Don't know what to do with my 4Runner

[Minotoro]

Hello,

I bought a 2000 toyota 4runner 4x4 v6 sr5 with about 137,000 miles on it about one month ago. I have changed the oil (synthetic), spark plugs, all of the tires, catalytic converter, redone the rotors and installed new brakes.

The problem is this - Sometimes when I am driving at about 50 MPH it starts shaking violently and it smells of burnt rubber / oil. When I slow down to about 20 MPH it stops shaking and I can drive normally again.

Keep in mind that 90 percent of the time the 4runner does not shake at all and it drives well.

My mechanic does not know what is wrong with it. I took him for a drive and the 4runner did not shake at all. =/

Thank you!

 

[michael833]

sounds like it's haunted.

does the steering wheel shake or just the truck?

have you checked your tires? are they aligned an properly balanced?

 

[Minotoro]

It seems as if the engine shakes, I have all new goodyear tires that were balanced within the last few weeks.

 

[michael833]

hmmm. maybe harmonic balancer? :shrug:

if the engine is shaking then something ain't sittin' right... check to make sure all bolts are accounted for. look into the bay with the engine running and try and spot anything out of the ordinary.

 

[t4r4life]

steerring rack and motor mount check them both, take it to a toyota sound specialist they are trained to do that

 

[YotaZach85]

Do you hear any noises when it's shaking?

 

[Minotoro]

When it is shaking I do not hear any unusual sounds, I just smell like something is burning like oil/plastic.

 

[Gerdo]

I'm going out on a limb here. How tight is your parking brake? Is it applied in the spec'd 7-9 clicks? If it is too tight, the rear drum brake shoes will heat up and start shuttering. Does the shake get worse as soon as you touch the brakes? Next time it shakes, try applying the parking brake. If you used non-OEM rear shoes, they can cause the brakes to tighten too tight. (strange but true, it has happened to me)

 

[Minotoro]

I did not replace the rear shoes, as the mechanic told me that they were still fine, he did clean both sides though, and put the drums on a machine to resurface them. There was a TON of dust that fell out of them when he took the drums off.

If the harmonic balancer were not working properly would it shake all of the time? My 4runner shakes violently only sometimes at around 50 MPH

 

[Gerdo]

I did not replace the rear shoes, as the mechanic told me that they were still fine, he did clean both sides though, and put the drums on a machine to resurface them. There was a TON of dust that fell out of them when he took the drums off.

Does the parking brake apply in the 7-9 click range?

 

[Minotoro]

Does the parking brake apply in the 7-9 click range?

So I went to check and it clicks five times, I can make it click six or seven times but with a lot of force.

 

[athlon450]

Check the belts! check the alternator as well!

 

[BrianSD_42]

sounds like it's haunted.

Do you hear any noises when it's shaking?

For example, the sounds of ghosts and lost souls.

LOL

 

[YotaZach85]

Check the belts! check the alternator as well!

My thoughts as well.

 

[Minotoro]

So after changing all of the balljoints, the rack and pinion, 4 new tires, I was sitting there wondering just what the heck was wring with my 4runner.

I bought it with 136k miles and remembered that the lady that i bought it from told me that she had never used the 4x4 system. Quickly after buying it I switched it into 4x4 mode but just for about two blocks.

I figured that I would drive it in 4x4 mode for a long time the next day which I did. It completely eliminated the Shaking!

My 4runner does not shake at all any longer, weird, maybe the 4x4 system got stuck and needed to be lubricated. I will take it in this weekend to get a 4x4 service completed by the toyota dealer.