Brand new 06 - Freeway Steering Wheel Problem

Drive a couple

off the lot and compare. One of the test drives I took the car had a wheel that was slightly under inflated. But not enough to make the light come on. It drove drastically different when it was inflated properly.
 
Ok, I drove another Sport. Black, what a beauty. Too bad my wife insists on white, although that's sharp as well. Anywho...

I think it's the way a Sport drives. There's play in the wheel. It's fine. It doesn't really bug me and I know I'll get used to it.

I can jiggle the wheel back and forth slightly while I drive and the truck doesn't even flinch. A different truck. It's just not as 'tight' or sensitive as a car. I'm so happy I drove another one. Thanks to those that suggested it.

It's hard to tell because I drove the other one last night. The one today may have been a bit tighter but I'm sure it's all in my mind. I was just happy to feel the looseness in the second one as well.

I hope these threads help someone else with the same question in the future. We get it tomorrow!! Woo Hoo! I will post back in a week or so and give you a more experienced final answer.

Thanks for the feedback!!
 
majognam said:
Ok, I drove another Sport. Black, what a beauty. Too bad my wife insists on white, although that's sharp as well. Anywho...

I think it's the way a Sport drives. There's play in the wheel. It's fine. It doesn't really bug me and I know I'll get used to it.

I can jiggle the wheel back and forth slightly while I drive and the truck doesn't even flinch. A different truck. It's just not as 'tight' or sensitive as a car. I'm so happy I drove another one. Thanks to those that suggested it.

It's hard to tell because I drove the other one last night. The one today may have been a bit tighter but I'm sure it's all in my mind. I was just happy to feel the looseness in the second one as well.

I hope these threads help someone else with the same question in the future. We get it tomorrow!! Woo Hoo! I will post back in a week or so and give you a more experienced final answer.

Thanks for the feedback!!
Click to expand...

Llike yourself, I have also been a fellow Honda Civic/Integra (small car) driver before my 4runner. Reviews from professionals clearly state that the 4runner is a great performer handeling wise, over many other SUV's. That information is definatly not true if my 4runner is suppose to drive the way it has. I hope that's not true with my 4runner because, I hated driving it on the freeway. I had to keep constant attention to the steering wheel or it would not track strait at all. I will know the outcome by tomarrow.
 
OK, I just got my ride back from the dealer today. The steering wheel is no longer off center, but it still drives the same as before. So this is how a 4runner drives ehh.... I guess I'll have to suck it up and just get use to it. Maybe some better tires like some say would help out somewhat. Oh well.
 
my wheel is also off-center (car is two days old). Another one I drove was off-center in the other direction (mine is right, that one was left). I'm getting it fixed this afternoon, hopefully. I noted it on the pre-delivery inspection and they said it would be fine to bring it back.

I think the weak on-center feel is the result of little caster designed into the front suspension
 
Just thought I'd let you guys know that I fixed my problem. My tires were over inflated to 42psi before. I took them down to 35psi and the truck is running like it's on rails now. Very tight and solid compared to before. I love this truck. Next weekend is gonna be her first snow treading lesson. Tahoe, here I come. :D
 
AlphaQup said:
Just thought I'd let you guys know that I fixed my problem. My tires were over inflated to 42psi before. I took them down to 35psi and the truck is running like it's on rails now. Very tight and solid compared to before. I love this truck. Next weekend is gonna be her first snow treading lesson. Tahoe, here I come. :D
Click to expand...
What a coincidence. I too decided to check my tires inflation this past weekend and they were all 38lbs. or more. This is common practice at the dealers to overinflate for some reason. I recall my wife's Acura riding like a log wagon when we drove it home. Her tires were almost 10lbs. overinflated!
I looked on the sticker inside the drivers door on my 4Runner and it calls for 32lbs. in all 4 tires. I deflated them to 32 and there is quite a bit of difference. I still feel I am correcting the steering more than I did with my Tundra when it's a windy day. But on a calm day she's tracking straight as an arrow now.
 
