Vibration at 60+ mph

[suprdtydvr]

I have read through a few threads on this subject and it seems that there is a consensus for a few different causes:

1) Improperly balanced tires - I had new tires installed about 6 months ago and they were balanced at the shop. There have been quite a few people who have asserted that not all shops possess the equipment to properly balance the tires. Can anyone confirm this and also explain why.

2) The other common theory is worn steering rack and pinion bushings. I took a look under the vehicle yesterday and there is most definitely movement in the rack and pinion assembly when turning the wheels. It seems logical that this would bee the cause, however, some have again asserted that this cannot cause un-dampened vibration at highway speed. Does anyone have the factory specification for play in the rack and pinion?

I have not posted inn a while, I appreciate your responses.

John

 

[fblainen11]

I just had a vibration right at 60 mph. Had my tires rebalanced. Didn't help. My brother and I took a look at the ujoints and they were a little loose. The dealership confirmed this. Replaced the rear ujoint and it fixed the problem.

Good luck!

 

[RedSled]

I have read through a few threads on this subject and it seems that there is a consensus for a few different causes:

1) Improperly balanced tires - I had new tires installed about 6 months ago and they were balanced at the shop. There have been quite a few people who have asserted that not all shops possess the equipment to properly balance the tires. Can anyone confirm this and also explain why.

2) The other common theory is worn steering rack and pinion bushings. I took a look under the vehicle yesterday and there is most definitely movement in the rack and pinion assembly when turning the wheels. It seems logical that this would bee the cause, however, some have again asserted that this cannot cause un-dampened vibration at highway speed. Does anyone have the factory specification for play in the rack and pinion?

I have not posted inn a while, I appreciate your responses.

John

Are you saying you have vibration, Or wheel shake?

 

[Mtssurf1]

Once you get to where it wobbles put it in neutral, if the shaking continues its probably your tires, if not its something driveline related. Hope this helps.

 

[suprdtydvr]

I can feel it in the steering wheel, and it is definitely speed dependent. I would characterize it as a vibration.

I am going to claim ignorance here... does a 2001 SR5 have full time 4WD?

 

[nor_cal51501]

I can feel it in the steering wheel, and it is definitely speed dependent. I would characterize it as a vibration.

I am going to claim ignorance here... does a 2001 SR5 have full time 4WD?

A 2001 SR5 has AWD(non locked center diff 4wd) when you have the 4wd button depressed on the transfer case shifter. Otherwise there was no option for an all time 4wd model. Your shifter would look like this and the button would need to be depressed in order for you to be in AWD(all-wheel drive), otherwise you would be in 2wd if the button was not depressed.

 

[dirtbike250x]

If you are having a general truck vibration, lube the driveshaft. Putting the truck in neutral while moving doesn't eliminate or confirm driveline issue.

 

[Buckaroo]

Some shops use a Road Force Tire Balancing machine like the Hunter GSP 9720. This machine applies a force to the tire similar to the vehicle weight when it balances the tires. It is expensive compared to a typical spin balancer and your local tire shop may not have one. It can be used to match tires to wheels and help position tires on wheels to optimize wheel balance which takes time and will cost you more $$ to have them balanced. It can also identify problem tires/wheels (out of round or severely unbalanced). Hunters website used to allow you to identify the shops in your area that have this machine.

Suggest you look at the weights on the wheels currently. You really should have only one weight per side and no more than 5.5 ounces total weight on the tire. More could mean a bad balance or issues with the wheel/tire.

Buckaroo

 

[tenro1]

Was there ever any resolution to the vibration problem, or identify what the problem was?

Thanks!

 

[kernel.panik]

I've had this issue since I bought my 02 almost 5 or 6 years ago now.
The dealer did a roadforce balance for me a couple of months ago and it helped, but did not eliminate the issue. I know I need a new rack, but I think the hub centric wheels and old tires are also to blame. If I ever get all the money together I am getting wheels, tires and a new rack and outer tie rod ends and lower ball joints and upper and lower control arm bushings and a lift and plate bumpers... just to try to solve the issue!

 

[95yotarunner619]

my just started today.was driving at about 65 to 70 MPH and all of a sudden the whole vehicle felt like it had just gone thru a 9.0 earthquake. so i pulled over and stop. check to see if anything had fallen off and it was fine.drove off and it went away. driving back to a buddys house it started again but at a lower speed say 35-40 MPH. at my buddys house we lifted the back passenger tire off the ground and started the truck ran it and at around 50 MPH it started to shake like crazy and the same with the back driver side tire. my buddy said it might be a u joint not centered or bad driveshaft. so i went back to the shop that did my u joints last month and he said he had never felt and heard a shake that bad from a u joint. he said it felt like it was coming from the front. like a unbalanced tire. so i went back to my buddys to tell him what the guy had said and he said the guy didnt know what he was talking about. so i was going home and it started to shake again so i sped up alittle and it went away. i called discount tire to quote a tire balancing, the guy said just bring it in, so i did and they balanced and rotated my tires. as i was driving home the problem did not occur again. so im hoping the problem was just a unbalanced tire and not a driveshaft going bad.

 

[Jdoglee8]

my just started today.was driving at about 65 to 70 MPH and all of a sudden the whole vehicle felt like it had just gone thru a 9.0 earthquake. so i pulled over and stop. check to see if anything had fallen off and it was fine.drove off and it went away. driving back to a buddys house it started again but at a lower speed say 35-40 MPH. at my buddys house we lifted the back passenger tire off the ground and started the truck ran it and at around 50 MPH it started to shake like crazy and the same with the back driver side tire. my buddy said it might be a u joint not centered or bad driveshaft. so i went back to the shop that did my u joints last month and he said he had never felt and heard a shake that bad from a u joint. he said it felt like it was coming from the front. like a unbalanced tire. so i went back to my buddys to tell him what the guy had said and he said the guy didnt know what he was talking about. so i was going home and it started to shake again so i sped up alittle and it went away. i called discount tire to quote a tire balancing, the guy said just bring it in, so i did and they balanced and rotated my tires. as i was driving home the problem did not occur again. so im hoping the problem was just a unbalanced tire and not a driveshaft going bad.

That literally just happened to me lastnight, should i go balance the tires?

 

[pluton]

Every time I've had speed-specific wobbles, it's been wheel balance issues. Usually it's like 55-60 MPH or 60-65MPH...a narrow range. Below and above the range, no wobbles. Keep in mind that many shops cannot do a good balance. IDK if it's the operator or lack of maintenance on the machine, but if one particular shop can't hack it, try another shop.

 

[Hungryhawk]

This is a scary problem as we all know losing control of your vehicle at speed can lead to a crash and involve other vehicles and their occupants.
I can only contribute a couple of experiences that relate to this front end vibration:
First to expand on buckaroo's comments - I put new tires on my 5 th gen and quickly noticed steering wheel wobble at around 60 mph. Upon looking at my wheels when under my truck I saw 2 different styles of weights on them. I went back to my long time tire shop and asked the owner if his tech removes all the old weights before spin balance. The shop took off all the weights and rebalanced all 4 tires which worked. Of course cleaning the road grime off the wheel was required for the weights to stick. Seems the tech was lazy for first attempt.
My prior Honda pilot was getting a front end shake around 65 mph with 80,000 miles on its shocks, which I replaced and solved the problem.