So... I have very few posts as I typically search for days and find the answers I seek. My 1996 runner showed up to me with minor front damage to passenger headlight. the fender was slightly bent as was the bumper by the front wheel. It was driven home, although I had to watch my left turns as the passenger wheel would catch the bent portion of the bumper if I turned sharply.
on the way home this awful shimmy was there in full force. I have driven several friends runners through the years and all of them had seen hard times in the sand in mexico and had similar (i realize now not the same) shimmy at 65-70 that went away over 70+. I took it easy on the way home and didnt think much of it as I assumed it needed what all runners need. new suspension parts and properly balanced tires and wheels along with steering rack bushings.
i tell you all this to give you all the real truth about what I know, cuz at this point im f-ing dumbfounded.
since the very first time i drove this truck one thing has remained 100% exactly the same in every way. it shakes and shimmys like a mofo at anything over 65 mph. there is no point at all that it gets better beyond that speed. its scary, its unsafe, and its gonna force me to push it off a cliff soon (simply selling it would A. make me an a$$hole. B. Not be nearly gratifying enough. )
there are many things that have changed through the parts changes, however the shimmy shake has not changed in the SLIGHTEST.
I should have addressed this BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE, I didnt, and I realize this was stupid. So lets please put my stupidity aside for now, once solved I will admit I am am an idiot again. :thanks:
1-happened across a set of 17" tacoma wheels on stock tires. bald. - the shimmy shake changed in absolutely no way at all.
2-I needed new tires of course, this led me to treadwright guard dogs (265-70-17) I of course needed spacers (ebay 1.25') and I needed lift. I nabbed a set of yellow and blue tundra bilsteins with yy yb springs and out back I added a set of the shortest lc springs, I cant remember the # wraps, combined with oem landcruiser shocks from toyota. - the shimmy shake changed in absolutely no way at all ( I did like the truck a whole lot more)
3-new moog LBJ on both sides - no change at all
4-poly steering rack bushings - more controlled car, shimmy shake is identical. still extremely frightening to drive over 65mph
5-brand new inner and outer tie rods - no change at all
6-steering rack guide upgrade- again better overall car - no change at all in shimmy shake.
7-new steering rack from safari unlimited in co. absolutely no change at all. (mine was leaking badly anyway)
8-jacked up car, play in passenger wheel, hands at 1030 and 430 give me 1/4 - 1/2 inch play, obvious knock.
9-replaced LBJ on passenger side with autozone unit (handy and was heading to mexico) - absolutely no change, I assume this one will not make it long.
10. moved front wheels to back - absolutely 100% exactly the same.
11 -put spare (original 4 runner) on passenger side front and then drivers side front with no spacer - no change at all
at no point during all of this has the shake and shimmy changed in the slightest. the car has certainly changed in other ways, gotten tighter. gotten a little less straight line stable ( 0 caster after lift)
I have a lifetime alignment at firestone, they have actually been stellar. they have aligned it every parts change and every trip off the pavement (only ever sand in rocky point)
the truck nowadays feels like it moves side to side over bumps, I attribute this to the lack of a panhard drop or extended bar. BUT even over slightly imperfect roads (most roads in phoenix are like glass) the car feels totally out of control at anything over 50.
I am getting the panhard drop, I have gone over the u-joints closely and see nothing out of the ordinary. the cv axles up front have started spewing grease since I took ownership (no diff drop, I know, I know..) but they were indeed in good shape when I took ownership and up until my first trip to mexico.
12-6 on the wheel - no play at all
3-9 on the wheel - no play at all
from day one, bone stock to current state. the shimmy is the SAME.
I can go 5-20 mph and the steering wheel is ROCK SOLID STRAIGHT, doesnt even wiggle. dead straight.
braking, not a hint of a wiggle, hauls to a stop quickly and straight.
when its shimmying it the hood flops side to side, the passenger door bangs around in the door jamb. it feels like everything from the front bumper to just under my but is shaking left to right, it doesnt even stay constant, it comes and goes constantly....... ok.. starting to shake.. shaking like f-ing crayzy....stopping....ok....starting to shake......shaking like, you get the idea. this cycle lasts 3 seconds or so.