This is the one thing I dont like about my Sport, i have to keep a firm hand on it to keep it straight when im cruising, however the steering does feel like a sports car and its solid all the way up to the speed limiter(115.6 mph).
 
x04xsportxx said:
This is the one thing I dont like about my Sport, i have to keep a firm hand on it to keep it straight when im cruising, however the steering does feel like a sports car and its solid all the way up to the speed limiter(115.6 mph).
Click to expand...

I just ordered my new set of NITTO Terra Grapplers today. I'll let you guys know if there is any noticable difference in handling once they are on.
 
Sorry to keep dragging this thread along but.....I also have the same problem with my T4R's steering at highway speeds. I mentioned this same complaint on here back in 2004 when I first purchased my truck. The steering wheel needs CONSTANT attention to keep the truck straight when at interstate speeds. This steering is TIGHT and gives the truck a "darting/ jerky/ bucking" feeling!

I believe, as one other poster mentioned, that the bucking feeling comes from the wind resistance/ air flow over the T4R. I noticed the bucky feeling picked up slightly after I added the rear spoiler.

At first.....I too, thought it was the DumbFlop tires and adjusted the air pressure as many of you have done. I found that running at 32-34 psi does help the problem a bit but it does NOT totally correct the drifty, darty feeling you get at interstate speeds.

In contrast, the tight steering feels GREAT when traveling the city/country roads at speeds slower that 40 mph. I've also found the steering wheel will vibrate slightly when the tires are cold but diminishes after my tires get thoroughly warmed up. BTW, I have the 4X4 and whenever I drive in all wheel drive (4 Hi), the truck seems to have a more grounded/stable feeling when at Hwy speeds.

My assessment is: this is the way the truck was designed to drive. Why? I don't know........perhaps to cover the all terrain ability of the truck. You can't lay the seat back and steer with a couple of fingers when at Hwy speeds that's for sure. :(
 
I drove for the first time in rain and heavy cross-wind the other night. I felt like the car got blown over about a foot during one gust! (I'm sure it really wasn't much at all.)

Using 4wd felt much better. Also, during the times when I tried it out around town, I noticed the steering feeling heavier and substantial.

I still think it's the small amount of caster built into the suspension that contributes to the wandering on-center feel
 
OK, I just got my Nitto Terra Graplers put on today and man!! What a world of a difference. I can feel the solidness of the steering, and it actually drives very tight now. The handeling on my rig improved dramatically. The tires guys! I kid you not, because before the Nitto's I felt a slight vibration as the speeds start to climb above 60MPH. Now that vibration is gone as well. Good luck on your quest for perfection.
 
I am having same problem with my 2006 4runner! It sways from side to side as if its being blown around by thw wind (only there's no wind)! My 99 4runner handled as well as car. Not so with the 06! I've had it aligned twice and problem still persists! Dealer doesn't notice it... i'm sure after i'm out of my warranty period they'll notice it! What can I do?
 
tony , have u considered getting different tires or a suspension upgrade? when i got mine, i thought the steering was too light & the brakes too touchy, so those 2 things worked for me.
 
Already replaced tires, still have problem

Went with the Dealer Recommended Yokohamma A/T's (265/70/16) and still have that darting back and forth problem. I thought I would get used to it but it bothers me more and more every day! Especially when I drive to get my Daughter on weekends (2 hour trip one way)!

What do you mean by suspension upgrade? Can you be more specific? Will this void my warrenty and do I go to the dealer or a different garage?

Also, THANKYOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! AND THANK GOD FOR THIS SITE!
 
if u have the stock sr5 springs & shocks a change to better aftermarket or the whole FJ (W/ BILSTEINS) swap may help.
 
I have 2005 V6 SR5 and have the same play in the steering wheel. When I just got it few month back I read lots of posts on this topic and came to the conclusion that its normal within 4th gen 4runners. When I drive my wife’s 15 years old maxima I use only two fingers to hold the steering wheel and its dead straight.
I put new destinations A/Ts did the alignment and the pressure 32psi on all tires, still the same, it improved but not by much. When I hold my steering wheel dead straight on highway the truck will go ether side within few seconds and if I wouldn’t correct it can go off road to the ditch or the wall. Now I used to it and do not notice as much as before.
But still my concern is if it’s normal why so many trucks have this “wander” steering feel when other owners reported no such problem at all?
 
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