Help!!! Wandering on Ice...

R

rookie17

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New here.......

My wife and I bought a 2006 4runner with 130,xxx on it in the spring of this year and everything has been great with it. Well today we got our first snow fall and if seems as if it wants to wander all over the place. When the road if dry it drives straight and doesn't have any wandering. But when icy it's all over the place (No I'm not driving like a crazy person). This is just when maintaining speed in a straight line. If I go around a bend in the road and have the wheel turned it doesn't seem to do it. But when in a straight line it does??? I'm thinking it has to be steering components or alignment.

Trust me I know how to drive so lets not throw out any comments about driving skills!

Any thing to pay special attention that can be a common issue that I should check first?

I'm thinking it's more in the steering rack or something with the steering.

Thanks!
 
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I would have your alignment checked... even if things are only a little "out", it will be noticeable on icy roads when tires are trading traction back and forth, side to side.
 
If its gotten alot colder, check t tire pressures. If the tierods were not replaced yet, check those too.
 
Sounds like a tire issue. The tire is the only item in contact with ice and provides the only source of friction for your vehicle on the road surface. They may look like they are wearing fine, but what tire is it? What condition is the rubber in?
 
ebg18t said:
Sounds like a tire issue. The tire is the only item in contact with ice and provides the only source of friction for your vehicle on the road surface. They may look like they are wearing fine, but what tire is it? What condition is the rubber in?
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Tires are in good condition and have plenty of life. I'm taking it in shortly to have it looked over and to have the tires siped. I don't think it's tires because it stops great on the icy roads.
Forgot to mention that last night I went for another drive and turned it hard both ways and it was sticking. Had a slight push but was sticking. Drove in a straight line and it started wandering again.
 
rookie17 said:
Tires are in good condition and have plenty of life. I'm taking it in shortly to have it looked over and to have the tires siped. I don't think it's tires because it stops great on the icy roads.
Forgot to mention that last night I went for another drive and turned it hard both ways and it was sticking. Had a slight push but was sticking. Drove in a straight line and it started wandering again.
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Sipping was designed for more braking traction, slices for more edges contacting the ground.

When the road gets icy and driven on, melt and re ice, it creates different high ridges, tends to pull your front all over the place. Granted snow and ice isn't my normal driving conditions and just an observation.
 
having fun said:
Sipping was designed for more braking traction, slices for more edges contacting the ground.

When the road gets icy and driven on, melt and re ice, it creates different high ridges, tends to pull your front all over the place. Granted snow and ice isn't my normal driving conditions and just an observation.
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This I am aware of and that's not the case though. I can drive me f350 down the same road and it's fine...
 
rookie17 said:
This I am aware of and that's not the case though. I can drive me f350 down the same road and it's fine...
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I wasn't doubting the driving part as your more in a state that has to deal with snow/ice. Just stating that if your braking is good the sipping not going to solve anything. And some tend to over look the ridges from melt/re ice thing.

Your 350 has more weight on the front and with more force also.

Just going off what you have posted, your not having the same effect when dry, and not wondering, seems more of a ridge on the road symptom than a mechanical problem.

Just report back on your findings as I try to educate from others on different problems to save a few bucks on needless items.
 
having fun said:
I wasn't doubting the driving part as your more in a state that has to deal with snow/ice. Just stating that if your braking is good the sipping not going to solve anything. And some tend to over look the ridges from melt/re ice thing.

Your 350 has more weight on the front and with more force also.

Just going off what you have posted, your not having the same effect when dry, and not wondering, seems more of a ridge on the road symptom than a mechanical problem.

Just report back on your findings as I try to educate from others on different problems to save a few bucks on needless items.
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I hear you but this is not a rut issue IMO.

I'll let you know. We just dropped it off.
 
The only other thing I can think of is if one of the wheel speed sensors for the traction control is not reading correctly and applying brake to certain corners??? But the light doesn't turn on... If I put my foot into it I can get the light to turn on though so I wouldn't think it has to do with the traction control.
 
How out you might ask? well the right rear is -.04 which is extremely close to being straight and the left rear is at 1.44

The guy at the shop is even puzzled to why I don't have weird tire wear.
 
rookie17 said:
I wish I knew how also. Trying to figure out if I can find just the housing and use my internals?
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In reality it will probably be cheaper to just find a used axle and replace the whole thing. Be less labor than swapping all the internals and such.

If you could find an 09 TE axle you might be able to get an e-locker.
 
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