Pulls from side to side??

[Jpadamt]

I have a 2003 limited edition 2WD 4runner. It drives amazingly well around town(as to be expected) - but when i get on the interstate and get to 70MPH+ the thing tries to 'pull' to one side or the other! It feels as though the wind is blowing super hard or something. It is very pronounced on all kinds of surfaces - even newly paved interstate. I have Michelin tires (cross terrain SUV tires) and I hope they aren't the problem....

I am wondering if anyone who reads these forums has experienced this? If so, have you found a remedy? etc....

Thank you - you guys have been very helpful in the past..

 

[AlphaQup]

Take it back to the stealership and tell them to do a 4 wheel alignment on it. Mine did that too when I drove it off the lot. Not all 4Runners were aligned to specs off the line it seems. It is covered under your warrantee, so dont worry about getting charged.

 

[toto]

Does it always pull to the same side?
All road surfaces are crowned in the middle to encourage water to runoff. On normal streets, that means it's in the middle of the road, on your left making the road lower on the right.
But on a divided highway like an interstate, the crown could be in the center lane. Then, the direction of the downslope will depend on what lane you're in. If the car pulls to the left in the left lane but pulls to the right in the right lane, it's not the car - it's the road.

 

[OUTRNNR]

You might be experiencing what is called "tramlining". This is very common for light vehicles with wide tires (which is essentially what the 4Runners are) On newly paved concrete roads, the vehicle wants to follow the grooves of the new concrete giving it the side to side motion. I experience this alot in my 4R, but only on grooved new concrete streets and highways. I've never experienced it on asphalt. Just a thought...

 

[TechWrench]

Also, check your tire pressure. When I first mounted my REVOs, the dealer had them at 42, and the vehicle tended to wander at higher speeds. I gradually reduced the PSI a lb at at time until it began to track properly. I now run them at 37 with no problems.