Help diagnosing steering vibration and shakes

[redkaz04]

Hi guys,

I recently purchased an 04 sr5 4x4 with 140k on the clock. When I test drove it had some vibrations in the steering wheel and kinda hummed as I went down the road. The vibrations start at around 30 mph and only get louder and slightly worse as I increase in speed.

The owner said it was the old tires and they needed to be replaced.

Well four days later(this morning) I swapped the wheels and tires from my wife's 04 sport onto my sr5....hoping to diagnose the problem as bad tires.(her sport had almost new Michelin tires and it stupid quiet and vibration free on the highway). Well I got out on the road in my sr5 and the vibration was EXACTLY the same.....

Any ideas what to check next? I'm thinking it could be a u joint?? The truck makes a mild hum in addition to the vibration...the michelins DO Not hum on my wife's 4runner...so help???

 

[Bossman]

If you have ruled out all tire/wheel related causes for the vibration by doing the switch, then I might next consider inspecting for the following ...

(1) worn wheel bearing, (2) worn bushing in upper and lower suspension links, (3) loose, worn or damaged steering components, (4) worn ball joint.

 

[ebg18t]

If you have ruled out all tire/wheel related causes for the vibration by doing the switch, then I might next consider inspecting for the following ...

(1) worn wheel bearing, (2) worn bushing in upper and lower suspension links, (3) loose, worn or damaged steering components, (4) worn ball joint.

I 2nd BossMan's list. Start there and report back.

 

[dereky]

What about worn cv axle joints or drive axle joints

 

[redkaz04]

What about worn cv axle joints or drive axle joints

Cv boots aren't broken or torn ...I know a pretty honest local mechanic that can to check it out Monday- Will report back-

 

[gshadow325]

Subd please report back.

 

[redkaz04]

Update: I replaced the rotors, brakes and front wheel bearings-noise and vibration is still 100 percent there;(

 

[gshadow325]

Do you get a driveline clunk when going from park to drive or drive to reverse? I do and when that happens I get a driveline shake. It doesn't happen all the time.

 

[gshadow325]

I am thinking on replacing axles with nib oem.

 

[redkaz04]

I am thinking on replacing axles with nib oem.

It was the left wheel bearings. Drives perfect now. When I pulled the cap off the hub there was a terrible smell. Runs good now

 

[gshadow325]

It was the left wheel bearings. Drives perfect now. When I pulled the cap off the hub there was a terrible smell. Runs good now

in another post you said you changed the wheel bearings already.

i just posted my findings in another thread on my front end vibrations.

dont know if mine are solved since i didnt change the axles out yet, but definatly something wrong/worn with mine

 

[redkaz04]

in another post you said you changed the wheel bearings already.

i just posted my findings in another thread on my front end vibrations.

dont know if mine are solved since i didnt change the axles out yet, but definatly something wrong/worn with mine

I changed the front right side, not the left. My mechanic had me convinced it might be the front right bearings. I though nothing of the front left bearings. After buying the bearings at the local napa shop and having them pressed into the old hubs, i decided to go ahead and do the left side. Total cost was about 175.00. I was busy with work so the left side took a minute to get finished. It worked.

 

[gshadow325]

It was the left wheel bearings. Drives perfect now. When I pulled the cap off the hub there was a terrible smell. Runs good now

so it was a bad smell, like a cheesy buritto fart? or like old stinky sock smell?

joke LOL

wish someone will invent smell-o-vision or scratch and sniff internet

seriously when the bearing came out it was noticeably worn?

do you have a part number? i am gathering parts for my repair. so far i have axles, and diff fluid and diff seals coming on tuesday. i would rather have the bearing in my hand and not need them. than need them when its all apart and cant drive home.

 

[redkaz04]

I had the old bearings pressed out of the hub and the new bearing "assembly" I bought from napa pressed in. The guy at the suspension shop said the bearings didnt look that bad.

When I put the hub back on the left side with the new bearings the shake was absolutely GONE.

Yes, it smelled bad....like the king tut's tomb.....was just opened for the first time.

 

[gshadow325]

Mine is the bad drivers side axle. Swapped out both front axles with nib oem Toyota ones two days ago. My vibrations are gone. Confirmed today with a 30 mile run with speeds @ 70mph plus to check for vibrations. Smoothest it has ever been since I had it