Steering wheel vibration Poll

[wittless]

So i'm due to pick up my new OR in a few weeks and have been hearing about this wobble problem. Does this problem only occur with the OR trim ? If that is the case I might as well just go with the SR5. The only thing I want to do with it at some point is maybe up some Bilsteins on it and def a set of KO2s. I would appreciate some advice.

Mine is a SR5 with KO2s, so it isn't just an OR thing.

 

[1jzgte]

Mine is a SR5 with KO2s, so it isn't just an OR thing.

Im pretty sure it only happens on Magnetic Grey 4runners

 

[Hans Moleman]

Has anyone ever been successful at getting the stock Dunlop AT20 balanced perfectly for long term?

It seemed I was all good for a couple of weeks. Now it's back.

Every dealer and tire shop I went got different results because they all seem to place weight at different locations..

The Toyota dealers would road force but would not ride match the tire on the rim to get lowest road force numbers. Also the Toyota dealers had no idea what the Haweka adapter is.

Discount Tire took the time to ride match with their Hunter Road Force Elite balancer but they had no Haweka adapter. The road force numbers improved a lot (ranged from 2lbs to 12lbs according to them). It seemed to make the ride a lot less bouncier along with getting rid of the shimmy. However the shimmy came back a couple of weeks later and Discount Tire refunded my money for the balancing because they felt that was the best they can do.

I took it to another tire shop with road force balancing and they had the Haweka adapter. Their road force measurements ranged from 6lbs to 16 lbs, so a 4lb difference between Discount Tire's measurements. They have the older 1st gen Hunter Road Force balancer. This tire shop wouldn't ride match because they said their machine won't give them points on the tire and rim to ride match if the road force is below the limit. Their machine says 24lbs is the limit. But they said the weights were off by 2 to 3 oz. After their road balancing with the Haweka adapter, it seemed to have made most of the shimmy go away but still not completely. I think the problem is with the tire that has 16lbs of road force.

So after 8 balance jobs from mutliple Toyota Dealerships & tire shops here is how it currently sits: shimmies the strongest at 65mph when the truck has sat overnight and mostly goes away after driving 10 miles. This points to flat spotting perhaps.

Still some minor shimmy at 65mph after driving 10 miles, depending on the road surface.

Not sure if I want to waste anymore time chasing this. I might just bite the bullet and buy new wheels & tires since I'm installing the FJ UTTE TRD lift soon. I was going to go with BFG KO2's but many people in this thread still have vibration problems with them. The tire shop recommended Michelin LTX AT2's because they come the roundest but they don't look as nice as the KO2's.

 

[thinkxingu]

My dealer had gotten the shimmy to be practically non-existent--it would only happen after not driving for a whole day, and then it would go away after a short drive. At my 5K service, they rotated tires and it came back. They found front and rear passenger off 1/2 an ounce, which seems like nothing, but the vibration was gone on the way home.

Seems like the 4Runner is just super sensitive--stock wheels/tires may make things worse.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[1jzgte]

My dealer had gotten the shimmy to be practically non-existent--it would only happen after not driving for a whole day, and then it would go away after a short drive. At my 5K service, they rotated tires and it came back. They found front and rear passenger off 1/2 an ounce, which seems like nothing, but the vibration was gone on the way home.

Seems like the 4Runner is just super sensitive--stock wheels/tires may make things worse.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

i noticed the same thing after a rotation.. im guessing some tires are more/less imperfect than others.. i cant wait to slap on some new tires but i still have at least another 3 years left on these bridgestone dueler alezna plus's's''ses'e's'

 

[thinkxingu]

My dealer had gotten the shimmy to be practically non-existent--it would only happen after not driving for a whole day, and then it would go away after a short drive. At my 5K service, they rotated tires and it came back. They found front and rear passenger off 1/2 an ounce, which seems like nothing, but the vibration was gone on the way home.

Seems like the 4Runner is just super sensitive--stock wheels/tires may make things worse.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

Drove another 80 miles today and no shimmy. Seems like just need a super picky tech to get it right.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Hans Moleman]

I had another America's Tire rebalance my tires a few weeks ago.

They used this lug adapter that has these special pins with a shoulder to simulate our flanged mag style lug nuts. The tech had to order these special pins because they had straight pins with a radius that look like the pins on the typical Haweka adapter.

This is the best balance I have had so far. Still some minor shimmying when the tires are cold, but mostly goes away after driving a few miles.

The ironic thing is this America's Tire did not have a fancy GSP 9700 road force balancer but they were still able to get a better balance than other shops and dealers that used a GSP 9700. They have a lower end Quickmatch balancer that can check wheel and tire runout in thousandths of a inch as opposed to a GSP 9700 than gives road force numbers in pounds.

 

[Parabola]

Well I've been researching new 4runner and have decided to get it, but this steering wheel vibration may scare me away...I absolutely cannot stand vibrating steering wheel in a car, let alone in a new $40k car. And for sure I don't want to deal with fixing it right out the door.

How prevalent is this issue?

 

[LimeLED]

Well I've been researching new 4runner and have decided to get it, but this steering wheel vibration may scare me away...I absolutely cannot stand vibrating steering wheel in a car, let alone in a new $40k car. And for sure I don't want to deal with fixing it right out the door.

