Front end vibration should I buy a 4R?

A

aljodoro

New member
I have been so close twice in the last six months to buy a new V8 Limited. The one thing that stops me are the posts about front end vibration. This seems to me to a quirk that could take all the joy out of driving this vehicle. My quesitons are:
1. Would this stop you from buying the car?.
2 Does the problen exisit when the car is new or does it develop?
3 Do all 4th generation 4runners have it?
4. Is there a engine/transmission combo that is better or worse?
5. Could someone describe it?

Thanks for the help. Al
 
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absolutely no front end vibration at all on my 03 4runner with a build date of 2002. go figure.

it's a hit and miss deal apparently and not everyone is experiencing this problem. even with all the toys that i've added i have no vibration. the only time i get it is when my tires get torn up after a weekend adventure out in the rocks. (a quick balancing fixes my problem real quick).

You're best bet is to test drive the sucker before you commit. if you notice any problems then you know not the pick that one up.

good luck
 
aljodoro said:
I have been so close twice in the last six months to buy a new V8 Limited. The one thing that stops me are the posts about front end vibration. This seems to me to a quirk that could take all the joy out of driving this vehicle. My quesitons are:

4. Is there a engine/transmission combo that is better or worse?


Thanks for the help. Al
Click to expand...

I've only experienced the front end vibration a few times and it didn't bug me that much. What bugs the living crap out of me are the 5 speed automatic transmission and the brakes. The electronics that manage the shifting decisions are astonishingly inept and make the vehicle feel clumsy. And if you're not careful when you shift from reverse to drive first thing in the morning, the transmission will violently slam into gear. Oh yeah, and there's no way to change the ATF or even check the level.

As for the brakes, for no apparent reason the brake pedal periodically kicks back at you with an annoying little bump. Like every other minor problem 4Runners have, the dealer tell me "its normal". That's my other gripe, the 4Runner is way too complex for the average dealer service department. Unless the thing can't move under it's own power, any problem you have is likely to be ignored and deemed "normal".
 
Re: Re: Front end vibration should I buy a 4R?

Iowa4Runner said:
I've only experienced the front end vibration a few times and it didn't bug me that much. What bugs the living crap out of me are the 5 speed automatic transmission and the brakes. The electronics that manage the shifting decisions are astonishingly inept and make the vehicle feel clumsy. And if you're not careful when you shift from reverse to drive first thing in the morning, the transmission will violently slam into gear. Oh yeah, and there's no way to change the ATF or even check the level.

As for the brakes, for no apparent reason the brake pedal periodically kicks back at you with an annoying little bump. Like every other minor problem 4Runners have, the dealer tell me "its normal". That's my other gripe, the 4Runner is way too complex for the average dealer service department. Unless the thing can't move under it's own power, any problem you have is likely to be ignored and deemed "normal".
Click to expand...

Just wondering, did you drive your 4runner before you bought it? Drive a GX470 they feel the same. So does any other modern SUV with the traction control electronics that make these vehicles the sure footed vehicles they are today. I would suggest you trade your 4runner in and get something without the electronic controls, like a used Landcruiser say (1998-99), you might even get away with one up to 2002 model year. But I suggest you drive them before you buy one so you will know that you like the way they feel. Like they say different strokes for different folks.
 
Before you buy any T4R do a very careful test drive, especially on a smooth freeway.
When I was looking, about 1/2 of the T4R's I drove had very out of balance tires.
One had warped brake rotors. If you detect any problems drive another one. Listen
to the motor, if there are any funny noises pass on that one. If there is the slightest
problem DON'T buy that one.

Don't ever let the salesperson talk you into having a problem fixed. All of these things
are supposed to be solved before the unit is set out for sale. From experience over the
years getting problems fixed is worse than pulling teeth.

The vibration that is bugging people can be felt when you accelerate onto a freeway,
it dosen't occur under 50 mph. About 1/2 throttle will show it up.

Be picky, after all it is your hard earned money that is important, not the salespersons commission..

Cliff s
 
Firstly wait a month or two before buying a V8, so you get the new V8.

Secondly it seems 9 out of 10 times it is the tires that are the problem. Just insist on getting the Bridgestones or Michelin tires and not the Dunlops.

I never had the front end vibration, till I had my Dunlops balanced. Go figure??? I later replaced them with Revos and it drives as smooth as silk now.
 
I have never noticed any front end vibration. I have about 17k miles on the truck now.

The vibration that is bugging people can be felt when you accelerate onto a freeway,
it dosen't occur under 50 mph. About 1/2 throttle will show it up.
Click to expand...
I frequently do this - accelerate from 0 to 70 onto a freeway and don't notice any vibration.
 
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Over 20K on mine with no vibration problems. The only problem is the nut that's loose behind the wheel, the steering wheel that is. :bouncy2:
 
Re: Re: Re: Front end vibration should I buy a 4R?

Pitbull said:
Just wondering, did you drive your 4runner before you bought it? Drive a GX470 they feel the same. So does any other modern SUV with the traction control electronics that make these vehicles the sure footed vehicles they are today. I would suggest you trade your 4runner in and get something without the electronic controls, like a used Landcruiser say (1998-99), you might even get away with one up to 2002 model year. But I suggest you drive them before you buy one so you will know that you like the way they feel. Like they say different strokes for different folks.
Click to expand...

