New 4Runner has wobbles

M

mplsdunk

New member
Hey, so I picked up another 3rd gen. I've never had the wobble problem before and I knew it had it when I bought it. So it starts when I hit a bump at around 50 or above. I can stop it by letting off the gas or pushing the gas harder. I took it to the shop and they said the only parts that are even questionable are the inner tie rods so they did those and an alignment and rotated the tires. It still has it and they said the only thing they see wrong with the truck is the bearing on the transfer case to the output shaft has play but they don't think that would cause it and all the joints holding it are solid.

What do you guys think? whole car looked over especially the suspension and it all looks good but still wobbles.

Thanks in advance.
 
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None, but once it starts it feels like I'm just turning the wheel side to side. It's not a vibrating wobble thing.
 
Possible dragging brake caliper,wheel balance, probable ball joint(s). How are your rack bushings?
 
Maybe, they rotated the tires to try to pin it to a tire but I'll mention that to them. I'm going to have them do the timing belt and water pump too and then I should be good for a long time.
 
Unless you have confidence doing an inspection of the components on the front end of your rig, I'd take it to another shop that gets good Yelp reviews. What you're experiencing sounds dangerous like something is going to break like a lower or upper balljoint which could cause you to wreck.

If I were you, I'd take a real good look at both upper and lower ball joints for play, check upper and lower control arm for worn out bushings causing play and make sure both arms are fastened securely to the frame (maybe the cam adjusters for the LCAs are loose or the UCA bolts are loose), check that strut upper nuts and lower bolts aren't loose or missing, check for wheel bearing play, make sure steering rack is mounted securely to the cross member, front differential mounts are on securely, CV axles boots are intact, etc, etc.

I would not drive that vehicle until you get this figured out.
 
You could have something loose in the rear end too. Some play allowing the rear axle to squirm a little going over bumps. Maybe that's why the mechanic found no problems in the front.
 
The only thing I ever had "wobble" and not a vibration, was an out of round wheel.

But when you say, "I can stop it by letting off the gas or pushing the gas harder". To me that sounds like a drive shaft vibration.
 
mtbtim said:
Unless you have confidence doing an inspection of the components on the front end of your rig, I'd take it to another shop that gets good Yelp reviews. What you're experiencing sounds dangerous like something is going to break like a lower or upper balljoint which could cause you to wreck.

If I were you, I'd take a real good look at both upper and lower ball joints for play, check upper and lower control arm for worn out bushings causing play and make sure both arms are fastened securely to the frame (maybe the cam adjusters for the LCAs are loose or the UCA bolts are loose), check that strut upper nuts and lower bolts aren't loose or missing, check for wheel bearing play, make sure steering rack is mounted securely to the cross member, front differential mounts are on securely, CV axles boots are intact, etc, etc.

I would not drive that vehicle until you get this figured out.
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That's actually how I found them. They have super good reviews online haha.

They said they checked everything, they had it for 8 hours but I'll go double check tomorrow. It's a block from my job so it's not a big deal.
 
Scramble said:
The only thing I ever had "wobble" and not a vibration, was an out of round wheel.

But when you say, "I can stop it by letting off the gas or pushing the gas harder". To me that sounds like a drive shaft vibration.
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I know the truck was rarely driven but the tires are like new but they might have a flat spot or something.

No it's dead quiet, no vibration. Just like I'm gently rocking the wheel back and forth and if I let it keep going it will get wobbling faster.
 
Upon further review I think it's coming from the rear. It feels like a mild fishtail and the steering wheel doesn't pull at all. I could let go of the wheel and still go completely straight just with the rear rocking side to side and the steering wheel not moving at all.

Anything in the rear that could cause that? I know there is really nothing to adjust back there.
 
mplsdunk said:
Upon further review I think it's coming from the rear. It feels like a mild fishtail and the steering wheel doesn't pull at all. I could let go of the wheel and still go completely straight just with the rear rocking side to side and the steering wheel not moving at all.

Anything in the rear that could cause that? I know there is really nothing to adjust back there.
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Worn or broken rear sway bar links or bushings. Worn rear lca and uca bushings.
 
Rear subframe bushings gone bad will make the rear end sway around, especially when you hit the gas pedal hard or get passed by a semi at highway speed. Maybe something to look at, the bushing would be almost completely gone for it to be that noticeable though
 
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