Well, on the way home tonight from work, I realized that hitting speeds up over 60mph, my truck rode like crap. I am not sure what was done, but it is scarry to say that my truck rode better before the road force test was done. I think the road force helped, but the balancing job sucked. Allen @ Tires Plus said to bring it in and he would look at it. He was wondering since bed shake that shock might be bad or a drum.
I also spoke to my service advisor and the Service Manager still says it is the tires. I asked them what all they checked. The did check the suspension parts, driveshaft, etc. He said they would bring it in one more time to inspect again after the road force test. I asked him, if you all think it is the tires, then put a different set of rims/tires on it and drive it around (or let me drive it around as well) to prove their point. He said they could look into that.
I am already thinking "hardcore" about getting rid of it. I have been spending too much time researching this that I think I have becomed obsessed. Yes I do love my truck, but it just doesn't make economical sense either to drive something 60 miles a day, do a little fishing and photography and get 18/21mpg. Gas prices aren't going to get any better. In fact they will probably be a $1 higher this time next year due to price of crude.
The problem is what do I get. I think the Matrix's look cool, but I have a height problem. I am 6'2" and not sure how well I would fit. My Tacoma gives me the room. My wife drives a 2004 Highlander so we would still have a SUV.
Who knows, if they can get this fixed in a few days, then maybe my mind would change.
Speaking of room. I measured the inside width of my Tacoma Prerunner and Corolla and they are both the same width. I never would have thunk it. I'm 6'2" and 275# and can still fit in the Corolla comfortably. At my old age, it's not as easy getting in and out because the Corolla is so low, but once inside, there's plenty of room including head room. I like the 38 mpg, and it has plenty of power too.
Speaking of room. I measured the inside width of my Tacoma Prerunner and Corolla and they are both the same width. I never would have thunk it. I'm 6'2" and 275# and can still fit in the Corolla comfortably. At my old age, it's not as easy getting in and out because the Corolla is so low, but once inside, there's plenty of room including head room. I like the 38 mpg, and it has plenty of power too.
38 MPG!
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"You can't be afraid to reverse engineer something to see how it works." -Me
Last edited by The Phoenix; 10-19-2007 at 10:59 AM.
I averaged 38 on a recent 2,700 mile trip from Tennessee to North Dakota and a lot of that was at 75-80 mph. I never get less than 33 mpg average per tank just driving around my home area.
Well, since my problem continued, Tires Plus looked at it today and tried to have a better 2nd opinion. They looked at the suspension and such (shocks, drums, etc) and found nothing. They put 2 brand new Bridgestone Dueler HTs on the back to see if it got better. It didn't. The 2 new tires took barely any weight to balance them. He has no idea why this is happening.
My service advisor knows I am dropping it off Monday for them to look at. He is going to have the service department take a new set of rims/tires off a 2007 Prerunner and see what happens and then go from there. Allen @ Tires Plus has also offered to speak to the dealer if they have any questions.
The one rim that "failed" the road force test, hasn't caused any problems because of the tire size. It would be a different story if they were low profile tires.
I am hoping that they solve it and don't just say the "tires" again. If so, Toyota, Inc, the Better Business Bureau, and the dealership will get a letter about this ongoing issue. I am wanting to get rid of it once fixed, but the problem is that I will probably lose money and I don't think you ever win when you owe money and are trying to buy a different vehicle.
If for some reason, rims and tires fixes this, then I probably will not get rid of it because the money spent on the rims/tires will have me in the negative.
I think I am getting a headache and high blood pressure. I have to go watch some football and cool off for now.
My truck is 2004 and has the original Tokico shocks on them. The truck doesn't say they need replaced nor mechanics, but how long do these suckers usually last? I am wondering if they need replaced or if one if faulty, but not leaking or acting broken.
Have you checked your axle shaft's and drive shaft? What about your u joints? Did they check for run out on your brake drums?
Don't think shocks are the issue here. At most, they would lessen the vibration due to the lack of suspension. I replaced mine last year when I lifted, and the stock shocks were fine and my truck is an 03 so I wouldn't think your's would be worn out yet.
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AKA..dingdong
Silver 03 Taco Limited TRD 4dr. 4X4 V6 Auto
Extang Tonneau, LineX Liner, 3" Toytec lift with front diff drop, rear Alcan, AAL's w/ degree shims, Procomp shocks front and rear, Locker mod, 285/75/16 Nitto's, Code alarm/remote start CA670, Putco Stainless Grill, Several CUSTOM off road pin stripes
I had the dealer put rims/tires on the truck from another Prerunner. (245/75R16) It rode considerably better.
