Bump Steer/Wobble

[T4RBoarder]

Hey guys,

Picked up my new (to me) '01 last Thursday with 94k miles on it. Overall it feels great to be back in a 3rd gen but I'm having an issue that I've never experienced before with my trucks. When I hit bumps in the road (ususally 30mph or higher and worse when the left wheel hits) I get a rythmic? shake in the steering wheel that continues for a second or two. It feels similar to my mothers LC when it needed front shocks and was experiencing bump steer but it also has an old solid axle death wobble feel to it as well (not as violent by any means though). The LBJ is a little crud-y looking on the drivers side and I get an occasional low speed clunk. Steering rack didn't seem to have any movement either when I checked. Any ideas?

 

[MStudt]

Hey guys,

Picked up my new (to me) '01 last Thursday with 94k miles on it. Overall it feels great to be back in a 3rd gen but I'm having an issue that I've never experienced before with my trucks. When I hit bumps in the road (ususally 30mph or higher and worse when the left wheel hits) I get a rythmic? shake in the steering wheel that continues for a second or two. It feels similar to my mothers LC when it needed front shocks and was experiencing bump steer but it also has an old solid axle death wobble feel to it as well (not as violent by any means though). The LBJ is a little crud-y looking on the drivers side and I get an occasional low speed clunk. Steering rack didn't seem to have any movement either when I checked. Any ideas?

Could be the lbj's, but also be the steering wheel itself. A lot of people do the steering play mod to eliminate that rattle/vibration feeling.

 

[my92t4r]

Hey guys,

Picked up my new (to me) '01 last Thursday with 94k miles on it. Overall it feels great to be back in a 3rd gen but I'm having an issue that I've never experienced before with my trucks. When I hit bumps in the road (ususally 30mph or higher and worse when the left wheel hits) I get a rythmic? shake in the steering wheel that continues for a second or two. It feels similar to my mothers LC when it needed front shocks and was experiencing bump steer but it also has an old solid axle death wobble feel to it as well (not as violent by any means though). The LBJ is a little crud-y looking on the drivers side and I get an occasional low speed clunk. Steering rack didn't seem to have any movement either when I checked. Any ideas?

i just went through the same thing...and i just replaced my 10k Monroe shocks with Tundra 5100 and OE LBJ's and it fixed my issues.

 

[topless87]

May also want to check the rac bushings.

 

[T4RBoarder]

May also want to check the rac bushings.

Rack bushings looked good when I checked them.

Would the LBJ cause more of a clunk if they have movement or the shake I'm experiencing? I'd also say that the shake is better in the morning after not being driven overnight.

MStudt: The steering itself doesn't feel too loose and I don't have a shake unless I hit a bump

 

[topless87]

I have never expeirenced a wobble in my line of work when a LBJ has been worn unless its about to seperate. I have seen when the front struts bushing on the bottom where the bolt goes through the lower control arm the bushing be completely shot and clunks and gives movement when bumps are hit and body roll.

 

[jamess]

Bad steering rack? I have been told by my mechanic that my rack is bad.

I have the same issue and I have new LBJs, new Toytec coilovers, new poly steering rack bushing.

 

[JWaldz]

It is possible to have bad inner tie rods that can cause play like you're having. I'd look at replacing the lbj's, otr's, and itr's regardless as old ones are a common culprit to sloppy steering, wobble, and even failure. The toyota racks are very strong. Unless they've been beat on vigorously, I doubt the rack itself is bad.

Since you just got the 4Runner I'm guessing you don't know much of it's state. Like tires/wheels balances, newness of parts, etc.. I'd check for play in the lbj. You can also remove the boot to the inner tie rod and see if there's any water penetration. If you notice rusty, nasty, gunk build up it's likely toast. (you'll have to hose clamp the boot back on or buy the correct tool and clamps).

 

[T4RBoarder]

It is possible to have bad inner tie rods that can cause play like you're having. I'd look at replacing the lbj's, otr's, and itr's regardless as old ones are a common culprit to sloppy steering, wobble, and even failure. The toyota racks are very strong. Unless they've been beat on vigorously, I doubt the rack itself is bad.

Since you just got the 4Runner I'm guessing you don't know much of it's state. Like tires/wheels balances, newness of parts, etc.. I'd check for play in the lbj. You can also remove the boot to the inner tie rod and see if there's any water penetration. If you notice rusty, nasty, gunk build up it's likely toast. (you'll have to hose clamp the boot back on or buy the correct tool and clamps).

I will check the LBJs this evening when I get home, is it best to check these with the suspension fully hanging or wheel off the ground with control arm supported? Not gonna lie, all these LBJ threads have me scared of my own truck now.

 

[topless87]

I will check the LBJs this evening when I get home, is it best to check these with the suspension fully hanging or wheel off the ground with control arm supported? Not gonna lie, all these LBJ threads have me scared of my own truck now.

Jack up on lower control arm. Do not let the suspension hang as it can put the lbj in a bind and not see the play.

 

[slapdappy]

Rack bushings looked good when I checked them.

did you lay under the truck while someone turned the steering wheel back and forth?

 

[T4RBoarder]

did you lay under the truck while someone turned the steering wheel back and forth?

^Yup

Drivers side LBJ boot is definitely torn so that's on my ASAP list for replacement. I did not notice any visible play in either joint.

I know it's not super scientific/accurate but it horribly failed the "bounce test" for the drivers side.



Upper


Video

 

[snivilous]

I've had tons of issues similar to this. As you said, if your shock is shot then it will bounce the front end and you can have some bump steer occur and pull the truck around. Likewise I've had issues when I broke one of my rear axle links (and have a similar issue that I'm pretty sure is the rear link bushings) and caused the rear axle to shift and have an "induced rear steer" because the rear axle has play.

If your front end looks good check the rear, just because you can't steer the rear doesn't mean it can't shift and cause similar issues.

 

[MStudt]

^Yup

Drivers side LBJ boot is definitely torn so that's on my ASAP list for replacement. I did not notice any visible play in either joint.

I know it's not super scientific/accurate but it horribly failed the "bounce test" for the drivers side.

I had no noticeably play in mine when I inspected them either. However, going down the highway was another story. Once I replace them all the vibrations in my steering wheel went away.

 

[T4RBoarder]

I had no noticeably play in mine when I inspected them either. However, going down the highway was another story. Once I replace them all the vibrations in my steering wheel went away.

I assume you're talking about your rack bushings? Were your vibrations while going down the highway normal or when hitting bumps?

Side note, how much of a pain is it going to be to try and replace that LBJ given the rust on that hardware?

 

[MStudt]

I assume you're talking about your rack bushings? Were your vibrations while going down the highway normal or when hitting bumps?

Side note, how much of a pain is it going to be to try and replace that LBJ given the rust on that hardware?

I was talking about the LBJ's.