Squirrly/loose Steering

[justind2405]

Hey guys, still new here and trying to sift through all the info. I've got a 2011 4runner sr5 and its all great, but ive noticed when on interstate at 60+ mph it feels as if the steering is kinda of loose/wobbly/squirrly. Best way i can describe it is almost like a draft off a big rig kind of moving me over the road. Not sure what it is or might be. Tires are all in good shape and they are stock size Goodyear wrangler SA. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Jeremy556]

Alignment with more positive caster, which provides the self centering effect.

 

[3wbdriver]

Shoebox shaped body will be very susceptible to wind. More caster will help but it will not go away completely.

 

[justind2405]

Shoebox shaped body will be very susceptible to wind. More caster will help but it will not go away completely.

Even if the wind was neglible? Just felt like it was more than just wind.

 

[3wbdriver]

Negligible wind shouldn't bother it, but again that is why we recommend increasing caster. More caster makes the vehicle want to track in a straight line more. I drive 500 miles from Leesville, La to south Texas in my work. On windy trips I am constantly making steering adjustments, on calm days I'm not. I don't know what my caster is set at, but after I had the shock kit installed and requested an alignment without giving them guidance I imagine it is pretty close to the factory <2.5 degrees. I believe max adjustment with factory arms is 4.0. A lot of members in here have theirs set at the highest physically possible after they install lift/leveling kits. This doesn't necessarily mean they will get 4.0 out of the alignment. Limits in the hardware may only allow the technicians to give you a 2.5 or so maximum. Hence the popularity of after market upper control arms (UCA) which are made to restore the full range of adjustability.

 

[philsey]

Same experience - all over the place. Fortunately, my dealer knows how to align a 4R. I had an alignment, and specified "caster at +4 deg" (which is the max factory range). After which, the tracking was excellent.

As earlier stated, you are driving a brick, and it will still be susceptible to cross wind. But sans wind, mine drives very nicely on the hwy (now).

BTW, get a printout of the post-alignment settings. You have no other way to know what they did.

 

[gdmaddog]

Mine was a little off after my lift and alignment. I had them check it last week after describing it as being a "little tippy". Kind of like driving on a knife edge. The nailed the alignment but for some reason they couldn't perform a zero point yaw calibration. I asked that it be done because the traction control was kicking in way too often on dry roads with curves. The shop said they needed to contact Toyota for a procedure after the one they had failed and left the VSC light lit. Luckily a bunch of smart guys on this forum have better instructions. I used a paper clip and had it fixed in less than a minute.:dancin:

 

[justind2405]

Thanks for the info guys. Ill dig a little more and do some more research on caster and what not. It's almost like it's wobbly or goes kind of in a squiggly line type of track. Like left right left right, never just to one side.

 

[E-ROCKER]

Thanks for the info guys. Ill dig a little more and do some more research on caster and what not. It's almost like it's wobbly or goes kind of in a squiggly line type of track. Like left right left right, never just to one side.

I would have to agree with you on the feeling. I don't feel it on the road at slower speeds but on the hwy at 65+ it is noticable.
I don't think it has anything to do with the alignment since I never felt this in my FJ and the same guy did my alignment for the FJ that has for the 4Runner.
I have a feeling it is the steering rack that is used for the 4Runner.

 

[justind2405]

bump, any one else got any info?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I have had my 14 limited for several weeks now. It drove fine up to around 65 or so but on the interstate with 75 mph speed limit my wife and I both noticed it needed constant corrections on the steering wheel. My 03 I had held a straight line perfectly with very little correction needed even with the lift it had. I had the dealer check the alignment. They said the toe in was at the edge of its spec to they adjusted that. Just drove it 1000 miles and it seems better but it was very windy (40 mph winds) most of the trip so I will have to wait till I get back on the interstate on a calmer day to really so if it is fixed. It has basically the same front suspension as my 03 so I would think the handling would be similar. The tech said my caster was 3.2 degrees.

 

[justind2405]

Thanks, im going to get an alignment after I install my daystar spacer. Just don't know how much caster it needs to be set at or whatnot.

 

[3wbdriver]

Thanks, im going to get an alignment after I install my daystar spacer. Just don't know how much caster it needs to be set at or whatnot.

As much as they can give you without screwing up your camber. I think the factory limit is 4 degrees and any kind of lift is going to make it so they can't get you that much.

 

[Jeremy556]

Thanks, im going to get an alignment after I install my daystar spacer. Just don't know how much caster it needs to be set at or whatnot.

Ha, you thought it was bad before, now it's really going to suck. With a lift, if you are lucky and happen to find a good alignment tech (very few and far between), they'll still have to work to get you over 2 degrees of caster, which still sucks.
I run 5-6 degrees to track straight.

 

[justind2405]

As much as they can give you without screwing up your camber. I think the factory limit is 4 degrees and any kind of lift is going to make it so they can't get you that much.

So do you recommend getting upgraded UCA's?

 

[3wbdriver]

I'm on the fence myself. I have no clue what my caster is because I honestly didn't think to ask for the sheet when they did the alignment. Mine feels a little flighty at highway speed, but I also drive across a normally windy I-10 between San Antonio and Houston. My twitch is not a nuisance to the point of distraction because it actually helps me stay alert on those 500 mile drives. Would I like it to be smoother? Sure. But I don't know if mine is bad enough to justify spending the money for the UCA's, installation, and then another alignment. It seems like I have dropped almost $1,000 a month on this thing since I bought it. True that has mostly been for goodies (shinys), but I'd like to go a month or so without being tempted. I'm taking it on a 2 week cross country vacation this fall. I'll probably make a decision one way or another after that trip.

I would say see how it feels after the spacer and alignment, SPECIFYING THAT YOU WANT MAXIMUM POSSIBLE CASTER. If it still seems twitchy without a wind blowing make the call then. AND DON'T FORGET TO ASK FOR THE ALIGNMENT SHEET. There are members here who can tell you a lot just based off of that.