Wheel vibration/Loud noise

[m777]

Bought a new 4Runeer SR5 about two weeks ago. I did notice steering wheel vibration when going 55-65 mph right away but it has been getting progressively worse quickly. So i decided to take it to the dealer this morning to get the tires rebalanced. I have 1100 miles on the car so far. On the way to the dealer i started to hear a loud noise paired with even more violent wheel vibration. It sounded and felt like a front flat/torn cv axle boot. I stopped, inspected the vehicle - everything was fine; no flat, no objects under the car, no leaks, no torn cv boot, lug nuts are tight. Started driving, the noise/vibration was gone, but reappeared again very soon. It got to be so violent that i was quite uncomfortable to continue driving. Anyway, i stopped 3 times but still could not find a problem. All of this was happening with speeds less than 40 mph. I did record the noise with my iPhone (clip attached). iPhone recording is crap, so imagine how much louder it actually was. I get to the dealer, upset and pissed at this point, we drive the car with the service person - no noise/vibration. He said they will look at it. I am pretty knowledgeable in cars (used to buy/fix/sell salvage when at school) and i have never heard or experienced anything similar to this, especially in a car with 1000 miles on it. What should i do? I am almost ready to demand to have the car taken back or traded in for a different vehicle. I am not sure i want to keep the car even if the dealer does find a problem since its a Toyota no problems of this nature should arise.

audio clip: http://rapidshare.com/files/456630796/Memo.m4a

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

 

[philsey]

A lot of us, including myself have experienced fatigued/broken lug nuts. Seems they can easily suffer by being overtorqued.

 

[rclangelan]

A lot of us, including myself have experienced fatigued/broken lug nuts. Seems they can easily suffer by being overtorqued.

Not to change the subject, because M777's issue sounds like it needs attention, but...

I snapped 4 lugs so far on my 4Runner. One on each wheel. I'll be replacing them all soon. The dealer quoted me $450 to repair/replace the 4 broken ones. So I'll be doing that job myself. Has anyone's dealer fixed the broken lugs for free/under warrenty?

Also, all this being said, driving around with 4 broken lugs, I still do not experience the symptoms that m777 is having.

- Ryan

 

[BradleyB]

Has anyone's dealer fixed the broken lugs for free/under warrenty?

You might want to look through this forum; broken lug bolts have been a common problem, even at the dealers' rotating tires. Many replaced under warranty. Get your information and push back at your possibly unscrupulous dealer.

Brad

 

[1000MPH]

Honestly, if it was as bad as it sounds, I would have called for a tow to the dealer. Covered by ToyotaCare.
Think it involves the caliper?

 

[Quentin]

Sounds like a wheel picked up something that is throwing it out of balance. (or lost a weight that is killing the balance) Have you been offroading any?