Shaky steering wheel-driveshaft?

[dipNrip]

I recenty have a problem with my wheel shaking in my hand on my 2006 Sport Edition 4RUnner. I thought at first it was the wheel's needing balanced even though they only have 8K miles on them. I took it to a shop and they said they have had problems balancing toyota wheels in general, which was new to me. The shaking got better but it doesn't feel like its necessarily the wheels. You know how if the tires are out of balance you get the shaky feeling in the steering wheel and the steering wheel will also move a little side to side. Well the there is no side movement. Also if the tire are out of balance it usually only happens at higher speeds, but I still get it in the 25-40 mph range. It does seem to be better every once and while at higher speeds. I'm thinking it may be the drive shaft or maybe a bent rim. Could be just the tires, but they aren't that aggressive (A/T Geolanders).

Anybody have any idea? Or am I just paranoid. I have 73,000K on it and I'm getting a little antsy of some high bill coming since its been a pleasure so far in terms of putting only a little bit of money into maintaining it.

 

[drmorbius]

I recenty have a problem with my wheel shaking in my hand on my 2006 Sport Edition 4RUnner. I thought at first it was the wheel's needing balanced even though they only have 8K miles on them. I took it to a shop and they said they have had problems balancing toyota wheels in general, which was new to me. The shaking got better but it doesn't feel like its necessarily the wheels. You know how if the tires are out of balance you get the shaky feeling in the steering wheel and the steering wheel will also move a little side to side. Well the there is no side movement. Also if the tire are out of balance it usually only happens at higher speeds, but I still get it in the 25-40 mph range. It does seem to be better every once and while at higher speeds. I'm thinking it may be the drive shaft or maybe a bent rim. Could be just the tires, but they aren't that aggressive (A/T Geolanders).

Anybody have any idea? Or am I just paranoid. I have 73,000K on it and I'm getting a little antsy of some high bill coming since its been a pleasure so far in terms of putting only a little bit of money into maintaining it.

V8 or V6, does it happen during braking as well?

 

[dipNrip]

Its a v6 and it isn't the rotors, as it doesn't happen when breaking.

 

[drmorbius]

Its a v6 and it isn't the rotors, as it doesn't happen when breaking.

Hard to say, you may have just lost a balancing weight from one of the wheels but you would think a good shop would have caught this. I think I would get a second opinion since this shop admits they have trouble balancing Toyota wheels in general. They may need better equipment.

 

[dipNrip]

I wouldn't say they were a quality shop either. But this is the second place i took it too. I need to take it to the toyota dealer to change the oil and get it greased so I'll have them take a look at it. Normally I change my own oil, but take it to the dealership once a year to grease the fittings and to see if they see anything really wrong underneath.

Like I said though it doesn't necessarily feel like they are out of balance. But it isn't a horrible shaking. Just not as smooth as I remember. Maybe the drinking from that wedding a couple weeks ago fried my brain and made me paranoid. :bash:

 

[drmorbius]

I wouldn't say they were a quality shop either. But this is the second place i took it too. I need to take it to the toyota dealer to change the oil and get it greased so I'll have them take a look at it. Normally I change my own oil, but take it to the dealership once a year to grease the fittings and to see if they see anything really wrong underneath.

Like I said though it doesn't necessarily feel like they are out of balance. But it isn't a horrible shaking. Just not as smooth as I remember. Maybe the drinking from that wedding a couple weeks ago fried my brain and made me paranoid. :bash:

At the dealer make sure they look at your universal joints especially on the rear drive shaft ( I'm assuming you have 4 wheel drive) just to put your mind at ease. :bigok:

 

[Here's Johnny]

Same year and model 33k miles. Slight shaking at the steering wheel, just added wheel spacers and rotated tires-shaking got worse. Mostly at 50 to 65 mph. Feels like a wheel balance problem will be investigating more within the next 2 weeks. I'll post again if I find something.

 

[Foosmatrix]

Have you done any off roading or driving in mud lately ? Ive got a 06 v8 w/ 40k. A few weeks ago I went camping, which involved driving about 15 miles on a muddy dirt road. On the way back home, Id get to around 60 and my t4r would start to shake like crazy. I pulled over to take a look, and my rear passenger wheel was caked with mud except for about a 6 inch space. Well that difference in weight was enough to throw it out of balance. All is good after washing the mud off.

 

[NCSCOTT]

here ya go. This is the top "Sticky" on the problems and warranty page.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2226

It has been an on going problem. The Dealers will blame the tires (Usually Dunlop) but will not offer to upgrade the tires to fix the problem unless you make a huge stink.

I have had 2 tires replaced at 800 miles and had them rebalanced twice in 20k miles. They have never been able to get rid of the vibration completely.

 

[djj1973]

I experience the same thing around 62-67 mph. However, I set the cruise to keep the speed the same then switch lanes. Vibration goes away. I've narrowed it to the section of road I'm on. I wouldn't think that would matter that much but apparently it does. I have the Michelin LTX AT2's.

-DJJ

 

[pipspeak]

in my experience unbalanced tire/wheel vibration is totally different to any sort of drivetrain vibration.

Some tires are worse than others for balancing and some tires can develop flat spots that cause temporary vibration at low speeds (like my pirellis). Some dealerships do not have the best balancing rigs, either, so best to take it to a good tire shop and have them do it. Moreover, tires can regularly go out of balance again as they take hits, gradually slip on the rims, and generally wear. Nothing unusual there.

 

[dipNrip]

From looking at the link to Known Problems it looks like it could be about anything. It can't be a flat spot on the tires have less than 10K. Plus it happens at all speeds from 25-70 mph so its no just the tires being out of balance. I'll just have to see what the dealer says is about all I can do I guess

 

[mike508]

Balancing

Toyota wheels require a lug centric balancing adapter. Did the place you went to have this? If not that may be the problem. There is another thread that discusses this in detail.

 

[blaniac22]

here ya go. This is the top "Sticky" on the problems and warranty page.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2226

It has been an on going problem. The Dealers will blame the tires (Usually Dunlop) but will not offer to upgrade the tires to fix the problem unless you make a huge stink.

I have had 2 tires replaced at 800 miles and had them rebalanced twice in 20k miles. They have never been able to get rid of the vibration completely.

Almost the exact same situation for me - my dealer won't even do it under warranty anymore. $44.95 for every balance. The tires we're really good for a few months after the dealership replaced two of them, but have since gone out of balance and can't get them back.

I laughed when the service manager told me it's normal. I told him I better have my friend bring is 4runner in to have it checked out then.. When asked why I told him because his rides nice and smooth.