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Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds
by brock1313
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Aug 30, 2006 (10:25 pm)
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I have a 2002 4Runner that has recently developed a vibration at freeway speeds. I purchased new tires about two months before the vibration started. I have been back to the place where I bought my tires and the assure me that they are balanced.
I have been dealing with this problem for the past couple of months and have been getting nowhere. When I took my 4Runner into the dealership to get the lower ball joint replaced I spoke with the service folks about the vibration problem and all I got in response was "we've never heard of that before".
I guess that I'm looking for any ideas or experiences as to what the problem might be.
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- #3 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [brock1313]
by bobgordon
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Aug 31, 2006 (7:16 am)
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Replying to: brock1313 (Aug 30, 2006 11:25 pm)
Is the vibration felt through the steering wheel, back-end of the truck or throughout the whole vehicle?
It could be a number of things but since you say it happens at "highway speeds", it sounds like it could be a driveshaft issue.
Is there any noise (i.e. clunk, squeaking, etc.) on turns?
It also might be a motor/trans mount.
Check the front driveshafts and CV joints, rear driveshaft and u-joints and mounts.
It's rather difficult to diagnose over the net but these are a few things to look at.
Good luck!
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- #4 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [bobgordon]
by brock1313
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Aug 31, 2006 (11:52 am)
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Replying to: bobgordon (Aug 31, 2006 8:16 am)
The vibration is felt through the steering wheel and also to a lesser degree the rest of the vehicle. It starts at about 60 mph and isn't constant. Meaning that the vibration varies in intensity. There aren't any noises associated with the vibration. Going around corners/curves doesn't seem to have an affect on the vibration. I've tried to experiment a little with acceleration and decelaration and it might get a little worse during acceleration but it is difficult to tell.
Anyway, thanks for the help. I managed to wrangle a friend of mine thats a mechanic for a Toyota dealership to take it for a spin and see what he thinks as well. But I will definitely bring up the items that you suggested.
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- #5 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [brock1313]
by nippononly
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Aug 31, 2006 (1:10 pm)
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Replying to: brock1313 (Aug 31, 2006 12:52 pm)
Sounds like badly balanced tires. These rims are notoriously difficult to balance - it took me two different tries at two different places last time I bought tires, before it was right.
You would feel badly balanced front tires through the steering wheel, and badly balanced rear wheels as a kind of distant vibration/shimmy in the rear end. And both would be most noticeable at highway speeds.
A bad driveshaft feels more like a kind of drumming under your seat, and can get pretty alarming at 60-70 mph if the U-joints are shot.
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- #6 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [brock1313]
by jokol2
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Sep 07, 2006 (1:46 pm)
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Replying to: brock1313 (Aug 31, 2006 12:52 pm)
I just purchased 2 new 2006 4runners. An SR5 4wd for my wife, and a Sport Edition for myself. Both V6. They both have a vibration in the steering column. I went back to the dealer and drove another one, and it also has a vibration. The service manager at the dealership then drove another new 4runner, and acknowledges that there is definitely a vibration radiating thru the steering column. He then contacted the local Toyota rep, who says that this is a "CHARACTERISTIC" of the vehicle!!!!!!! Unbeliveable. I guess Characterisic is Japanese for DEFECT!!!!!! I contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission and filed two complaints, one for each vehicle. We need more people to file complaints before Toyota will do anything to fix this obvious defect. Over $70,000 in 2 vehicles and they are telling me that a constant vibration is a "characteristic"!!! It is NOT tire balance. Gauranteed. My guess is motor mounts or engine vibration. You can really feel it when you accelerate. Too get a real dose of it, try putting two fingers on the headlight stalk while holding the steering wheel with you left hand. You can really feel it. I am now thinking about engaging the Oregon Lemon Law and going into Arbitration to give both vehicles back to them. Only have 1800 miles on the SR5 and 700 on the Sport Edition. Absolutely absurd for Toyota to take this attitude with an obvious problem. My sport edition also will not track. It either goes left, or veers to the right. No such thing as straight ahead. Feel like I am driving drunk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission advised me that they have another complaint on the veering to the right, veering to the left. I am not a happy camper with my 2 new Toyotas!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- #7 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [jokol2]
by canddmeyer
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Sep 07, 2006 (2:20 pm)
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Replying to: jokol2 (Sep 07, 2006 2:46 pm)
No vibration on my 2003 V6.
I too have (had) the tracking issue. Crosswinds don't help any either. Not being able to steer a straight line has driven me nuts since after I made my purchase, mostly because my two prior Chevrolet's did the same thing and I thought this wouldn't be an issue with a Toyota. I didn't notice it during the test drive. For whatever reason, as I've put more miles on the vehicle, the tracking is better, but not perfect. Mine isn't bad enough to have an issue with Toyota. I guess GM products have me brainwashed.
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- #8 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [canddmeyer]
by jokol2
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Sep 07, 2006 (3:03 pm)
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Replying to: canddmeyer (Sep 07, 2006 3:20 pm)
There are several things that could cause the tracking issue and I am not all that familiar with my 2006 suspension system so I am going to have to rely on my dealer to investigate and see what gives. Toyota's determination that the vibration radiating thru the steering column is "charisteristic" is what has me really riled up!! Kind of disturbing, though, to discover that somebody else had already filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission regarding the tracking issue on the 2006 Sport Edition. I have always been a Toyota fan, but this attitude that is being exhibited by Toyota is starting to turn me absolutely sour on them. I have owned almost every make of vehicle( bought them all new), including, but not limited to, Mercedes, BMW, Lincoln, Volvo, Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep, etc. They all have their faults, but the only car company that I have ever been totally stonewalled by was Ford (Fix Or Repair Daily- Found On Roadside Dead!)A real horror story. I can only hope that enough 2006 Toyota 4Runner owners will complain about the vibration so Toyota will have to do something before I become involved in the long and tedious process in filing under the Lemon Law.
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- #9 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [brock1313]
by brock1313
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Sep 07, 2006 (5:33 pm)
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Replying to: brock1313 (Aug 30, 2006 11:25 pm)
Just a follow-up on my vibration problem. The problem was resolved by getting new tires and having them "road force" balanced. The guy that installed/balanced the tires told me that having problems balancing tires on a Toyota is fairly common.
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- #10 of 156
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Re: Vibrations while driving at freeway speeds [brock1313]
by jokol2
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Sep 07, 2006 (5:46 pm)
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Replying to: brock1313 (Sep 07, 2006 6:33 pm)
I sure wish that tires was my problem!! My wife's sr5 has Michelin cross terrains and my Sport Edition has lousy Dunlop Grandtrek AT20's. Having raced cars for several years I can gaurantee that tires are not the problem with all of these 2006 4runners. Motor mounts, driveline, engine vibration (camshaft?) are possiblities, but even Toyota cannot figure out the problem. I am glad that your problem was resolved thru tire balance. I am the "King" of tire balancing!! Had almost every kind of balance problem you can mention. I had a Mercedes that was almost impossible to get the tires balanced on, and I found that the Hoffman hi speed on the car balancing worked somewhat, but not totally foolproof. Tire balance is very easy to ascertain. Many people confuse tire balance with a driveline that is out of balance; had my driveline balanced 3 times on my Isuzu Trooper. Chronic problem. Anyway, if anybody reading this has a 2006 4runner and has this vibration please let me know. My son has a 2004 sport edition with no vibration. My daughter drives a 2002 sr5 with no vibration problem, but like I said earlier, every 2006 that we have driven has this same defect. Thanks.
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