Shaking at highway speeds and while braking

[Predatorhouse]

I had something simular and it was a sticking caliper. I had the tires balanced and an alignment still shook at highway speeds. while getting the balance and alignment they said that the right front pads were wearing more and to look at the caliper and this fixed it.

 

[BoarderDave]

Yes, I put on new front brakes. Wish I hadn't because it still shakes and I could have saved some $.

I've given up on trying to fix this. It is strange however that there are times when they shaking goes away for like 20 seconds. There is no pattern to it, its just random. I am on different road surfaces so I know its not just the same stretch of road causing the shaking.

Don't know what else to do except take it to the dealer and tell them to fix it. I can't do that because of the cost.

Dang man.. bummer! I really hope you can get something worked out on it soon. So sad to hear of an owner not happy with the way their 4Runner is working.
I'll keep my eyes open for any other theories on the shakes.
Keep working at it. Don't give up on it.

 

[Cree]

Since you've tossed money at it already, I'd toss a little more and get a new set of shocks. You might be getting road oscillations transmitted to the rest of the truck. That was half of my vibration issues.

 

[Jason11]

Dang man.. bummer! I really hope you can get something worked out on it soon. So sad to hear of an owner not happy with the way their 4Runner is working.
I'll keep my eyes open for any other theories on the shakes.
Keep working at it. Don't give up on it.

Yea, I want to keep at it but just can't spend any more money on it. I think I'm done.

Since you've tossed money at it already, I'd toss a little more and get a new set of shocks. You might be getting road oscillations transmitted to the rest of the truck. That was half of my vibration issues.

I was thinking the same thing but just don't want to spend any more.

You know I noticed on the freeway this morning on the way to work that when I lightly touch the brakes from about 60 down to a stop I get a vibration through out the whole truck. Its only when I very lightly touch apply the brakes. If I start to brake harder (normal braking) it doesn't shake... it just comes to a normal stop. This is very strange as well as the fact that the shaking will sometimes go away for 30 seconds then come back. (on the same type of road surface) very strange.

I wish I could figure this out but no luck for me.

 

[Jason11]

OK so I just can't seem to give up on this. Almost obsessed to figure this out.

I took off the rear drive shaft and replaced the rear u joint (it wasn't smooth) and had the drive shaft rebalanced.

...and that didn't help.

While replacing the drive shaft today I decided to look at the steering rack again and pulled off the boot covering the inner tie rod end. I jacked up the front end and moved the wheels back and fourth. The inner tie rod end didn't seem to have any play but I noticed that the rack is moving up and down as well as moving side to side for normal steering movement. but the up and down doesn't seem correct.

I took a short video if anyone is interested in having a look.

Steering Rack

 

[poleclimber63]

I know what you're saying!

OK so I just can't seem to give up on this. Almost obsessed to figure this out.

I took off the rear drive shaft and replaced the rear u joint (it wasn't smooth) and had the drive shaft rebalanced.

...and that didn't help.

While replacing the drive shaft today I decided to look at the steering rack again and pulled off the boot covering the inner tie rod end. I jacked up the front end and moved the wheels back and fourth. The inner tie rod end didn't seem to have any play but I noticed that the rack is moving up and down as well as moving side to side for normal steering movement. but the up and down doesn't seem correct.

I took a short video if anyone is interested in having a look.

Steering Rack

That does seem like a bit of movement (up and down)... I have a little loosness and small shake at higher speeds... I'm thinking of replacing my rack. For you, however, have you seen the thread on rack guides? Mine isnt bad enough yet for me to spend the money, at the moment but I do see me doing this ultimately.

 

[Jason11]

For you, however, have you seen the thread on rack guides? Mine isnt bad enough yet for me to spend the money, at the moment but I do see me doing this ultimately.

what thread on rack guides ?

 

[poleclimber63]

what thread on rack guides ?

When I was looking into steering issues I came across this thread:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/70884-how-replace-steering-rack-guide-pictures.html

The rack is the most expensive steering part to replace so I would eliminate everything else first to the best of my ability. As I'm not a mechanic, this is just my input. The reading I've done, in the past, on general steering and vibration issues points to some of the routes you've taken already. It's also been suggested front shocks, steering column shafts (more for loosness) and control arm bushings, can also produce issues. I wish I could point to some silver bullet, but I can't---- my slightly annoying issues would have been solved long ago! Keep trolling the forums and let me know if you can find something new. For me, its a matter of cost vs. annoyance. Good luck!

 

[Jason11]

So I found out that the steering rack has a tensioner on the drivers side that adjusts the tension close to the edge of the housing. I tightened it up thinking that it would reduce the up and down movement I was getting in the rack. It did seem to reduce the vertical movement I was describing in the video i posed.

Then I went on a drive on the freeway and .. still shaking.

makes me wonder if replacing the rack would do anything at all.

Does anyone know if this movement (vertical) from my video is normal for these racks ?

 

[Lassitor]

So I found out that the steering rack has a tensioner on the drivers side that adjusts the tension close to the edge of the housing. I tightened it up thinking that it would reduce the up and down movement I was getting in the rack. It did seem to reduce the vertical movement I was describing in the video i posed.

Then I went on a drive on the freeway and .. still shaking.

makes me wonder if replacing the rack would do anything at all.

Does anyone know if this movement (vertical) from my video is normal for these racks ?

Hey man, wanted to see if you had resolved your issue. I've developed a vibration in the runner as well and am a little appalled at how much work you've put into chasing your issue, but with no success, makes me wonder about mine. So, any luck?

 

[nevada]

So I found out that the steering rack has a tensioner on the drivers side that adjusts the tension close to the edge of the housing. I tightened it up thinking that it would reduce the up and down movement I was getting in the rack. It did seem to reduce the vertical movement I was describing in the video i posed.

Then I went on a drive on the freeway and .. still shaking.

makes me wonder if replacing the rack would do anything at all.

Does anyone know if this movement (vertical) from my video is normal for these racks ?

no, not for high speed vibrations.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

That movement in your rack seems a bit excessive, which would be the rack bushings.
All the things to check that I can think of assuming it's in your front end:

1. Rack Bushings
2. Rack Guide
3. The rack itself (usually it would be leaking)
4. Inner tie rod ends
5. Outer tie rod ends
6. Ball joints (upper and lower)
7. Control arm bushings (upper and lower)
8. Brake caliper (this happened to me) look for uneven wear on inner and out pads
9. Wheel bearings (highly unlikely)
10. Bent front end parts or a bad alignment
11. Rear control arm bushings (just because it feels like it's in the front doesn't mean it is)

The increase in shake when you lightly press the brakes but seems to stop as you press harder maybe a clue. A run-out indicator would be handy here to see if the front hub is turning true. If I think of some more I'll repost

 

[ukrunner]

I have the exact same issues the OP has. Even the speeds are the same. I do know that I need shocks and springs as well as sway bar bushings. The shocks and springs are coming, the sway bar bushings are here. I will update once its done. I welcome that 30 seconds of vibration free travel you get every so often. It gets tiring driving this thing 40 miles each way to work every day.