How prevalent is this issue?

Unfortunately, I’d say it’s pretty common. It seems to be a side effect of the 4Runner’s steering being very sensitive to the slightest vibrations. Hence why so many have mentioned needing a really good 4-wheel balance.

 

[Cactus Jack]

Mine seems to be related to the KO2 tires (stock size, C load range). Steering wheel did not shimmy with stock ORP wheels and tires (which had RF numbers of all below 15). Now with the KO2 tires and Pro wheels, it feels like a $500 car.

Had two KO2 tires replaced under warranty because road force numbers were 39 and 41 (best they could get it). Now my road force numbers are 2, 12, 20 and 24. This is after the dealership tried their best, then my local tire shop which is an approved tire installer by tire rack. Tire rack will not take all the tires back because the RF numbers are below threshold, which is disappointing. They quoted a RF number above 60 as being eligible for a full warranty, which is insane. This number is provided by BFG themselves since there is no official industry standard as it depends on the vehicle it is on.

I have talked to more than a few folks who HATE these KO2 tires because of this very reason. They are great off road, but not impressed with the on road mannerisms and will be switching to something else soon.

 

[4RunnerBoise]

Well I've been researching new 4runner and have decided to get it, but this steering wheel vibration may scare me away...I absolutely cannot stand vibrating steering wheel in a car, let alone in a new $40k car. And for sure I don't want to deal with fixing it right out the door.

How prevalent is this issue?

My 2017 TRD Pro is rock solid, never a hint of vibration.

 

[progress4m]

Well I've been researching new 4runner and have decided to get it, but this steering wheel vibration may scare me away...I absolutely cannot stand vibrating steering wheel in a car, let alone in a new $40k car. And for sure I don't want to deal with fixing it right out the door.

How prevalent is this issue?

I have 2013 Trail (lifted) and have no issues at all (currently on AT tires, had HT-stock tires before);

IMHO: this “issue” (steering wheel vibration) would not stop me from buying 4Runner… I believe it is not caused by design- if wheels, tires alignment and suspension are in specs then steering wheel is solid and drive is very smooth.

Of the subject (again IMHO): as far as choosing 4Runner in general (since you mentioned that is what you decide on after research) … unfortunately (or fortunately) it is not like there is another option… if you consider what that mid-size true SUV has to offer: technical specs, reliability, price range, etc.… there is nothing it can be really compared to… sure you can look at Jeep, but that would-be “apple to oranges” comparison from every angle…

Cheers!

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Well I've been researching new 4runner and have decided to get it, but this steering wheel vibration may scare me away...I absolutely cannot stand vibrating steering wheel in a car, let alone in a new $40k car. And for sure I don't want to deal with fixing it right out the door.

How prevalent is this issue?

You should get a Highlander or a Tesla Model X.

 

[jrandom]

I hear Walmart techs can take care of those vibration issues, no sweat

 

[MICA4R]

funny this thread popped up. My family has owned many 4runners

1 - 2nd gen
4 - 4th gen
1 - 5th gen

All posts consistent with what I have experienced

Recently bought a new 5th gen. Had to test drive 5 vehicles to find one without the steering wheel vibration. Found one and got it.

One of the 4th gens had it since the day it was purchased (new). between 60-65 mph. Tried everything to get rid of it (balancing, rotating, tire change, cv axle, tie rods, bearings, etc) with no luck. Eventually just learned to live with it. hwell:

Problem in 5th gens too. Test drive, test drive, test drive... I only knew to look for it because of my experience with 4th gen.

All the 5th gens I test drove (brand new) had it to varying degrees (b/w 60-65mph). I found one that only had very very minor shake/vibration if you looked for it at 63mph.

I have concluded it is something drive train design related (unbalanced), really not sure

Have not had any functional issues (although bearing did go out at 130k in the 4th gen with vibration), just annoying uke:

 

[TrDpRo_J]

My 2017 TRD Pro is rock solid, never a hint of vibration.

That was me until I went KO2's and spacers

I get a shimmy at 45-50 when cold and after a few it goes away :lookout:

 

[Knuckledragger]

Just bought my 2014 SR5P. Everything is great, other than the shake of course. The vehicle is bone stock with Michelin Defender tires. The PO had these tires put on 15k miles ago. He had an Allignment done at the same time. I have had the tires balanced twice now in the past 2 weeks. The shake is still there.

I am planning on buying new tires within the next week or so. Mainly because I want some KO2’s.

Hopefully the shake goes away.

 

[slowveloce]

I test drove a 2018 SR5 with the shake...sales guy said that it was because the air pressure in the tires were too low....took my business elsewhere.

 

[Pastor passum]

I'm now at just over 3,000 miles on my 2018 TRD-ORP. Not a hint of inbalence at any speed. Vehicle is still stock and hopefully it will remain smooth after tire changes. Quite a bit of my driving is 65 - 75 mph and I really don't tolerate anything other than smooth very well.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Wife has 144K miles on her 2014 SR5. Bilstein 5100s clean up the shake as the OEM shocks were toast.

While rotating the tires, noted that the rear pads are getting close to done. I'm ordering pads and rotors as 150K is enough.