny thing i forgot to mention is the shimmy is actually less intense at 70 than from say maybe 55 to 65.

I had a pretty bad shimmy from 55 through 65 and then it would die off and nearly go away after 70. I had my tires balanced and it didn't help at all. turned out to be the rear U-joint on the rear driveshaft. Next time you get a chance, get under your truck and move the driveshaft. It should spin, but shouldn't have any up/down or side to side movement at all. If it does then you probably have a worn out U-joint.

 

[(4)runnin'it]

so It should move even in park? what if It doesn't? and anything to look for on the front drive shaft?

 

[trd_4runnin]

so It should move even in park? what if It doesn't? and anything to look for on the front drive shaft?

Reading my statement again, it is a little confusing. A small amount of rotational play is normal. It won't spin freely but will probably spin 1/4" or so in each direction but its the up/down and side to side that will indicate a worn out u-joint. Same goes for the front although I haven't really heard of anyone having a problem with a front u-joint.

 

[(4)runnin'it]

well i got up underneath and i can't move the rear at all no matter how hard i try, the front i can move easily in a full rotation(s).

 

[(4)runnin'it]

well i got them all rebalanced by the place that first rotated them, which they did for free of course. i got on the highway and it rides sooo much better, you can feel the shimmy throughout the car like you could but if i let go of the wheel i can see it moving left to right but it is very slight. if i wasn't looking for it i probably wouldnt feel it while driving. but the fact that it still has some movement bothers me, should i get my U-joints checked just to be sure.