Steering Wheel Shake

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stever1000

New member
I'm trying to track down a shake/shudder in my steering wheel. Over bumps (whether left or right side) I get a shudder or shake (up/down) in my steering wheel right afterward.

I just replaced (all OEM) the following parts:
lower ball joints
lower control arm bushings
inner tie rod ends
outer tie rod ends
sway bar bushings (Febest)
sway bar end links (Febest_
steering rack bushings (red poly, previous owner but good shape)
steering rack guide
rear sway bar links and bushings (Febest)
misc hardware associated with above parts

I also got an alignment right afterward.

I don't hear a bang or knock when it happens, it just shakes in my hands. One bump in tolerable, but if the road is really bumpy, the steering wheel shakes a lot.

I know this isn't a good explanation, so I will try to get a video too.

The shocks are toyota brand, but they are not rusted or discoloured so I believe they have been recently replaced (they have orange paint stripe on the bottom ). But I don't think the shocks would transmit directly to the steering wheel.

After replacing all those parts I would expect a tight steering wheel and only normal road vibration.

Does anyone know what could be wrong? I haven't taken it off road yet, but I expect that it would be even worse handling if I did...
 
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Did you have the issue prior to replacing all that stuff? Did you replace it yourself?

I think it sounds like something is loose up front in the steering/suspension.

Do you have much play in the steering if you hold the shaft/column with one hand and move the wheel back and forth with the other?
 
These vehicles are super picky when it comes to tire balancing. Also, how old are the tires? If driven on bad suspension parts for a long time the tires become cupped and no amount of alignments and balancing will fix it.
 
The problem only occurs when driving over bumps? The steering wheel moves up and down?

I think some clarification of the problem would help us diagnose the possible issue.

The steering wheel should never move up or down. Do you mean it rotates back and forth? If the steering wheel itself/steering column are actually moving up and down, I would look to the tilt mechanism for problems.
 
Nate_GB said:
The problem only occurs when driving over bumps? The steering wheel moves up and down?

I think some clarification of the problem would help us diagnose the possible issue.

The steering wheel should never move up or down. Do you mean it rotates back and forth? If the steering wheel itself/steering column are actually moving up and down, I would look to the tilt mechanism for problems.
Click to expand...

Sorry, to clarify, the steering wheel shakes/moves in my hands clockwise/counterclockwise over bumps.

A.Wilson013 said:
Did you have the issue prior to replacing all that stuff? Did you replace it yourself?

I think it sounds like something is loose up front in the steering/suspension.

Do you have much play in the steering if you hold the shaft/column with one hand and move the wheel back and forth with the other?
Click to expand...

Yes there were issues prior, and I wanted to do everything at once to avoid another alignment in the future (the culprit was unknown history/manufacturer of lower ball joints). I replaced everything myself and the shop checked my torques during the alignment. If something is loose, I have no idea what. I followed the torque specs on this forum.

I have not checked the steering shaft/cloumn yet... I will run down and check that now
 
Last edited:
Acorn22 said:
Check out this thread:

Diagnose and Fix Steering Play/Rattle - TTORA Forum

Mine does the same thing, it kinda feels like there's a couple millimeters of play in it when I hit bumps and stuff.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I read through that link and checked my steering wheel and here is what I found.

With the engine off and key to "on", I grab the steering shaft under the dash and turn the steering wheel back and forth. They seem to move together, without any slack. I don't think that joint is loose.

However, if I turn the steering wheel left until the tire moves, there is a bit of a lag/play before the tire actually moves. Same if I rotate the steering wheel the opposite direction, the tire doesn't move instantly, there is some play before the tire moves. Not sure if this is normal, or if the tire should move instantly as I rotate the steering wheel?
 
stever1000 said:
However, if I turn the steering wheel left until the tire moves, there is a bit of a lag/play before the tire actually moves. Same if I rotate the steering wheel the opposite direction, the tire doesn't move instantly, there is some play before the tire moves. Not sure if this is normal, or if the tire should move instantly as I rotate the steering wheel?
Click to expand...

It's hard to say without seeing how much play there is... A video may help?

However, if you're turning the wheel and the tie rods are moving without the tires/wheels, that's an issue. However, with your new tie rod ends, I wouldn't think that would be an issue, especially with OEM components. Makes me think of an issue with the steering rack guide, or perhaps the rack itself?

https://www.yotatech.com/f2/how-replace-steering-rack-guide-pictures-215931/

Please take anything I say with a grain of salt. I am by no means a mechanic... Just a dude that spent far too many hours under his 4Runner.
 
A.Wilson013 said:
It's hard to say without seeing how much play there is... A video may help?

However, if you're turning the wheel and the tie rods are moving without the tires/wheels, that's an issue. However, with your new tie rod ends, I wouldn't think that would be an issue, especially with OEM components. Makes me think of an issue with the steering rack guide, or perhaps the rack itself?

https://www.yotatech.com/f2/how-replace-steering-rack-guide-pictures-215931/

Please take anything I say with a grain of salt. I am by no means a mechanic... Just a dude that spent far too many hours under his 4Runner.
Click to expand...

I will try a video tomorrow...
I followed that yotatech article when I replaced the steering guide and parts, and my torque wrench goes down low enough I was able to follow the torque specs:

The torque spec is (18ft.lbs then back it off 19deg)
Click to expand...

I will recheck the torque tomorrow, perhaps I backed it off more than 19* (I just eye-balled it with the arm horizontal then CCW 19*)

Cheers
 
If it feels like the rattle is up near the steering wheel then that is likely the loose steering column issue. I couldn't actually feel any play in mine either but I taçk welded it and it fixed the issue. There is a link in my build thread to the thread that shows you how to do it. Super quick mod, the tack only takes 2 seconds, its the setup and dismantling that takes the time.
 
My guess would be the adjustment on the steering rack. I did it just as you did, torquing it and then eyeballing it 19 degrees. Did not work for me, I had to make minor adjustments and then drive it down the street to test. After a few times I got it so it would not bind and there was no slack. If it feels right it is right
 
Mark_BC said:
If it feels like the rattle is up near the steering wheel then that is likely the loose steering column issue. I couldn't actually feel any play in mine either but I taçk welded it and it fixed the issue. There is a link in my build thread to the thread that shows you how to do it. Super quick mod, the tack only takes 2 seconds, its the setup and dismantling that takes the time.
Click to expand...

This is also on the list... I don't have access to a welder so I would likely use the metal pin/dowel method.
 
[MENTION=156591]stever1000[/MENTION] I as well have this same issue and am working to try and resolve it. However, I have quite a few parts that need to be looked at/serviced: LBJ, UBJ, all bushings, sway bar links, tie rod ends, new rotors, etc. I think it's only one wheel that's causing it though. Mine shakes so bad at 60-75 that its cause a leak in one of my axle seals.... Sometimes it doesnt shake at all at 60, other times it shakes the hardest at 70...

It's almost like its my brake rotors or tires or something. It's terrible. At 55 and below though it rides perfect.
 
I get the shake or shutter in my steering around 65-70 mph. Mine is a 2000 4wd Runner. Below that it drives perfect.
 
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