More dreaded front end shimmy

[Redsoxx1918]

I'm on my 4th 4Runner, and my second TRD PRO. My SR5 and TRD Off-road never had the front end vibration. My previous 2019 TRD PRO did. The dealership ended up rebalancing the tires and that fixed it. Up until now, my 2023 PRO did not have it. Went in last week for my 10k mile service oil change and tire rotation. Ever since, the front end shakes around 60mph up to 70mph. Yesterday it got much worse. The vibration is so bad that I can feel it in the gas pedal and in the driver's seat. It was so bad I checked the lug nuts. All were tight. I have an appt for Wednesday and I'm going to ask for a rebalance of the tires and an alignment. I only have 10k miles on it and the warranty is supposed to cover balance and alignment during the first year or 12k miles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CavPro]

I'm on my 4th 4Runner, and my second TRD PRO. My SR5 and TRD Off-road never had the front end vibration. My previous 2019 TRD PRO did. The dealership ended up rebalancing the tires and that fixed it. Up until now, my 2023 PRO did not have it. Went in last week for my 10k mile service oil change and tire rotation. Ever since, the front end shakes around 60mph up to 70mph. Yesterday it got much worse. The vibration is so bad that I can feel it in the gas pedal and in the driver's seat. It was so bad I checked the lug nuts. All were tight. I have an appt for Wednesday and I'm going to ask for a rebalance of the tires and an alignment. I only have 10k miles on it and the warranty is supposed to cover balance and alignment during the first year or 12k miles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Im my case it was 100% tires. I hated the entire lifespan of my OEM nitro's. Never again.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

Im my case it was 100% tires. I hated the entire lifespan of my OEM nitro's. Never again.

Would you believe I drove home from work tonight and no vibration??? I'm pretty sure the 4Runner knows I made an appt at the dealership. Now they'll tell me they can't duplicate it. I'm gonna see if they'll balance the tires anyway. That's covered for the first 12k miles. Could a tire be out of balance but only cause an intermittent shutter?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[osugsxr]

Would you believe I drove home from work tonight and no vibration??? I'm pretty sure the 4Runner knows I made an appt at the dealership. Now they'll tell me they can't duplicate it. I'm gonna see if they'll balance the tires anyway. That's covered for the first 12k miles. Could a tire be out of balance but only cause an intermittent shutter?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes it is possible, knock on wood I havent had that in years. Usually its out of balance

 

[fkheath]

Could a tire be out of balance but only cause an intermittent shutter?

Perhaps. Could be mud stuck on the wheels.

Did, perhaps, your 4Runner sit for several days between drives. Some tires will flat spot when sitting for a while, which will cause a vibration until they round out, usually 10 miles or more. Tires with nylon cords are notorious for this. Most modern tires with polyester or aramid cords are less susceptible. Thus when you first drive the car there is a vibration, but later in the day there is none.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

Perhaps. Could be mud stuck on the wheels.

Did, perhaps, your 4Runner sit for several days between drives. Some tires will flat spot when sitting for a while, which will cause a vibration until they round out, usually 10 miles or more. Tires with nylon cords are notorious for this. Most modern tires with polyester or aramid cords are less susceptible. Thus when you first drive the car there is a vibration, but later in the day there is none.

No mud on the tires. Car hasn't sat for a little while. It actually sat for a week while I was in Florida and it was fine when I got back. All started when I got my 10k mile service. I'm guessing the back tires were out of balance and when they shifted them to the front, it became noticeable.

It was relatively smooth on the way to work today but then on the way home tonight, the shake was pretty bad. I have a 23 mile commute each way and it never evened out. Could feel the vibration through the floor again.

Appt tomorrow morning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tcw1184]

Are they road force balancing? If so, ask them what the numbers are. If they're not, tell them to do that. If they're not willing to do anything, just put the rears back on the front. The tires will wear unevenly, but at least it wont drive like shit. I've seen quite a few people take this approach. Once they get it balanced to the point it's not causing any issues, they leave it that way and ride the tires out as is.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

Are they road force balancing? If so, ask them what the numbers are. If they're not, tell them to do that. If they're not willing to do anything, just put the rears back on the front. The tires will wear unevenly, but at least it wont drive like shit. I've seen quite a few people take this approach. Once they get it balanced to the point it's not causing any issues, they leave it that way and ride the tires out as is.

They did roadforce balance. I picked up the 4Runner already so didn't get a chance to ask what the numbers were. The slip said that all four tires were out of balance, so they balanced all the tires and all seems good right now. Was covered under warranty as I'm only at 10k miles. This seems to be such a common issue with these tires. Are they not balancing them properly at the factory or do they just naturally go out of balance with the slightest of wear?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Get an alignment and tell them you want to see a minimum of +3.0 caster.

Mine shipped with +2.5 and +2.8 and I was constantly making tiny corrections on crowned road.

Additional positive caster holds the front of the vehicle more steady (this includes road vibrations).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CavPro]

This seems to be such a common issue with these tires. Are they not balancing them properly at the factory or do they just naturally go out of balance with the slightest of wear?

