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TacomaGeneral discussion forum for the 2005 and later Toyota Tacoma.
This is a discussion thread titled "Steering "Flutter" - Yes, I've searched...", within the Tacoma forum, part of the Truck Forums category.
Let me start by stating that yes I have done a search on this subject and read almost every post on this site related to steering wheel shake. I'm yet another Tacoma ('06, double cab, short bed, TRD 4wd) owner with the problem. It started at around 20,000 miles. It typically isn't noticeable until 60-65 mph or faster. Thinking it was simply a balance issue, I had the wheels balanced several times without any improvement. I then took it to the dealership and they didn't find anything wrong. They rebalanced the wheels, but again no improvement. At that point I assumed the factory BFG's had worn with flat spots and decided to live with it until the tires wore out.
Fast forward to now. My truck now has 45,000 miles on it and I just bought new tires. This time I went with Firestone Destination A/T tires because of the rave reviews everyone was giving them on tirerack.com. After the new tires were installed by Discount Tire, I realized the vibration/shake was still there. I took the truck back to Discount, they rebalanced them and again no improvement. Took it back again and this time they Road Force balanced them. Definitely an improvement, but there's still a slight shake in the steering wheel at highway speeds. The problem is probably 50% improved after the Road Force balance.
At this point I'm out of ideas. Since my truck is an '06, the TSB for "steering flutter" doesn't apply. I drive twenty miles on the highway each way to work, so this is a problem I notice all the time. Anyone have any ideas on what I can try next?
Also, in some of the other threads I've heard people mention a TSB for the skid plate on Tacomas and that this somehow can cause wheel shake. I've looked everywhere and can't find it posted. Do any of you have the TSB, or at least know the specifics of it?
It's not your skidplate. That problem applied only to the first aluminum skid-plate Toyota had produced when the new model first came out in 05. Toyota redesigned the aluminum skid-plate in mid-late 05. Your problem has been much discussed and much reported, and from what I've read, people just live with it. It's likely there are driveline problems inherent in the design of the truck, but by the time Toyota finally acknowledges it and comes up with a fix for it, if it even is fixable, the next generation Tacoma will be out.
Thanks for the feedback. I talked to Discount after I posted this and asked them if they used a lug-centric adapter on the Road Force. Apparently, they did not, but instead used a "cone" adapter for Toyota wheels. They told me to bring it back in and they'd use the adapter with "fingers" (their word), which sounds like a lug-centric adapter. Hopefully this will take care of it.
My '01 Tundra also has the "shakes" and have been to several mechanics who obviously say a balance issue and balance them only to find the problem doesn't go away. I never had them road force balanced but i've heard that helps but not eliminates the problem. The odd part is other vehicles i've had and driven never had this issue with the same mechanic so it seems to be isolated to Toyota trucks. I think that the steering rack might contribute to it a little since most trucks are steering box systems and provide more drag to help absorb vibrations. I also tried new tires and different rims all with no change. The odd part is that sometimes it will do but once and a while i'll notice it's not doing it any more then all of a sudden it comes back. Almost like it has something to do with the road, not the truck. If any one comes up with an answer i'd be very willing to listen to it.
Thanks for the feedback. I talked to Discount after I posted this and asked them if they used a lug-centric adapter on the Road Force. Apparently, they did not, but instead used a "cone" adapter for Toyota wheels. They told me to bring it back in and they'd use the adapter with "fingers" (their word), which sounds like a lug-centric adapter. Hopefully this will take care of it.
Yes - please keep us updated. My 05 access cab 4x4 did not have that problem at all for the first 30,000 miles. Now that my OEM tires are almost worn out I have just a bit of it and not even all the time. I am afraid that when I spend big bucks for new tires next month I will have a problem and be really unhappy. I plan on finding someone with a lug centric adapter and then move up to road force balance if necessary. How your truck turns out will help me decide what I should do. I have had a bunch of Toyota products over the years and more than one of them have been REALLY sensitive to wheel balance stuff.
Yes - please keep us updated. My 05 access cab 4x4 did not have that problem at all for the first 30,000 miles. Now that my OEM tires are almost worn out I have just a bit of it and not even all the time. I am afraid that when I spend big bucks for new tires next month I will have a problem and be really unhappy. I plan on finding someone with a lug centric adapter and then move up to road force balance if necessary. How your truck turns out will help me decide what I should do. I have had a bunch of Toyota products over the years and more than one of them have been REALLY sensitive to wheel balance stuff.
I'll be sure to post after the Road Force balance w/ the lug-centric adapter. I'm going to have it done on Friday, so I'll let you know then.
Nozzlenut, thanks for the pointers. I'll pursue the brakes next if the balance doesn't fix it, as I've had some minor problems with the brakes (all fixed under warranty) since the truck was new.
I believe that the Tacomas require hub centric balancing and not lug centric.
NOT THIS AGAIN. I had the flutter and vibe. Just replaced my stock Dunlop tires with Yokohama
Geolander HTS G051 and had them road force balanced on a Hunter using the HAWEKA lug adapter and my truck is a different beast. All fixed.
There is a TSB on the steering flutter. It's TSB ST004-006. It only applies to 2005s unless they have revised it. But it does have info on the correct way to balance the tires.
I didn't see it listed in the TSB sticky thread at the top of this forum. Maybe someone can post it up here.
There is a TSB on the steering flutter. It's TSB ST004-006. It only applies to 2005s unless they have revised it. But it does have info on the correct way to balance the tires.
I didn't see it listed in the TSB sticky thread at the top of this forum. Maybe someone can post it up here.
Unfortunately, the TSB thread was already closed at the time and I couldn't put it there.
__________________
"It's not what you know. It's knowing where to find the answer."
'05 4x4 DC LB SR5 Tow Pkg BFG All-Terrain T/A KO, Leer Tonneau, Westin Platinum Nerf Bars, Fog Light Mod, Orig. Owner 12/3/04
Ok, took my truck on Friday to a Discount Tire location that had a lug-centric adapter. The location I bought the tires from didn't have one, so they called around until they found a location that did. I took my Taco to that location and had them Road Force balance it using the adapter. It definitely helped. Unfortunately, I still get some intermittent wheel shake at highway speeds, but it seems to be when the tires are cold. Once they warm up, the wheel shake is minimal or even completely gone.
Something to note - I don't know if the adapter they used was actually a Haweka adapter. That seems to be the one that everyone recommends on these forums. The guys at Discount had no idea what I was talking about when I said Haweka. The one they used did support the wheel by all six lug holes and not the hub. Maybe using an actual Haweka adapter would completely fix it.
When I initially bought my 07, I had the same problem with the steering wheel "flutter." When I finally got it back to the dealership (don't drive at highway speeds that often), they said one of the front tires had "Road Force Damage." They replaced it free of charge under the tire warranty and I never had another problem.
Is it just the Tacoma wheels that have problems? I'm going to be putting FJ Cruiser wheels on soon and after reading all of this, do I need to have it Road Force balanced using a lug centric adapter?
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Steering "Flutter" - Yes, I've searched...
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