They have looked at the drive shaft, shocks, leaf springs, drums, front end and they keep coming back to the tires. Tires Plus has also looked at everything under the truck. He checked to make sure there isn't a bent axle. There is no uneven wear on the tires (cupping, etc). The Tires Plus said the Dueler HT's still caused it and it isn't the tires. I don't know if only putting two new tires on the back makes things ride differently.
In researching which tires to put on, I did find someone who bought Bridestone Dueler AT Revos and it made his Dueler HTs look like junk and there was no more vibration. I have realized that Runway is junk because the guy from Tires Plus did say he doesn't have too much faith in those tires and they are "entry level". Part of me has always been wanting new tires on this truck because of the "Runways". I think I might buy the new tires since I want them anyways. If the problem persists, then look to the rims. I could either replace a factory aluminum rim or buy aftermarket rims. Toyota said get a quote because they would be willing to try to match it and even road force balance/install them to match up with the rim just incase.
Since having Tires Plus rebalance the tires after my Thrusday evening issue, the bed shake is minimal and sometimes not even there. I still feel the tires though.
I know a truck bed is the lightest part of the truck and if a tire isn't balanced properly, or not the right tire, then maybe that is what is contributing to this.
Does anyone have any thoughts/feedback on tires they have put on their Taco? I am leaning towards the Bridgeston Duelar AT Revos based on reviews and tread life. I do mostly road driving, but do want the AT.
Off to craigslist to see if I can find some factory rims cheap to throw in my garage.
Well, because tires are just so expensive, I have been dealing with it (barely). I really want to put the Revos on it, but have doubts. I was talking to my co-worker who use to be an ASE Mechanic before he changed career fields and this is what he thinks is happening with all the details I have given him. Does this sound logical? I can't seem to find any info on Google and such.
"At one point the rim that failed the road-force test was likely on the left rear. It could have been made worse by being put there in combination with an out-of-round tire or it could have been improperly balanced. Now, a typical shock is only performs to 95%+ of it's intended performance for about 75,000 miles; however, overcoming a redundant vibration can wear out most shocks in less than 10,000 miles. It won't wear it out completely, just in a small range where the shock is constantly overworked. Within this range the shock becomes very "loose" and leaky (the fluid seeps around the plunger internally). Now, I know what you're thinking-- the Toyota guys checked the suspension-- but let me tell you what most mechanics' idea of checking the suspension is. I kid you not, I was taught in auto tech school to go to each corner of the car, push down on the bumper forcefully on each corner, let go, and watch how many times the suspension "undulates" before returning back to still. If it "undulates" more than 2.5-3 times, the shock needs replacing...that's it. That's it? Isn't there some sort of machine that you put the shock on which tests it dynamically? There are, and they're expensive, and most people don't know how to use them, and it's an old model or isn't calibrated right, you won't get the right test results. Not only that, but it tests over the full range and usually misses leaks in increments shorter than a half-inch. Most mechanics' "testing" of shocks is the equivalent of making a purchase to buy a car by kicking the tires. But I digress. Here's the reason I think the new tires didn't make the vibration go away completely: You're driver's rear shock is dead within a short range. At 50-60 mph "some roads" cause a resonance the starts a little "wheel hop" (roads have imperfections too). As the wheel hops up against the spring, the spring pushes it back towards the ground and this happens freely within a short range of travel".
Okay, I had my wife drive my truck down a road that let us get up to speeds between 50 -60 mph. Once we got up over 50, she was feeling the vibration/shake. I could see if from following on her left rear.
- I didn't see anything that could mean bent axle (tire/rim was staying pretty true from folliwing off her left and behind.
- I didn't see anything from the leaf springs and didn't see any wheel hop (shock).
- I then moved over to the left side, and to my surprise, saw bed shake on the side panel. I guess maybe not as destinct or just hard in the past to see using side view mirrors. Once again though, didn't see anything to symobolize bent axle shaft. I did see a litte "not perfect circle" in the rim, but no rim is 100% true.
So my thinking is that all this time, I was thinking just one side (LR) but maybe more then that. The tires in the front were fine and at one point were in the rear. Could the tires (junk) cause a bad ride when in the rear due to poor tire? The service manager did say that it can effect how it rides. Maybe not gripping the road well due to lack of weight? Front is heavier. Any thoughts?
I am going to have Toyota put new tires on this truck this week. I am going to go with Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revos. They said they will road force match them. If after the new tires (which is probably a good idea anyways) and it still continues, then all hell will break loose with the dealer since they said to put new tires on. I checked my "extended" warranty, and it doesn't say it won't cover the factory wheels, just wheel balancing. Not 100% sure though.
It doesn't sound like it is the shock because it is both. If they need replaced because they got worn out in a range due to the tire balancing issue, then I might go with either Tokico or Billstein in the rear and leave the front be. I could get those for under $200 and install those myself.
Re: Bed Shake
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