Interesting outcome to someone’s steering wheel shake

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I finally fixed my shake. Long story's short version: all tires balanced perfectly every time, one was out of circle with high spot found by road force balancing but mostly by observing tire spinning during balancing. It takes observant and honest tire shop tech to spot such a small but important issue.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

With 302K miles on a 2014 SR5, I've dealt with the wheel shake issue repeatedly. Road force balance is a must. The more aggressive the tire tread, the more important this becomes. If this shake is allowed to go on over extended time, you will wear out tie rods. When this happens, you will get steering wheel shake when braking from 60 or 70 down to 30 to 40. It's on the level of a death wobble and it is not cause by rotors. Tires just a bit out of balance, brakes grabbing the rotors and the whole violent shake starts. Inspection by a top drawer independent mechanic revealed slight wear on the inner tie rods. Outers were already replaced. New tires cleaned most of it up. New inner tie rods going in when mechanic returns from vacation as there are special tools involved to remove and install.

 

[Matt831]

With 302K miles on a 2014 SR5, I've dealt with the wheel shake issue repeatedly. Road force balance is a must. The more aggressive the tire tread, the more important this becomes. If this shake is allowed to go on over extended time, you will wear out tie rods. When this happens, you will get steering wheel shake when braking from 60 or 70 down to 30 to 40. It's on the level of a death wobble and it is not cause by rotors. Tires just a bit out of balance, brakes grabbing the rotors and the whole violent shake starts. Inspection by a top drawer independent mechanic revealed slight wear on the inner tie rods. Outers were already replaced. New tires cleaned most of it up. New inner tie rods going in when mechanic returns from vacation as there are special tools involved to remove and install.

At what mileage did you replace the outers?

 

[FoxtrotRomeo]

Hmmm - I am new here - but not new to Toyota, owned them since the late 1980s.

Most recent was a 2013 FJ Cruiser Trail Teams (bought new), had the TRD wheels. I had a bit of shake, not too much, I could live with it. Sold it about 15 months ago, got $6k more than I paid for it.

Looking at a new 2022 (maybe 23) 4 Runner TRD Off Road Premium with the TRD wheels, would not exclude a TRD Pro.

How prevalent is the shake on the TRD wheels? We had the same issue on the FJ Cruisers. Test drive at highway speeds before purchasing?
I wish they had this fixed by now.

 

[Matt831]

Happens on every trim level.

 

[FoxtrotRomeo]

Happens on every trim level.

Thanks Matt - every wheel option has shake issues? Or only the TRD wheels?

Add -every wheel option has the recorded shake issues?

 

[CutthroatSlam]

At what mileage did you replace the outers?

About 290K to 295K. They were not in bad condition, but it does not take much. Every wear piece is additive to front end issues.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Thanks Matt - every wheel option has shake issues? Or only the TRD wheels?

Add -every wheel option has the recorded shake issues?

Every wheel option, does not matter. The steering system is highly sensitive to improperly balanced tires.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

We oddly enough have had a couple CV axles on newer Toyotas causing an odd vibration/shake (I believe it was a Camry and two Rav4's IIRC?), not sure what about the axle was causing the issue (wasn't a horrible vibration/shake, but just enough to be annoying on a new vehicle).

From what I recall when one of our coworkers got a brand new TRD PRO and went through this similar ordeal; the port that was converting/finishing TRD PRO vehicles had issues with the calibration of their balancer and it meant just about every damn TRD PRO for a good run had some form of balance issue.

I will also note that I have no idea if it's due to the supply/current issues in global manufacturing; but I have noticed an increase in mainly tires, but a couple wheels being just garbage out of the box. You'll road force them and the run out on the wheel is just way out or the tire won't roadforce below 50-60ft.lbs no matter how you turn it on the wheel. It used to be easy to tell which ones were the brands that'd give you the most trouble when you go with their AT/MT's (a Romani curse upon you Micky Thompson and Dura-Trac!), but it seems everyone is popping out more wonky tires these days.

I had CV axles on a 2005 Honda Accord cause steering wheel pulse under heavy acceleration from 40 to 70 mph.

 

[AppleIsSkynet]

Y’all go back and read the update to the update post. The OP made a mistake and it wasn’t the front axel but the rear.