A month ago I purchased a 2008 4runner sport with 15k miles on it. It currently has 18k on it. The front end feels loose and the dealer says there is nothing wrong. It is very noticeable when I'm driving on rough roads, it wanders and the steering wheel "jumps" around. It feels like I'm driving my 2005 dodge ram 2500 diesel with 100k miles on it. Any thoughts? Thanks.!
Feels like my 2005 dodge ram
- Thread starter hamdog
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snowbrdr033
New member
Driving on rough roads, especially fast, is not exactly the best for suspension/steering. You could've hit a pothole wrong or another issue and not even have realized it until now when you've picking up the slight signs of an issue coming along. Take to an independent shop if you're that concerned, see what they find, then have Yota fix it for you.
BunchDub11
New member
@hamdog I got the same problem, curious if yours is more sporadic or more so everytime you drive on back roads etc?
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
Take a close look at the shocks to see if there is any sign of fluid. That's awfully low miles for the shocks to go, but that sounds like it could be a possibility.
It happens sporatically, it comes and goes. I drive the speed limit, the roads are typical vermont paved roads. I will take a look at the shocks. Ive gotten use to it, but the fortn end just seems loose, very unusual for a toyota, well my experience with toyota anyways. Thanks guys!
sonerick
New member
Maybe the caster is off on your alignment? It should be in the 3-4* range on both sides.
Beyond that, check various suspension components as mentioned above (shocks, control arm bushings, ball joints, etc.). With 18k, the thing should drive like new. Hell, my 2005 with 115k drives like new.
Beyond that, check various suspension components as mentioned above (shocks, control arm bushings, ball joints, etc.). With 18k, the thing should drive like new. Hell, my 2005 with 115k drives like new.
Thats the same problem I am having...
It feels like there is something loose in the front end.
I have an 04 runner with 150,000 miles and I did some research on this but I have not got a chance to take a look myself at it....maybe sometime by next month I will try to get to the bottom of this it is really making me mad:bash:
Check out these links they are very helpful:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/101581-something-loose-front-end.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/104451-starting-freak-out-loose-front-end.html#post936513
It feels like there is something loose in the front end.
I have an 04 runner with 150,000 miles and I did some research on this but I have not got a chance to take a look myself at it....maybe sometime by next month I will try to get to the bottom of this it is really making me mad:bash:
Check out these links they are very helpful:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/101581-something-loose-front-end.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/104451-starting-freak-out-loose-front-end.html#post936513
goodlooking4runner
New member
Hey guys I had the same problem with my 05 sr5 and I took it to my mechanic and it end up being a bushing it cost like 80 bucks for the part and Laber. And it felt like a brand new front end.
rebelbowtie
New member
FWIW you must buy crappy tires if every vehicle you have owned tracks if the road is imperfect
do you happen to remember what bushing it was?
goodlooking4runner
New member
I want to say it was sway arm bushing.
rebelbowtie
New member
that certainly would make the truck feel a little loose and almost floaty. but i dont think its the OP's problem if he is feeling it in his steering wheel.
bergs
New member
LOL
Yeah, that must be it. Try reading my post again.
In the mean time I'll let Michelin, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Yokohama and Toyo know that their collective products are junk because some guy on the 4Runner forum thinks there is zero excuse for vehicle tracking due to imperfections in the public roads.
rebelbowtie
New member
LOL
Yeah, that must be it. Try reading my post again.
In the mean time I'll let Michelin, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Yokohama and Toyo know that their collective products are junk because some guy on the 4Runner forum thinks there is zero excuse for vehicle tracking due to imperfections in the public roads.
if tires wider than 215's make your vehicle track then either your vehicle is a hoopty with bad steering or your tires are trash. simple fact, i've driven trucks with 15.5" wide boggers that didnt track unless the road was wet.
heck what vehicle even comes equipped with tires narrower than 215's? a geo metro? ford aspire?
bergs
New member
I did not say that absolutely any tire 215 or wider will make a vehicle track.
Please read my post slowly and carefully. The part where it says "...tends to track if there are imperfections that are severe enough..." is somewhat of note.
You even said it yourself that your boggers track when the conditions permit such an occurance. That said, the concept of a vehicle tracking under certain road conditions should not be lost on you.
As far as your last question, the answer is "many".
BlackWorksInc
New member
I will be more than glad to let you know that imperfections in the road can and will cause vehicles to track. In my area lots of roadwork being done, so lots of cracks, potholes, repaired sections, patches, divets, filled in gouges. I don't notice it much in my 4Runner with 285/70R17's but the vehicles I work on tend to follow those imperfections more. Its not so much a matter of tire width as much as tire flex and squish. I notice that the stiffer and skinnier the sidewall, the more that car wants to dive into ruts, buck against any imperfection in the road, and overall not track right.
Camber and particularly caster can play important roles in the tracking of a vehicle. Think negative caster; like a shopping cart wheel, how it doesn't really track straight and wobbles when you push the cart, compared to positive caster like a bicycle.
Back to the OP; I have a couple questions. What tires are you running (size, make, what PSI are you running?), did you get a chance to look at all your bushings and linkages? Do you have any problems with your power steering? Also, how severely is the vehicle wanting to track? like pulling to the right or left sharply or almost turning the entire wheel a revolution or so? When it does occur, are you on rather rough bumpy roads going at a moderate speed? Is the Traction Control or ABS kicking in at all during these times?
Camber and particularly caster can play important roles in the tracking of a vehicle. Think negative caster; like a shopping cart wheel, how it doesn't really track straight and wobbles when you push the cart, compared to positive caster like a bicycle.
Back to the OP; I have a couple questions. What tires are you running (size, make, what PSI are you running?), did you get a chance to look at all your bushings and linkages? Do you have any problems with your power steering? Also, how severely is the vehicle wanting to track? like pulling to the right or left sharply or almost turning the entire wheel a revolution or so? When it does occur, are you on rather rough bumpy roads going at a moderate speed? Is the Traction Control or ABS kicking in at all during these times?
I vote caster, too. Last time I had an alignment they left it at 1.4. It wandered all over the damn road.
goodlooking4runner
New member
I felt it in my steering wheel too. If felt like it was going to pop off.