I test drove a 4Runner twice before buying and never experienced the problems I'm having now. Are you really trying to suggest that "any other modern SUV with the traction control electronics" should have the annoyances I'm experiencing? I'm not anti-electronics, I'm just anti sucky electronics. In fact I may end up fixing the transmission problems the same way I fixed the MPG computer problem.... With electronics.

Different strokes for different folks??? Are there any folks out there who are up for these strokes?

1. Random brake pedal thumps.
2. Harsh engaging transmissions.
3. Drivetrains that occasionally go into a coma for 1.5 - 2 seconds while they decided what gear to shift to.

I'm not saying 4Runners are pure crap and that nobody should buy them. I just want people to know of the possible annoyances that they may experience if they drop $30-40 grand for a new vehicle.
 
Cliff s said:
Before you buy any T4R do a very careful test drive, especially on a smooth freeway.
When I was looking, about 1/2 of the T4R's I drove had very out of balance tires.
One had warped brake rotors.
Cliff s
Click to expand...

I really hope the 4Runners you mentioned were severely abused on previous test drives. If Toyota has vehicles leaving the factory with warped rotors and out of balance tires, that'd be quite an embarrassment.
 
If anyone thinks the 4Runner trans shifts sloppy, he/she should try a Jeep GC lol.

My 03 V8 has 30,000Kms with no front end vibration. An 04 V6 Limited we have for a demo at work has 15,000kms with no vibration, and none of the 20+ other 03+ 4Runners I've driven on the highway have had it....That's not to say SOME don't necessarily have it, but it seems your pretty safe.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Front end vibration should I buy a 4R?

Iowa4Runner said:
I test drove a 4Runner twice before buying and never experienced the problems I'm having now. Are you really trying to suggest that "any other modern SUV with the traction control electronics" should have the annoyances I'm experiencing? I'm not anti-electronics, I'm just anti sucky electronics. In fact I may end up fixing the transmission problems the same way I fixed the MPG computer problem.... With electronics.

Different strokes for different folks??? Are there any folks out there who are up for these strokes?

1. Random brake pedal thumps.
2. Harsh engaging transmissions.
3. Drivetrains that occasionally go into a coma for 1.5 - 2 seconds while they decided what gear to shift to.

I'm not saying 4Runners are pure crap and that nobody should buy them. I just want people to know of the possible annoyances that they may experience if they drop $30-40 grand for a new vehicle.
Click to expand...

I suggest what you have is not at all normal and you need to take it in and go on a test drive with the service manager and make sure he understands you want it fixed. That might require driving your vehicle and then one of the new ones on the lot. Good luck
 
iowa4runner:

how many miles do you have on your 4runner? do remember that the initial few hundred miles, the computer is learning your driving habits so the tranny might be abit harsh. maybe it's something specific to your 4runner only? I don't know the exact details but i have no problems on my 5a/t. Heck it drives way better than my 00 v6 accord.

as for the going from R to D. Are you stopping completely prior to engaging the next gear? just playing devils advocate as some people think that you should be able to do that no problems still moving in reverse to go forward (dunno what they're thinking though). also, i've heard harsh R to D when the 4runner is cold so that could be it too (do you warm your 4runner in the morning or just drive cold?)

i'm sure your problems are rare as the majority has not experiencing similar issues (if they have, nobody is really speaking out loud) but i would take your 4runner into the dealer to have it checked out as i wouldn't want to drive that if i was experiencing those problems.
 
All transmissions shift more clunkilly when very cold. It's no big mystery, and every auto tranny does it when the fluid is not up to temp.
 
Good Times said:
iowa4runner:
how many miles do you have on your 4runner?
Click to expand...

A little over 4,000.


iowa4runner:
Are you stopping completely prior to engaging the next gear?
[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, I always make sure it's at an absolute dead stop. And the problem isn't getting it into D, it's when you press the gas to start moving.
 
Northof49 said:
All transmissions shift more clunkilly when very cold. It's no big mystery, and every auto tranny does it when the fluid is not up to temp.
Click to expand...

Actually the clumsy shifting and coma episodes happen when it's fully warmed up. And way down here in the depths of the Midwest, it ain't that cold. I first noticed the slam engagement feature this fall when overnight temps in my garage dropped to a bone chilling 60 deg. F. I've driven several vehicles that showed no ill shifting behavior with cold fluid, and even the 4Runner is fine when it wants to be. So much for the temperature theory...
 
Iowa4Runner said:
Actually the clumsy shifting and coma episodes happen when it's fully warmed up. And way down here in the depths of the Midwest, it ain't that cold. I first noticed the slam engagement feature this fall when overnight temps in my garage dropped to a bone chilling 60 deg. F. I've driven several vehicles that showed no ill shifting behavior with cold fluid, and even the 4Runner is fine when it wants to be. So much for the temperature theory...
Click to expand...
Lube your slip joint. made a world of difference on mine.
 
I did lube the driveline slip joint a while back and the "hey did that car just bump me?" effect went away. My problems are of a different nature.

I've got a generic OBDII scanner on the way and I'm going to add some "WS" ATF today or tomorrow. Maybe that'll get me somewhere.
 
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