I'm just trying to help and can tell what happened with my 4runner. I used to think it's a suspension issue also, so as the tire shop that wanted to start fixing the issue by replacing steering rack to begin with. I insisted on balancing tires and after few tries jitter disappear. I have little play in my steering rack bushing (that I will replace when will have time) and with bad balance the whole front end was shaking while hitting tiny bumps on the road. Once proper balance was done the whole shaking has dissapear and no need for new parts. I'm just trying to propose the least expensive way to find a problem instead of changing front suspension.
Jitters on bumps
- Thread starter 1985taylor1925
- Start date
I'm just trying to help and can tell what happened with my 4runner. I used to think it's a suspension issue also, so as the tire shop that wanted to start fixing the issue by replacing steering rack to begin with. I insisted on balancing tires and after few tries jitter disappear. I have little play in my steering rack bushing (that I will replace when will have time) and with bad balance the whole front end was shaking while hitting tiny bumps on the road. Once proper balance was done the whole shaking has dissapear and no need for new parts. I'm just trying to propose the least expensive way to find a problem instead of changing front suspension.
Nelsonmd
New member
Ok, so if you have replaced the...
Suspension
Steering Rack -
Inner Tie Rod Ends
Outer Tie Rod Ends
Lower Ball Joints
Upper Ball Joints - (unlikely the cause)
Lower A-Arm Bushings
Upper A-Arm Bushings (Unlikely)
then what else could possibly affect steering? It looks like you are at about half this list right now. Pretty soon you will run out of stuff to replace!
I am battling the same thing you are, so I am very interested in your solution as you are a few steps ahead of me right now.
Suspension
Steering Rack -
Inner Tie Rod Ends
Outer Tie Rod Ends
Lower Ball Joints
Upper Ball Joints - (unlikely the cause)
Lower A-Arm Bushings
Upper A-Arm Bushings (Unlikely)
then what else could possibly affect steering? It looks like you are at about half this list right now. Pretty soon you will run out of stuff to replace!
I am battling the same thing you are, so I am very interested in your solution as you are a few steps ahead of me right now.
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Ya Iv done the first four there. Im beggining to wonder if this is extreamly common with 3rd gens. Maybe just an engineering flaw. But on the other hand not that many people have started threads about it. All I want is for the front end to feel solid. Right now it feels worse than any other vehicle Iv driven. Today I hit a large bump and did hear a small clunk, which tells me it may be in the ball joints. Next week Im gonna have the shop that installed my steering rack drive it and see if they have any ideas.
Nelsonmd
New member
Yeah, I think the LBJ's are a good one to replace. I don't thing the uppers are that important to replace, they don't see the loading that the lowers see.
BTW, I sometimes hear that clunk too.
Well I just read over all of these pages hoping I would find the cure at the end. 
I am also having this exact same issue on my 2002 4Runner with 97,000 miles. I have already replaced tires, shocks, struts. If I hadn't just replaced my timing belt, water pump, and accessory belts I would just sell this truck and get it over with. My wife won't even ride in it anymore because it is so bad. The thing is this used to be hers several years ago and she loved it. Uggh
I am also having this exact same issue on my 2002 4Runner with 97,000 miles. I have already replaced tires, shocks, struts. If I hadn't just replaced my timing belt, water pump, and accessory belts I would just sell this truck and get it over with. My wife won't even ride in it anymore because it is so bad. The thing is this used to be hers several years ago and she loved it. Uggh
Nelsonmd
New member
Well I just read over all of these pages hoping I would find the cure at the end.
What exact symptoms are you seeing?
To me there is is play, which feels like looseness when hitting bumps, also makes clunking noise or feeling. Then there's feedback wobble, where the wheel wobbles back and forth going over bumps. Replacing my rack guide eliminated the play for me, now I'm going after the wobble.
Well I am not so sure it is a front rack issue for me meaning that I do not notice the play in the stearing mentioned. Any bumps in the road that I hit there is just a very jarring shake from the entire vehicle itself. Honestly after reading this thread and the thought of throwing more money at it I am going to have to seriously think about selling it. It's super clean and now might be the best time seeing I am still under 100,000 miles. (big thing for some buyers) I just don't know man.
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Exact same symptoms as you. And it drives me nuts. This is no exageration . . . Iv had 4 shops tell me they dont see anything wrong in the front end. My $6000 4runner is now an $8000 4runner, and Ive only owned it for 7 months. Iv replaced a fuel injector, tires, shocks, rear springs and bump stops (these were free i admit), steering rack bushings, steering rack guide, steering rack, inner and outter tie rods, sway bar bushings, had it aligned three times because of the front end work, and had it balance three times. The last balance was at a Toyota service center with the haweka adapter. That cured any wheel wobble I had. Several people have commented about balance issues. I hope its clear to all at this point that my issue has nothing to do with wheel wobble/balance problems. It has to be something in my suspension linkage. Other things I have suspected are hubs and body mounts. But as many have mentioned, throwing money at it is not the solution. Thing is, if I cant figure it out, nor can any shops including Toyota, I dont know what to do except replace parts one at a time until the problem is gone. This is a terrible strategy I know. If any of you 3rd gen experts live in WI, I would love to have you drive it and see what you think.
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Well I just read over all of these pages hoping I would find the cure at the end.
