PLEASE help with my 17 TRD ORP

[khalid74120021]

Hey everyone, need some help with some ongoing issues with my car.

Purchased new 2017 TRD ORP with KDSS last year, alongside TRD Pro rims and bigger 275 K02s tires.

Right from the beginning, the car was drifting towards the right enough that I had to get multiple alignments done with the original dealer to get it a point where I could live with it. Dealer told me the bigger spec tires is why the car is drifting to the right.

After my first 6-month service at a different dealer, the drift was made worse and now the steering wheel vibrated at 40-65 mph. Dealer kept the car for over a week to inspect everything and had to rotate some tires on the rims to eliminate the steering wheel vibration as well as road force test. This eliminated the vibration and alignment was better but not 100% straight, but I could live with it.

In January I purchased the lifetime Goodyear alignment deal and had one done, which resulted in a slightly straighter drive, but the steering wheel was now slightly off-centered. Took it back and they straightened more but was still slightly off-centered. Read out show car was out of alignment before their corrections.

As I was coming up on my 12-month service, I voiced my concerns about the off-centered steering wheel and the drift to the right. Asked if they could also check the level of the car as I feel like the drivers side is higher than the passengers side. I always feel like I am sliding in my seat towards the center console. Dealer kept the car for most of a day and informed me they found camber and toe out of spec, which they corrected. Car level was within spec.

Picked up the car and the steering wheel is straight, drift is still there, and now the vibration is back again at 40-65mph but it’s not all the time. Sometimes the vibration is at 45 and sometimes at 60.

I am planning to call the dealer and make a follow-up to have them look at why it is vibrating again but I wanted to make this post to get some ideas as to why it could be happening.

Each visit to the dealer requires a follow up visit to correct new problems, realignment due to the drift made worse, or vibration is back. As I drive I am constantly having to adjust keep the car straight. If I let go the steering wheel, it starts to drift after 20ft or so.

The car has less than 8K miles on it and hasn’t see anything but paved roads, so far. In the year that I’ve owned it, it has been at the various dealer’s shop for a total of probably two weeks or more. Getting kind frustrated and just want to make sure I am not the crazy one here that is noticing something that is not there.

• Can you guys help me out here on where I can point them to look for issues.?
• Is there truth to the original dealer statement that me using bigger tires will cause alignment issues?
• Is anyone else noticing similar alignment issues with bigger tires?

Is there anyone local to SoCal, (HB, Costa Mesa, Irvine area), that is running larger tires and willing to drive my car and tell me if I am the crazy one here or if they too notice an issue?

 

[RedSled]

You did not mention having a lift, so i am assuming you do not, i think you need to be directed to a different shop. Do a search for 4x4 shops in your area, it should not be that much trouble to get it taken care of.

 

[TEujunga]

Bigger (and in the case of E-rated KO2s, much heavier) tires don't *cause* alignment issues, but they can amplify the effect of any alignment and balance issues that may already exist.

It could be that the steering tracking and centering is the best it's going to get with those tires and wheels, and it may be your expectations that are out of line. Some slight drift to the right is normal on crowned roads, and this may be what you're experiencing.

However, it seems odd to me that a vehicle with only 8,000 miles could undergo that many alignments and still be out of spec (supposedly) every time. Especially if you do only street driving, the alignment shouldn't move around that much once it's set.

 

[brenfoley]

new TRD wheels on 2016 Trail premium

I recently upgraded to TRD wheels and Nitto Terra Grapplers from NTB...I noticed a vibration at 60mph and my steering wheel was slightly off center. I brought 4runner back to NTB and they corrected the steering wheel alignment and supposedly checked balance of tires but the front tires still seem out of balance at 60 mph. :/

 

[TCstang]

I’d start making sure tires are balanced correctly for the vibration issue. Next I’d look for a performance shop for alignment and have them look it over. If they can’t get it right they will be able to diagnose the root cause.

 

[WVhillbilly]

Either your dealer sucks at doing alignments or something is wrong in the front end.

 

[mscot]

Next time you're at the dealer I'd start throwing around "lemon law" and only speak with the service manager. I'd also talk to the sales manager about your experience.

Did you get the tires installed when you purchased it?