Please help, I dont want to have to take it into the barn and shoot it. :rip:
on the way home this awful shimmy was there in full force. I have driven several friends runners through the years and all of them had seen hard times in the sand in mexico and had similar (i realize now not the same) shimmy at 65-70 that went away over 70+. I took it easy on the way home and didnt think much of it as I assumed it needed what all runners need. new suspension parts and properly balanced tires and wheels along with steering rack bushings.
i tell you all this to give you all the real truth about what I know, cuz at this point im f-ing dumbfounded.
since the very first time i drove this truck one thing has remained 100% exactly the same in every way. it shakes and shimmys like a mofo at anything over 65 mph. there is no point at all that it gets better beyond that speed. its scary, its unsafe, and its gonna force me to push it off a cliff soon (simply selling it would A. make me an a$$hole. B. Not be nearly gratifying enough. )
there are many things that have changed through the parts changes, however the shimmy shake has not changed in the SLIGHTEST.
I should have addressed this BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE, I didnt, and I realize this was stupid. So lets please put my stupidity aside for now, once solved I will admit I am am an idiot again. :thanks:
1-happened across a set of 17" tacoma wheels on stock tires. bald. - the shimmy shake changed in absolutely no way at all.
2-I needed new tires of course, this led me to treadwright guard dogs (265-70-17) I of course needed spacers (ebay 1.25') and I needed lift. I nabbed a set of yellow and blue tundra bilsteins with yy yb springs and out back I added a set of the shortest lc springs, I cant remember the # wraps, combined with oem landcruiser shocks from toyota. - the shimmy shake changed in absolutely no way at all ( I did like the truck a whole lot more)
3-new moog LBJ on both sides - no change at all
4-poly steering rack bushings - more controlled car, shimmy shake is identical. still extremely frightening to drive over 65mph
5-brand new inner and outer tie rods - no change at all
6-steering rack guide upgrade- again better overall car - no change at all in shimmy shake.
7-new steering rack from safari unlimited in co. absolutely no change at all. (mine was leaking badly anyway)
8-jacked up car, play in passenger wheel, hands at 1030 and 430 give me 1/4 - 1/2 inch play, obvious knock.
9-replaced LBJ on passenger side with autozone unit (handy and was heading to mexico) - absolutely no change, I assume this one will not make it long.
10. moved front wheels to back - absolutely 100% exactly the same.
11 -put spare (original 4 runner) on passenger side front and then drivers side front with no spacer - no change at all
at no point during all of this has the shake and shimmy changed in the slightest. the car has certainly changed in other ways, gotten tighter. gotten a little less straight line stable ( 0 caster after lift)
I have a lifetime alignment at firestone, they have actually been stellar. they have aligned it every parts change and every trip off the pavement (only ever sand in rocky point)
the truck nowadays feels like it moves side to side over bumps, I attribute this to the lack of a panhard drop or extended bar. BUT even over slightly imperfect roads (most roads in phoenix are like glass) the car feels totally out of control at anything over 50.
I am getting the panhard drop, I have gone over the u-joints closely and see nothing out of the ordinary. the cv axles up front have started spewing grease since I took ownership (no diff drop, I know, I know..) but they were indeed in good shape when I took ownership and up until my first trip to mexico.
12-6 on the wheel - no play at all
3-9 on the wheel - no play at all
from day one, bone stock to current state. the shimmy is the SAME.
I can go 5-20 mph and the steering wheel is ROCK SOLID STRAIGHT, doesnt even wiggle. dead straight.
braking, not a hint of a wiggle, hauls to a stop quickly and straight.
when its shimmying it the hood flops side to side, the passenger door bangs around in the door jamb. it feels like everything from the front bumper to just under my but is shaking left to right, it doesnt even stay constant, it comes and goes constantly....... ok.. starting to shake.. shaking like f-ing crayzy....stopping....ok....starting to shake......shaking like, you get the idea. this cycle lasts 3 seconds or so.
Please help, I dont want to have to take it into the barn and shoot it. :rip:
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