Pulling to the right and steering wheel shake

A_HuL

A_HuL

New member
I'm starting to get aggravated. I had a some steering wheel shake a couple weeks ago so I went and got my tires rotated and balanced. It didn't fix it so I thought they didn't balance it right so I took it back and they balanced them again and said it was a couple ounces off. Didn't have enough cash to get an alignment at the time so I waited till today. I was pulling to the right got an alignment and I'm still pulling to the right. I'm using OK Tires where I got my tires from. Is there anything else I need to check or is it the company? I don't know too much about steering and all that jazz with cars so any input is great. Also when I brake I pull to the left. Possible frozen caliper? But not smelling my brakes. Thanks in advanced
 
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Get a "road force" balance from a shop or stealership that has the adapter kit . Using a lug-centric balance kit seems to be the most proper way to balance Toyota rims. That should take care of the steering wheel shakes at the least.

GL
 
Is there something different about Toyota rims that makes them harder to balance or something?
 
[MENTION=68704]superman3043[/MENTION] what's the best way to do this? Just go like I'm changing the pads?
 
A_HuL said:
Is there something different about Toyota rims that makes them harder to balance or something?
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I don't know, personally, I just replaced my rims and tires twice! I got a set of FJ Cruiser 6 spoke rims then had a shop mount and balance them on my BFG KOs , got the shakes at 60-70mph in the front and steering wheel. Replaced those with 8 hole FJ Cruiser rims with BFG KMs at another shop and same thing (guy said he balanced those tires before and never had problems with balance issues). In each occasion prior to having the mechanics mount and balance, I asked them about the lug-centric balance kit and they both shrugged it off. Finally after getting annoyed of the steering wheel shake at highway speeds I took it to the stealership to have the road force balance done. Cost me $90 but no more shakes now.

So if you never had this issue before and recently changed rims or tires, this is most likely the cause.
 
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Yeah pretty much. You know how you have to compress your pistons back to fit the new pads in? Basically if you can't push them back, then you've got an issue. Hope that helps. Good luck
 
[MENTION=29730]ghostridr[/MENTION] that's good to know thanks for your input I'm gonna check my calipers and see if it has anything to do with and of that doesn't change I'm gonna have to to the dealership
 
I agree, check the calipers. Also another troubleshooting technique to find the cause of the pull is to switch your two front tires. Tire can cause a pull. Switching them lets you know if it is your tires if the pull goes away or moves the other side. If the pull stays the same, you know the problem has to be either with the calipers or a suspension issue. Did they give you a printout with the alignment? What are the caster numbers?

Don't waste your money on a road force balance. It is totally not necessary. The guys that balance the tires need to know what they are doing. Toyota wheels are tricky to balance. They need to watch how the tires roll. All the weight in the world wont make a difference if the tires don't roll smooth.
 
[MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION] no they didn't give me one, it's a long story, their alignment tool or whatever broke as my car is on the jack (my luck) so they had to take it across town. I said I would just take it so I go outside to get in my car and the dummass (excuse my French) just drove off with my car. 2 hours later he comes back. he did give me $20 off the alignment though but what gets me is he had to drive it back across town and didnt notice it pulling? shitty service and employees if you ask me. So needless to say I have had it with OK tires and will never do business with them again
 
Does it still pull one direction, and then pull the other way when braking? Make sure that you don't have a really bad ball-joint.
 
I have the those symptoms as well OP, however all my calipers and rotors are new. My outer tie rod end links are new. As well I've had an alignment and the numbers were spot on coming off the alignment rack.

My problem is my steering rack is shot. with the steering wheel locked and the front tires still on the ground, I can physically push and pull my tire on the 9 and 3 position of my tires and get well over a few degrees of play. So that's what I'll be replacing shortly.
 
[MENTION=87036]YotaDan[/MENTION] it's weird because it pulls more at slower speeds and sometimes it doesn't idk what the problem is. When it comes to the brakes I think I just need a brake job cause its well overdue
 
A_HuL said:
So needless to say I have had it with OK tires and will never do business with them again
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Surprised to hear that, I've had only good service with them. I did have to take it back a couple of times to get the alignment right on an old truck once though.

Which one did you go to? Jim, at the McFarland store, is an awesome guy and usually will do anything to help.
 
[MENTION=50591]gaterose[/MENTION] naw it was Earl and John, both need to take a customer service class, won't look at you when they talk they just act like whatever you have to say isn't worth their time just very disrespectful in my opinion and yea the one by O'Charleys
 
A_HuL said:
[MENTION=50591]gaterose[/MENTION] naw it was Earl and John, both need to take a customer service class, won't look at you when they talk they just act like whatever you have to say isn't worth their time just very disrespectful in my opinion and yea the one by O'Charleys
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Earl's a real a**hole. I've had trouble with him on Jessie's car and mine, while Jim was out for a while. I'd give the same description.

Jim's wife has a 5th gen, he loves lifted 4Rs! He usually stands outside with me smoking and chatting while we watch 'em work on my junk. He also gave me an unreasonable deal on my tires, then knocked a few more off just for kicks when he swiped my card.
 
im having the same issue.. just had new rims installed and at about 55-65 mph the steering wheels shakes pretty violently, just the steering wheel though. Going to go back to the shop that installed them and see what they can do since i have a road trip coming at the end of the month. I have a feeling its a weight and balance issue or at least i hope so.
 
they said warped rotors, stuck caliper piston..and bad aligment is the major cause of shaky steering when braking at high speeds.....am experiencing it too..intend to go for an alignment and balancing...b4 swapping out my rotors
 
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