They ship with steelies and the tires/wheels are installed at port, I bet the steelies are perfect lol. I always wondered if the the ones with port installed suspension/wheels/tires are aligned in port or at factory. Good news is for now, your problem is solved, good luck.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

The front end shake is back and still pretty bad after roadforce balance. I've been dealing with this BS for some many years between a. Couple of 4Runners I'm seriously considering just moving on to another vehicle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[osugsxr]

The front end shake is back and still pretty bad after roadforce balance. I've been dealing with this BS for some many years between a. Couple of 4Runners I'm seriously considering just moving on to another vehicle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

might be a good choice for you to move on. Its a known issue and its too much for you.

Could try new wheels and tires .

 

[CutthroatSlam]

1) Road force balance the tires, or consider throwing balance beads in the tires. Better tires always helps here too.

If you let the shimmy shake go too long, you end up with wear on front end steering and suspension components.

2) New inner and outer tie rods.

3) New upper and lower control arm bushings, preferably urethane.

4) New upper and lower ball joints.

5) East Coast Gear bushing replacing the needle bearing in the front differential.

Can't say which solved my issue as I in that order, but collectively it got it done. If you can't deal with it, sell the vehicle as a known lemon at a steep discount to someone who can deal with it.

 

[AggieOE]

The front end shake is back and still pretty bad after roadforce balance. I've been dealing with this BS for some many years between a. Couple of 4Runners I'm seriously considering just moving on to another vehicle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If your other 4Runners were fine that had different tires.... wouldn't it be cheaper to just replace the tires with something different rather than selling a vehicle and buying another because the tires were bad?

 

[Dame-O]

Get an alignment and tell them you want to see a minimum of +3.0 caster.

Mine shipped with +2.5 and +2.8 and I was constantly making tiny corrections on crowned road.

Additional positive caster holds the front of the vehicle more steady (this includes road vibrations).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had the front end shimmy that would start around 60mph and go away after 65mph. I had my tires balanced multiple times and it was still there. I recently leveled my 4Runner with the Eibach Pro Truck level 1 and new UCA's and the caster is now at 4. The shimmy was completely gone with the same tires.

I would try the above suggestion and see if it helps. I'm guessing that's what eliminated my front end shake.

 

[vondy21]

I had the front end shimmy that would start around 60mph and go away after 65mph. I had my tires balanced multiple times and it was still there. I recently leveled my 4Runner with the Eibach Pro Truck level 1 and new UCA's and the caster is now at 4. The shimmy was completely gone with the same tires.

I would try the above suggestion and see if it helps. I'm guessing that's what eliminated my front end shake.

Do you have to have aftermarket UCAs on a totally stock suspension to get the caster close to 4? Can you get there on stock?

I've had the 60-65 shimmy since new. Multiple balances on Michelin Defenders and it always comes back.

It's about time for new tires and was going to have them do an alignment and try to get the caster close to 4.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

If your other 4Runners were fine that had different tires.... wouldn't it be cheaper to just replace the tires with something different rather than selling a vehicle and buying another because the tires were bad?

I hear ya, but there's no guarantee new tires would fix it either. I've seen other people replace with different tires and the situation persists. I have another appointment this week to have them look at it again. Not confidant that anything will change. They claimed they test drove it last time and it was smooth. Who knows if they even drove it afterwards. Love the vehicle but they did send me an email offering me $56k for it, which is what I paid. But...their lot is empty so not really anything I could even trade it in on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[osugsxr]

I hear ya, but there's no guarantee new tires would fix it either. I've seen other people replace with different tires and the situation persists. I have another appointment this week to have them look at it again. Not confidant that anything will change. They claimed they test drove it last time and it was smooth. Who knows if they even drove it afterwards. Love the vehicle but they did send me an email offering me $56k for it, which is what I paid. But...their lot is empty so not really anything I could even trade it in on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thats a reasonable TIV for a lemon

 

[Redsoxx1918]

thats a reasonable TIV for a lemon

You think so? I'm guessing they will just end up saying it's normal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CrawlCulture]

Yea the dreaded front end shimmy. I had a bad one that took me about 6 months to figure out.

Mine drove great until I changed from my 285/70 Nitto Trail Grapps on the factory TRD wheels to 285/75R17 Trail Grapps on Method 305s and then around 45-60mph the wheel shake and pedal vibration would start.

Things that you need to check:

1. Wheel balance (you have done that) but make sure they didn't find that your tires showed excessive road force bc if they do, they are trash and will need to be replaced more than likely. It could be they were out of balance and became out of round or they could have just been out of round from the start.

2. Alignment (everything needs to be in spec). Make sure they aren't just doing tie rod adjustment and calling it good.

3. Everything should be torqued to the proper spec (not just "tight" if you are chasing vibrations)

4. Check you wheel bearings. Jack the wheel up off the ground and push at the 12 or 6 position and if you get any movement, it is a bad bearing. (3-9 movement is tie rod but that shouldnt have anything to do with it)
Toyota 4Runner w/ trashed wheel bearing assembly (12-6 movement) Vibrations ?/ braking problems ? - YouTube
It is about $150 for a koyo bearing and Dorman hub or if you want all OEM you can get one for $399. If you want to press the hub into the bearing yourself you can get it for about $90 and use your old hub.

5. Rarely, water can get in the tires from condensation formed in the compressor tank and that could cause it to feel like it is wandering especially during acceleration.

I eventually got it taken care of but it about drove me crazy trying to get it figured out.