Buzzing noise/vibration in steering wheel

[jt_3212]

I have done quite a bit of searching around this forum and have finally just decided to post. I have an '07 SR5 with 130k that I've had for about a year and it has a slight buzzing in the steering wheel... I wouldn't call it a vibration but more like a "tickle" (the wheel doesn't feel like it is shaking, just buzzing... make sense at all? ) and it also is associated with what just sounds like engine noise. It can almost make my hands feel a little numb at highway speeds (60-80) where it is most prevalent.

However, where my story differs from what I have read here is that the noise and buzzing completely disappear when I take a right turn on the highway. The truck becomes silent and it feels serene almost lol... This is not a hard right (I am moving at highway speed after all haha) but like around a bend in the road. A left turn has no effect.

The buzzing definitely is worse at highway speeds but is still noticeable around 30-45mph. Any ideas before I take it to a mechanic? I've read things about balancing the tires and it is getting near time to replace them but it seems more related to something mechanical then the tires. Ive had out of balance tires on my old car and that was more of a shaking in the steering, certainly not what I have going on now.

I'm not real savvy with cars but I can do a little so if you have any thoughts on the matter please let me know!!

Thanks!

 

[bigskyeric]

I have done quite a bit of searching around this forum and have finally just decided to post. I have an '07 SR5 with 130k that I've had for about a year and it has a slight buzzing in the steering wheel... I wouldn't call it a vibration but more like a "tickle" (the wheel doesn't feel like it is shaking, just buzzing... make sense at all? ) and it also is associated with what just sounds like engine noise. It can almost make my hands feel a little numb at highway speeds (60-80) where it is most prevalent.

However, where my story differs from what I have read here is that the noise and buzzing completely disappear when I take a right turn on the highway. The truck becomes silent and it feels serene almost lol... This is not a hard right (I am moving at highway speed after all haha) but like around a bend in the road. A left turn has no effect.

The buzzing definitely is worse at highway speeds but is still noticeable around 30-45mph. Any ideas before I take it to a mechanic? I've read things about balancing the tires and it is getting near time to replace them but it seems more related to something mechanical then the tires. Ive had out of balance tires on my old car and that was more of a shaking in the steering, certainly not what I have going on now.

I'm not real savvy with cars but I can do a little so if you have any thoughts on the matter please let me know!!

Thanks!

Funny, i thought this was my thread i just posted a week ago. I have the same thing going on. I can feel it with my feet too, coming from the floor and very very slightly from the gas pedal. Mine happens when I'm going between 15-45 mph. And more noticable when i accelerate. Nothing Major, just kinda of annoying. Some have said lower control arm bushings, alignment, tire balance rotations... etc etc... While all possible, none of those things seem right to me, since it seems to be directly linked to the RPM of the engine. My personal guess is engine mounts. But it could be anything really. Mine is a 4.0 v6 with 182,000 miles. The engine is so smooth and quite, which scares me a bit. Could it be transfer case? That would explain the steering wheel vibration if it's running up throught the front driveshaft to the wheels. :attention:

 

[jt_3212]

Your guess is as good as mine, again I'm not familiar enough with these things to know how they would affect things. My best theory is maybe I have a power steering line that was touching something in the engine compartment, I've heard that can cause these things things. Do you notice if your buzzing disappears with a right turn? I guess that is what gets me the most with this situation... Also seems like that would help identify the issue a little but I'm not really sure.

 

[chitown40]

I experienced the same slight vibration/buzzing in the wheels at different speeds. Nothing consistent enough to to say "it only happens when...". I would say it could possibly be in the front tires... so try a tire rotation and see if the vibes changes. For me though, my exhaust partially failed and the muffler weld broke and the tailpipe was resting on the frame crossmember. I think I was getting vibes up through the frame until the exhaust finally completely separated and broke. I just replaced the exhaust and I haven't had any of the vibes/buzzing/etc. since.

 

[NJshadow93]

Sounds to me like wheel bearings. The vibration/noise is goes away when drifting right because you're taking the weight off of your right tire. So it's probably you're right wheel bearing, but you should change both if that's the case.

