just got a 99 4x2 auto 4 cyl - highway speed SHAKE and front end bounce

[brostar]

HELP!! highway speed SHAKE (resolved)

with 154k for $4500 seemed like a decent deal. I didn't take her on the freeway for the test drive. the 4cyl engine sounds perfect and leaks nothing. passed smog no problem. everything looks / feels tight and right.

On the drive home at 55mph the front end began to shake and i thought it might just be tire balance so I proceeded to 80mph and let me tell you - it was nearly shaking off the road sorta up and down motion. I thought i'd been had but i see alot of posts regarding this.

When braking there is a very slight wobble in the steering wheel but not a major pull at all.

I heard this happens quite a bit but the remedy is unclear any help would be great. I love my new 4runner and want to fix this. Im going to start with a 4 wheel rotation and balance.
I live in Buena Park CA

 

[rubbman]

Re: HELP!! highway speed SHAKE and front end bounce

with 154k for $4500 seemed like a decent deal. I didn't take her on the freeway for the test drive. the 4cyl engine sounds perfect and leaks nothing. passed smog no problem. everything looks / feels tight and right.

On the drive home at 55mph the front end began to shake and i thought it might just be tire balance so I proceeded to 80mph and let me tell you - it was nearly shaking off the road sorta up and down motion. I thought i'd been had but i see alot of posts regarding this.

When braking there is a very slight wobble in the steering wheel but not a major pull at all.

I heard this happens quite a bit but the remedy is unclear any help would be great. I love my new 4runner and want to fix this. Im going to start with a 4 wheel rotation and balance.
I live in Buena Park CA

Also run your hands around the tires andcheck for bulges, check for dried up dirt clumps on the inside of rims.

 

[shootmymime]

does it make any noises? knocks, clicks or clangs?

tie rod ends? ball joints?

 

[brostar]

no metal sounds (clicks or clangs) and the tires are clean but after running my hands over them...they're not as new I thought so there may be some uneven wear...?

 

[DavidAlexander]

I let my old car sit for 6 months and the tires in the front did the same thing for the first 1000 miles until they became "round" again. I guess the belts sagged and made a flat spot.

They were Michelin MXV4's

 

[brostar]

got better

Thanks for the posts everyone. I am going to replace the front pads and rotors. Then rotate and balance all 4 tires. I think the tire balance was off for a long time and eventually caused the rotor to wear unevenly and gave it a wobble.