Steering Vibration does everyone have it?

[Brewster]

Bluewolf, mine was not there at Day 1.

As others have suggested, there may be other things (tires, even) that cause similar problems, but what I experience seems to be pretty much what Dick13 has described, and what I think is likely to be the same problem that (some?) GX470s have.

For me, the onset was at about 400 miles, centered around 1700 rpm, and noticable in 2,3,4,5th gear but not in Park. It has gotten a little worse with time and mileage. It now also happens (slightly) around 1250-1300 rpm. After about 6500 miles, the vibration and roughness got a little worse in the 55-65 mph range, and now happens also in 4th gear in that speed range.

 

[CMiYC]

I noticed it Day 0 since it was in the vechile I test drove and the vechile I took home.

None of the vechiles I drove were AWD. They were all RWD.

All day yesterday and today I was viligant for the vibration and now I'm not feeling it. I'm about to hit 2000 miles.

This is definetly not something that develops over time.

 

[Opfire]

I, too, am dealing with this problem. I have a 04 Sport v6 RWD. It doesn't do it everytime though. I hope the dealer will do something about it. Other than that, I'm in love with the vehicle.

 

[truckstoy]

i have a 04 sr5 and i get it @ 50 to 60 mph.

 

[Kanab]

i have a 04 sr5 and i get it @ 50 to 60 mph.

It's caused by your wheels/tires. I have the OEM sport wheels and Michelin SUV tires and no problems. This problem is common with cheap OEM tires and after market wheels.

 

[truckstoy]

as i understand it, it is a common problem on the 4 runners.
i also had this issue w/ the stock 17'' tires/wheels

 

[emyhre]

Fixed for the '05?

This sounds similar to somethign I noticed in my new 2005 SR5 4wd.

It was 1800-2000 Rpm, going uphill at about 40mph. Not positive its coming from the rig, and not easy to reproduce, but it feels like what is described here, just quick, short, fairly light, vibration.

Did somone say it is supposed to be fixed for the '05s? What was the resolution?

 

[DaveS]

Stop teasing us with talk of your new 05 and post some pics!!:awais:

 

[emyhre]

Re: Fixed for the '05? False Alarm

It was 1800-2000 Rpm, going uphill at about 40mph. Not positive its coming from the rig, and not easy to reproduce, but it feels like what is described here, just quick, short, fairly light, vibration.

False alarm! After being unable to duplicate it, I got to wondering, so I went in my wife's car and drove the same road at about the same speed. It was just some pits in the road that I couldn't see the first time up the hill.

No vibration (yet, knock on wood) in my '05.

(2 pics on the way)

 

[emyhre]

Stop teasing us with talk of your new 05 and post some pics!!:awais:

Here you go:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5565

 

[Kanab]

I think part of this problem could be caused by an over/under greased drive train.

 

[michael brown]

Steering Wheel Shimmy/Vibrations

I have the same problems with my 04 Limited V8 2WD. Didn't notice it when I test drove it around the city streets below 50 mph. I did once I got it above 55 mph - 75mph the next day. The vehicle had 2 miles on it when I bought it. I've had it back to the dealership 4 times to re-balance the tires and wheels in the first 7 days of ownerhship. Of course, every time they would say "problem fixed, have a nice day". They didn't fix it. They supposedly re-aligned the front end too. This didn't fix the problem either. Now I am up to 1200 miles on the vehicle and it seems to be getting slightly worse. This is bull*#it! The steering wheel should not oscillate back and forth unless the tires are about to wear out, the front end is mis-aligned or there is an unbalance in the wheel/tire(s). NOT on a brand new vehicle! I have contacted the Regional office in my area and am getting the runaround about "wer're looking it to it". In the mean time my tires and suspension components are wearing out prematurely. Oh yeah, it's not the Dunlap Grandtrek AT20's that come with the runner that's the problem. I thought it was too based on what I read on other forum sites, so I had the dealer upgrade my tires to Michelin X-terrains (extra $420) after the failed 2nd balance attempt. Problem is still there. Toyota needs to stand behind their product and fix this immediately. I'm sure the other 80 or so people with the same situation (that I've seen on various sites) would agree.... Come on Toyota! STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT!!!

 

[Kanab]

Re: Steering Wheel Shimmy/Vibrations

I have the same problems with my 04 Limited V8 2WD. Didn't notice it when I test drove it around the city streets below 50 mph. I did once I got it above 55 mph - 75mph the next day. The vehicle had 2 miles on it when I bought it. I've had it back to the dealership 4 times to re-balance the tires and wheels in the first 7 days of ownerhship. Of course, every time they would say "problem fixed, have a nice day". They didn't fix it. They supposedly re-aligned the front end too. This didn't fix the problem either. Now I am up to 1200 miles on the vehicle and it seems to be getting slightly worse. This is bull*#it! The steering wheel should not oscillate back and forth unless the tires are about to wear out, the front end is mis-aligned or there is an unbalance in the wheel/tire(s). NOT on a brand new vehicle! I have contacted the Regional office in my area and am getting the runaround about "wer're looking it to it". In the mean time my tires and suspension components are wearing out prematurely. Oh yeah, it's not the Dunlap Grandtrek AT20's that come with the runner that's the problem. I thought it was too based on what I read on other forum sites, so I had the dealer upgrade my tires to Michelin X-terrains (extra $420) after the failed 2nd balance attempt. Problem is still there. Toyota needs to stand behind their product and fix this immediately. I'm sure the other 80 or so people with the same situation (that I've seen on various sites) would agree.... Come on Toyota! STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT!!!

Michael I think you have a worse problem then what most of the guys on this thread are talking about. WOW they charged you $420 for those tires that came at no extra charge on my 4runner. What a ripoff!!! I bet they took them off another 4runner and put your Dunlops with less then 1000 miles on them back on the new 4runner. Pocketed the $420. The vibration most of the owners notice is a slight harmonic at certain rpm. It's not a problem just a harmonic that is in the design of both the GX470 and 4runner. On the GX470 Lexus has come up with some steering bushings that have some effect on the harmonic for owners that notice it and complain enough. You might try the Lexus site and get that information and talk with the Toyota rep. www.clublexus.com look under the GX470 forum. Good luck