 

[MarkP]

Your description sounds exactly like my experience, and it was the wheel bearing. I know it well, because I had to deal with it twice, they were not correctly done the first time. That the noise disappears when you turn, makes me agree with the bearing answer.

 

[jt_3212]

Your description sounds exactly like my experience, and it was the wheel bearing. I know it well, because I had to deal with it twice, they were not correctly done the first time. That the noise disappears when you turn, makes me agree with the bearing answer.

Awesome. At least I can take this to my mechanic with some sort of idea! I appreciate all the input guys!

 

[judami]

I have this same buzzing. It disappears when turning to the right as well.

 

[Chaz526]

I have a similar issue with my 07 SR5 - slight buzzing in the steering wheel/column at highway speeds (70+). Curious if anybody found a cause and solution.

 

[fdbyrne]

I have this issue too. I haven't gotten around to properly diagnosing it yet but I sort of think it's a motor mount or some other bushing letting engine vibrations into the frame because I can feel it in my accelerator too.

 

[jt_3212]

My problem was the wheel bearing as some others suggested. Replaced it and it's been quiet ever since!

 

[deodra]

To me, it sounds like the right wheel bearing. I had this on both a Pathfinder and an Uplander in the past. The same things would happen-- I'd feel a slight vibe coming through the drivers-side floor, pedals, and the steering wheel. Good luck!

 

[m85476585]

I have a similar issue with my 07 SR5 - slight buzzing in the steering wheel/column at highway speeds (70+). Curious if anybody found a cause and solution.

Is there any difference in 2WD or 4WD? It could be associated with front drive parts if it only happens in 4WD. I can hear some whine from the front diff on mine, but it's fulltime, so I can't switch it to 2WD so I can't test for sure.

Is it related to vehicle speed, or engine speed? Try driving at a constant speed, but shift to 4 or 3 and see if the vibration changes.

An unbalanced tire will usually shake, not hum or vibrate. It wouldn't hurt to make sure your tire pressure is about the same on all four wheels, though.

I can feel some vibration through the steering wheel, it just feels like I'm feeling the roughness of the road. It feels like it's proportional to wheel speed. But my tires are very quiet, so I can't blame it on them. It seems like some amount of vibration through the steering wheel is normal on these, but if it's loud or uncomfortable it could indicate a problem.

 

[lucky guy]

wheel brgs

This is the best deal going on 4R wheel bearing/hub assemblies. Good guy to deal with too. Mine went on in about an hour with hand tools. I happened to have a 35 mm socket for the axle nut, possible hitch if you don't have one ahead of time.

Marion Bumper2Bumper Automotive

 

[yotafool]

I'm having a humming sound coming from my 07 at highway speeds when steering to the right slightly. This mean it's most likely left front wheel bearing?

 

[98Fizzy]

Any updates? Same issue. Nothing related to auapension because if i let off gas and cruise.. Feeling and sound reduces.

 

[98Fizzy]

Guess not...

 

[daltona117]

Rise from the dead thread

Dragging up an old post here, but is the consensus here that this issue is a wheel bearing on its way out? Have had the same vibration described here for a month or two now and it's driving me crazy!

 

[montijo505]

Dragging up an old post here, but is the consensus here that this issue is a wheel bearing on its way out? Have had the same vibration described here for a month or two now and it's driving me crazy!

If it goes away when turning to one side yes more than likely. If goes away turning right, left bearing and vice versa. Just don't buy the ones in the link above, that guy went rogue. Buy these.

Wheel Bearings & Hubs Press Service *** 4x4 *** PreRunner *** NSK***Koyo*** | Tacoma World

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[daltona117]

If it goes away when turning to one side yes more than likely. If goes away turning right, left bearing and vice versa. Just don't buy the ones in the link above, that guy went rogue. Buy these.

Wheel Bearings & Hubs Press Service *** 4x4 *** PreRunner *** NSK***Koyo*** | Tacoma World

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Thanks! Mine seems to do it when turning either direction. I was thinking it could be either bearings or a CV going bad... Seems to be directly related to engine speed. It fades when coasting down a hill, but it's still noticeable. Gets really bad around 65-70 MPH.

I guess I need to crawl back under there and see if a boot is torn or leaking grease....