It really sounds to me like they are out of balance (or there are more serious issues - was this a dealer demo?). I would take them to a shop with a Road Force balancer the next time I have them rotated (or tomorrow)

 

[nglayton]

If you really want to know what the issue is put the original wheels and tires back on and see what happens.

Either all will be "miraculously" fixed or you will still have the same issues.

Then you can start to call BS on the dealership or eliminate possibilities one by one. Right now your fighting all of them at the same time.

FYI, mine pulled to the left slightly for awhile and then when I put pro wheels w/275 Ko2's on it the pul went away. I've never had any unusual vibrations at any speeds.

I'm wasn't rich enough to do that right out of the gate.....I waited until the original wheels and tires had 50k on them first.....

 

[MissouriBreaks]

I suspect it is an issue with tires/balancing as opposed to anything else. I know that with my FJ Cruiser, I had no issues with steering/wobble until I put the TRD Pro wheels on it. After transferring the stock tires with about 17,000 miles onto the TRD Pro wheels, suddenly I had wobble/vibration issues at highway speeds. I mentioned it at the dealer the next time I was there, they checked it out and they indicated that they did what the could, but they could not add anymore weights to the tires to get it perfect. The ride was much better, but one could still feel a slight vibration.

As for my current TRD Pro, no issues with the TRD Pro wheels and stock Nitto's. Have about 10,000 miles on it now and it rides like new, with the tires rotated at least once. However, no changes from stock.

 

[LandCruiser]

I have 285/70/r17 Destination MTs on STEEL rims, which are one the heaviest damn tire/wheel combination you can think of.

Mine tracks straight as an arrow.

Take it to a shop specializing in 4x4s.

 

[DarkSideGTI]

put stock wheels/tires back on and get it aligned at a dedicated alignment shop, not a tire shop. If all is good, put back on the Pro wheels and 275's. If the problem comes back it is an issue with that setup.

 

[Sparman]

Go see Kevin at Allen Tire in Costa Mesa (1725 Superior Ave).

He'll give you an honest and thorough assessment.

 

[wfo9]

The vibration.. it the tires being out of round.. The alignment/pull and steering wheel not being centered is just alignment and the tires exaggerate everything.

No two tires (even of the same make, model and size) are the same. Toyo are the best for consistency... Mich also seem good. It's a crap shoot with all the other brands, but I find bfg to be very inconsistent. Sometimes you get a good batch.. other times not so much.

 

[tm965]

The vibration.. it the tires being out of round.. The alignment/pull and steering wheel not being centered is just alignment and the tires exaggerate everything.

No two tires (even of the same make, model and size) are the same. Toyo are the best for consistency... Mich also seem good. It's a crap shoot with all the other brands, but I find bfg to be very inconsistent. Sometimes you get a good batch.. other times not so much.

this is probably it. were your wheels & tires road force balanced?

 

[onepremiere]

Sorry if this was covered, but did you try and rotate the tires? I am hoping this was done by the dealer at some point.

To me, and like others have said Wheel Balance.

 

[khalid74120021]

Hey everyone,

Apologies for not responding back. I've been under the weather the last few weeks.

To address some of the concerns,

- Had alignment issues from the start with stock everything and vehicle had only two miles. Had dealer correct it and made it manageable to the point where the drift was probably amplified by road conditions and I couldn't be without a car any longer.

- So have had 4 alignments, two at dealership, 1 original dealer and 1 at new dealer, and two at same Firestone location.

- No lift. Stock everything except the TRD Pro Rims and 275 K02s Tires. All brand new. Rims purchased from dealership where I bought the car from, and tires from American Tire Store

- Most of the work has been completed at Toyota Dealerships except for the recent alignment at Firestone, and the installation of the TRD Rims and K02s at American Tire Store

- Combined Street and Highway miles with less than 8,000 for the year. No off road yet because I've been wanting to get these issues fixed

- Tires have been balanced each tire rotation due to vibration issues at dealership.

- Dealer performed Road Force Balance the last time I got my tires rotated due to vibration.

-no longer have stock rims/tires but these issues existed from the start

My biggest issues is that each time I have the tires rotated the alignment is made worse and the vibration is back requiring me to have to take the car back to get the second round of issues.


I'll reach out to some of these shops mentioned and see if I can them to pinpoint the issue.