Steering Shakes at 60-65 MPH

[Nitro_Rabbit]

I have a 2003 4Runner V6 2WD Limited with Brigstone tires on it. After driving for 500 miles, I notice the steering was shaking like hell when I approach 60-65 mph. I didn't even have plates yet when I brought it to the dealer. They rotate, ballance all four tires and did an alignment on it. It was a lot better after the rotation, ballance, and alignment. Been driving for several weeks fine and put in 1200 more miles on it, but the past week I notice the shakes comming back again. Guess back to the dealer I go again. Anyone has similar problem? The shakes is making me crazy!!!:50cal:

 

[Thai]

Nitro,

Two possible things:

1. I am not sure...but some Lexus GX470 have a vibration at around 1700 rpm or 60-70 mph. The vibration is felt through the steering wheel and gas pedal. This is a chronic problem...and is NOT solved by wheel balancing/alignment. Toyota is currently trying to find a solution for this problem...none so far. Here is the link for more info:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=288

2. Poor wheel balance. 4runners are long known to have extremely sensitive steering. If your front tires are slightly off balanced, you will know it. If this is the problem (WHICH YOU SEEM TO HAVE), then proper wheel balance should solve it. A few things to check:

- Check tire pressures to make sure the tires are equal between the front tires
- Check for uneven tire wear (esp. front tires).
- Of course, bring it into Toyota to re-balance your tires. Alignment is not necessary (unless your 4runner drifts to one side). BRING IT TOYOTA, and no one else. Make sure your Toyota dealership have a Haweka adaptor to balance your tires. Here is the link to learn more about the adaptor:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173

From what you said above, i think you probably have problem #2.

Good luck...and tell us your solution.

 

[wc0044]

I just bought my new 4 Runner couple weeks ago, and I also noticed that my steering shakes at around 70MPH. I already scheduled an appointment to have the dealer check it out this coming Sat. I will post again if I find anything.

 

[Nitro_Rabbit]

Took it to a different Dealer and they did the same as the first Dealer I took to. They balance all four tires and redo the front alignment on it again. Now it is running better than before but on some day I still notice the shaking, mostly in the morning or when I leave it parked and not drive it for a couple days, I notice it more. The tech at the second dealer said it is normal for the the steering to shaking a bit because of the truck chase that the 4runner used. I told him what he said was BS, and asked how come my old 98' Toyota and 2000 Ford trucks doesn't shake? He couldn't answer.

 

[srpage]

I notice a little steering wheel shake in the morning when I get on the freeway with my 2003 4runner. It goes away after a couple of minutes.

I chaulk it up to flat spotting on the tires from sitting.

 

[spyderdoc]

My 2003 4WD Sport Edition shakes very slightly as well b/w 60-65mph.... I brought it in, they balanced the tires, and it still shimmies...Guess it is inherent in this model...

 

[Oscarz]

Vibration

I initially had a shimmy (shaking steering wheel) at freeway speeds but they balanced the wheels and that fixed it.


I still have a vibration though and it's present at just about any speed. Of course last visit to dealer was a "could not duplicate" scenario so now I'm stuck with an annoyance with no apparent fix.


The dealer does have the GSP9700 Force Balancer but that's about all I know. I'm gonna see if I can get them to move the wheels around and balance again but I have to see the Toyota Rep first. It might be another cause altogether but if I can't get them to acknowledge an abnormality, I'm stuck.


Wheels are the 17" alloys with Michelin Cross Terrains. Had 35psi in them and tried 32 with no difference. Also, I've slipped the gear into neutral when driving and the vibration doesn't change.


I just can't figure it out but I'm thinking either they didn't do it perfectly the 1st time (based on what I've read, perfection is a requirement in this area for 4runners), or I've got a tire defect somewhere.

03 SR5 2WD V6

 

[Thai]

Some people, including me, are theorizing that it could be related to the new Torsen center differential. Therefore, is it nature of the beast?? The Torsen T-3 is brand new...no other vehicle on the market has this latest version of Torsen T-3.

:dunno:

 

[srpage]

Some people, including me, are theorizing that it could be related to the new Torsen center differential. Therefore, is it nature of the beast?? The Torsen T-3 is brand new...no other vehicle on the market has this latest version of Torsen T-3.

:dunno:

If you will notice, 2 of the members complaining have 2 wheel drive models. Their problem could not be with the Torsen differential.

 

[Thai]

Well, good point! Then, i guess i need to go back to the drawing board for my next theory!

 

[jbwil]

I was having the wobbling steering wheel, vibrations and overall poor ride between 60 and 70 mph. My dealer balanced the wheels and a subsequent 900 mile trip proved that there was still something wrong. The dealer test drove the vehicle again and said that the techs couldn't find anything wrong. I requested that the tech retest and allow me to ride with them. This time the tech said he did feel a problem. They decided to change my tires from the Dunlops to the Michelins. That fixed the problem and my 4Runner drives like a dream.

 

[MurrayTheCat]

I picked up my '04 Sport a few weeks ago and right away noticed the steering wheel shimmy at 62mph. I went back to the dealer a few days later and they claim they cannot duplicate the problem. I spoke to the customer relations manager and he said he never heard of anbody with this problem. I find that hard to believe. Very frustrating!!

 

[MurrayTheCat]

Here is some more info on my problem.

I did some long highway driving today, and was trying to further analyze the steering wheel shake problem. I found that the problem comes and goes. It seems like it gets better after driving for a while. If it truly is a wheel balance problem, would it go away after the tires warm up?

-Joe

 

[jharris2]

Here is some more info on my problem.

I did some long highway driving today, and was trying to further analyze the steering wheel shake problem. I found that the problem comes and goes. It seems like it gets better after driving for a while. If it truly is a wheel balance problem, would it go away after the tires warm up?

-Joe

Probably not. But if you can reliably reproduce the problem, be sure to demonstrate it for the service manager -- don't just describe it. That way, they can never say they have not experienced the problem.

Most of the folks who seem to have the problem have Dunlops, and balancing them properly seems to help quite a bit. You may want to check to make sure the dealer has access to the right adapter and balancer; Thai has posted this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173&highlight=flange

 

[Oscarz]

If it goes away after warming up, it may be a "flat-spotting" issue, where it sat at the dealer lot without being moved for a period of time. Give it a little more time and see if it cures itself.

 

[Thai]

Here is a possible source of the problem:

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

Hope this helps.

 

[nattie]

Steering vibrates/shakes at high speed

I have a 02 4x4 SR5 runner with the steering shakes and vibrates at 55-75 mph , new struts, new upper and lower ball joints , new outer tie rods ends, new sway bar linkage, new tires ...change from yokohama to coopers , alignment and balance all done like 6 times same problem , very frustrated right now.

What i notice is when you shake the steering wheel the rack would move back and forth in its rubber mounts, change them and it was still moving...can i mount a steering damper of some sort ???

Don't like the feeling on the highway , feels unsafe and would damage my new parts. What is Toyota saying about this problem ?