So if your wife used to love it then it hasnt always had this issue right? It developed recently?
Correct, this has been an issue for at least a couple years. I think it just slowley got worse over a time and she really wasn't riding in it any longer since she had a newer car. We bought this from the original owners several years back and at the time it had 18,000 miles on it. Honestly I am looking for any excuse for a new vehicle but this is frustrating, expecially after recently throwing money at it thinking I could fix the issue and would have it for a few more years.
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Well at least that gives me assurance that it can be fixed. This is the only 4runner iv owned and I wondered if this is how they all drive.
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
No man, not yet. Its probably going to be a few weeks before I have time to change them myself, which is the plan. Im debating getting them from NAPA or Toyota. Brian2sun uses NAPAs and said theyre good quality. Plus the lifetime guarantee. When I do replace them I'll def update the thread. I read the other thread about a few guys LBJs literally snapping in half, so with 170000 on mine Im anxious to get some new ones. Lately ive been hearing a clunk more and more frequently on larger bumps too. Im wondering if thats the lowers or uppers?
quicksilvr
New member
The only 4runner that I've driven (with over 100K miles) that DID NOT have jitters was the one that had brand new OEM upper and lower ball joints.
New balls joints all around and proper tire pressure (35psi), and I bet your jitters are gone. Too bad you didn't do those first....
New balls joints all around and proper tire pressure (35psi), and I bet your jitters are gone. Too bad you didn't do those first....
I guess I need to price this out and see how big of a job it may be.
quicksilvr
New member
Lowers are easy, uppers are a PITA.
Nelsonmd
New member
Cool. I am going to use Napa when I do mine. That LBJ thread has freaked me out too, but I have realized that I probably won't get them done tomorrow as well as the lift, so it will just be the lift for now.
I had the clunking start on mine as well. I replaced the steering rack guide and tightened it down more than it was before and the clunking went away. My steering is stiffer, but all the clunking is gone.
I just subscribed to this thread because my new-to-me 2001 with 120K has a similar issue.
When driving about about 65 on the highway and I hit any kind of bump I hear noise from the passenger side wheel and it feels like the wheel shakes. It comes through the steering wheel and it's a little hairy. It's not too bad, but since I've owned Jeeps in the past with the wonderful "death wobble" it scares me. It doesn't do it on the drivers side, only passenger. It is also a little louder on that side than I would think even when traveling at lower speeds and hitting bumps and it does an extremely minor shake as well. It just doesn't sound right. Gradual dips don't cause it, it's only abrupt bumps or pot holes.
I'm thinking it's the lower ball joint. I'm going to replace my inner and outer TRE's just because I have 120K on them but I don't think that's the issue. I also have the Wheeler steering rack bushings on the way just for the heck of it. I have contemplated ordering new shocks as well as it seems like the passenger side front shock could be shot but I have a feeling it's the LBJ. I'll report back after changing them. In the mean time, good luck to all of you with the same issue.
When driving about about 65 on the highway and I hit any kind of bump I hear noise from the passenger side wheel and it feels like the wheel shakes. It comes through the steering wheel and it's a little hairy. It's not too bad, but since I've owned Jeeps in the past with the wonderful "death wobble" it scares me. It doesn't do it on the drivers side, only passenger. It is also a little louder on that side than I would think even when traveling at lower speeds and hitting bumps and it does an extremely minor shake as well. It just doesn't sound right. Gradual dips don't cause it, it's only abrupt bumps or pot holes.
I'm thinking it's the lower ball joint. I'm going to replace my inner and outer TRE's just because I have 120K on them but I don't think that's the issue. I also have the Wheeler steering rack bushings on the way just for the heck of it. I have contemplated ordering new shocks as well as it seems like the passenger side front shock could be shot but I have a feeling it's the LBJ. I'll report back after changing them. In the mean time, good luck to all of you with the same issue.
Last edited:
Eureka!
Taylor - Go check your sway bar frame mounts. I was rotating my tires and I noticed my passenger side (the side doing the jitters) mount was separated from the frame. The front side nut had come off the bolt the goes from the bottom up and the sway bar was loose. I put a new nut on it and tightened both bolts and the jitters are gone! I wouldn't have guessed it makes that much of a difference, especially with the steering wheel shaking after bumps or certain speeds. I came from a Jeep that I would occasionally not even use a front sway bar but I guess the independent suspension needs it more than a straight axle.
Anyways, go check this. Maybe this is your problem too. I was just about to go to Napa and order new LBJ's and new tie rod ends. I'm very happy this is fixed. God I love my 4Runner! :bravo:
Taylor - Go check your sway bar frame mounts. I was rotating my tires and I noticed my passenger side (the side doing the jitters) mount was separated from the frame. The front side nut had come off the bolt the goes from the bottom up and the sway bar was loose. I put a new nut on it and tightened both bolts and the jitters are gone! I wouldn't have guessed it makes that much of a difference, especially with the steering wheel shaking after bumps or certain speeds. I came from a Jeep that I would occasionally not even use a front sway bar but I guess the independent suspension needs it more than a straight axle.
Anyways, go check this. Maybe this is your problem too. I was just about to go to Napa and order new LBJ's and new tie rod ends. I'm very happy this is fixed. God I love my 4Runner! :bravo:
