I have an '05 double cab prerunner long bed. TRD sport package #4 17" rims, dunlop at20 tires. 15k miles.
This truck has vibrated at between 55-75 mph since 3k miles. I had it balanced locally 4 times, as the dealer is roughly an hour from me. I've researched this problem heavily here and have seen plently of similar problems mentioned, but no absolute cures.
The dealer now has my truck, it's been there all week. They did the alignment. They performed the skid plate tsb and load balanced the tires with a hunter machine. I witnessed it myself. It still vibrates like a recovering crack addict. I drove it back this morning at 7:00am and left it. Again.
The dunlops were replaced under warrantee for this problem 800 miles ago. I now have incurred $160 in balancing costs, paid $65 for an alignment, and $185 proration charge to dunlop for the warrantee swap. Not to mention 4 trips, an hour each way, plus time lost at work for these trips.
Does anyone here have a firm solution or advice on how to handle this situation? This is my 8th yoda. I sold the last one, an 01 tundra limited, because it too was a turd. I'm ready to dump this thing and buy outside of Toyota. I'm really beginning to believe that current toyotas are not designed or built to the standards that sold me on them for the last 20 years. I love everything else about the truck, but after 50 miles of shaking, my hands literally start to go numb, and I'm simply not convinced that a vibration of this type is considered normal in ANY vehicle, much less one that stickers for $29k.
Any ideas, suggestions, or other advice is very greatly appreciated.
There is a TSB out now that involves tightening the steering rack...let your dealer know. I'm sure if you search, you'll find it on the forums. I've been considering having it done on mine.
There is a TSB out now that involves tightening the steering rack...let your dealer know. I'm sure if you search, you'll find it on the forums. I've been considering having it done on mine.
Thanks. I saw that one as well, but from the info listed on the tsb pdf, this tsb only corrects the problem of vibration from flat spotting that occurs from long term parking of the vehicle. I will ask the service manager if it's feasible to try this one out as well. Thanks again.
I'm really wondering if upgrading to some michelen tires would help, but I just think it's unfair for me to have to incurr the entire cost after I've already spent so much.
You have to go to a dealer who has a clue how to balance tires because apparently a lot do not know how. I had vibration at those speeds too and went to 4 dealers before I found one who was able to do it. And the dealer was able to get the balance perfect without a road force balance
__________________
2006 Tacoma double cab 4x4 TRD off road
Donahoe Racing Coilovers and External Reservior Shocks
EMU Dakar Leaf Springs
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
Small update. Today the dealer took wheels from a brand new 0 mile identical truck except--it had bridgestones on it. Same wheels, different brand new tires. They put it on my pickup and test drove it. EXACT same vibration at the same speeds. There have been four attempts to balance the 2 sets of dunlops with hawkins balancers. They have used the the adaptors that everyone here talks about.
The dealer is now lost. I am no longer convinced that this is a balance issue. There has now been 3 sets of tires and 2 sets of wheels on this truck. The 2nd tsb about flat spots and steering rack preload will be done next week.
The saving grace to this situation is the dealer. The tech is absolutely the coolest, most sincere person I've ever met. I'd be really upset right now had it not been for his honesty about the situation. He openly admitted that there is a problem with these trucks, and that I'm not the only one he's had to deal with. He did say mine was the most noticable. There were four cars in their bays with vibration problems. One was a Sequoia that he said "will absolutely shake out your fillings" He even said that Toyota had bought back an 03 tundra and sent it to a local community college to see what they found. It's been there for 8 weeks. They found a axle shaft that was welded off center. Now toyota has a fix for that as well.
The current situation is this: I took back my truck because I have a road trip to take this weekend and I'm taking my bike. So I have to have it and they didn't have a fix. The dealer has started a "technical case" with toyota. This is now in toyota's hands directly. I just want a truck that doesn't drive like a merry tiller with square wheels.
I really am impressed with all other aspects of the truck (except the noise and brakes) and the dealer.
That being said, I'm giving it two more weeks to get this fixed before I go buy a ridgeline.
That sucks dude! I have an '05 4x4 access cab Sport with the Bridgestones, and I have absolutely no vibration in my steering at all, at any speed! What you have is not normal, regardless of what any dealer tells you. Good luck, and try to not buy that butt ugly Ridgeline
Alrighty then, drove the truck to the mountains this weekend with the FZ1 in the bed. It still shakes, and now pulls to the right worse than before the alignment. Toyota called and asked for the truck back to perform the TSB requarding flat spots in the tires. This is the one where the tech tightens the preload on the steering rack. They will also be looking at the alignment, and replacing a fog lamp that always leaks water. This is the fourth trip to the dealer (86 miles round trip each time) in nine days.
I'm really tried of this crap. Anybody want a great used taco?
I'm pretty sure this truck falls into the NC lemon law now, and you can force the dealer to buy it back. The North Carolina Lemon Law allows the manufacturer of the new motor vehicle:
* 4 chances to fix one defect, or
* Vehicle in shop for 20 cumulative business days over 12 months of a warranty, for series of different defects, or
* Defect causes substantial impairment to value of vehicle (safety issue)
I have a 2006 DC 4WD and I have a slight flutter in the steering wheel between 55-65 MPH. You really can't even feel it in the truck at all, the steering wheel just goes flutters. I noticed the problem during the test drive and the dealer tried balancing the tires then. That helped some, but didn't totally get rid of the problem. Since balancing did help, I've decided to wait till I rotate them for the first time and see what happens then. Hopefully the vibration goes away in the steering wheel and I can blame it all on a crap tire. From reading all the posts, however, I'm not holding out much hope for this one.
At least you're hooked up with a good dealership it seems...if that's any solace.
__________________ 2006 Tacoma Double Cab, Indigo Ink Pearl, TRD Sport, 4WD, V6, 6 Speed Mods to date: Extang Full-Tilt Tonneau, Pioneer DEH-P7800MP, Elemental Designs Nine.4, Elemental Designs Nine.2x, Elemental Designs 11Kv.2, CDT EF-61's, Sirius Starmate Replay, Weathertech Floor Liners, EGR In-Channel Vent Visors, Aires Black Oval Step Bars, Fog Light Mod, Bed Storage Lock Mod, CoverKing Neoprene Seat Covers, DRL Mod, Map Light Mod Future Mods: Bed lights, some kind of exhaust....maybe
OK, it's official. I'm ready to dump this truck. They did the steering rack TSB and now the truck drives like it has no power steering. The steerin wheel feels like it's locked up. Hunts in the road, and the steering wheel will not self center anymore. Worst thing is the vibration is still there. The wheel doesn't move anymore because it's so tight, but the seats still shake. This is five times in a week and a half. The tech was gone when I picked the truck up, and the service writer was at a loss on what to do. I have to have it tomorrow, or I would have just left it. Last chance is on Monday, then Honda here I come. I'm simply tired of all the problems I've had with american made toyotas.
OK, it's official. I'm ready to dump this truck. They did the steering rack TSB and now the truck drives like it has no power steering. The steerin wheel feels like it's locked up. Hunts in the road, and the steering wheel will not self center anymore. Worst thing is the vibration is still there. The wheel doesn't move anymore because it's so tight, but the seats still shake. This is five times in a week and a half. The tech was gone when I picked the truck up, and the service writer was at a loss on what to do. I have to have it tomorrow, or I would have just left it. Last chance is on Monday, then Honda here I come. I'm simply tired of all the problems I've had with american made toyotas.
go to a different dealer. some dealers have have techs who have no clue how to fix a car and some have very skilled ones
__________________
2006 Tacoma double cab 4x4 TRD off road
Donahoe Racing Coilovers and External Reservior Shocks
EMU Dakar Leaf Springs
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
I agree. I took my Tacoma to the same dealer 12 different times to fix the steering vibration--no luck. Then I took it to a different dealer, fixed the first time!!!
I agree. I took my Tacoma to the same dealer 12 different times to fix the steering vibration--no luck. Then I took it to a different dealer, fixed the first time!!!
What did they do? How did they fix the vibration? What dealer actually fixed it? I think all here would REALLY like this info.
Thanks,
Scooter
Please print this out for your tire tech, not many techs know how to do this. This will fix your steering vibration, once & for all, but allow up to 1.5 hours of actual labor & maybe replacing a tire or two.
Using the Hunter 9700GPS with the latest software (older 9700 software wont work, uses a different mathmatical formula) with the Smart Weight feature: First, disable the smart weight, very important! Back cone the wheel and use the front finger set up. Road Force & ForceMatch, must Forcematch the wheel & tire combo &/or the set to get each below 15 pounds of road force, the lower the better, even if it Road Forces pretty low, ForceMatch every tire any way, no reason to do it half ***. After this is all done by turning the tire on the wheel &/or swapping tires & rechecking the road force( write this # on each wheel), use the Dynamic balance mode to zero out the balance, then check in static mode, if needed add the 1/4 ounce or so, shouldn't need more than 1/4 ounce if any. If weight was added in static mode respin in Dynamic mode & make sure it still says zero zero (0.00 0.00) if it says OK OK it is still in SmartWeight system & it wont fix the problem! After all this you can put back in the SmartWeight mode and the two tires on the screen should just have a sliver of green on the bottom of the tires, this is good, if it shows more than about 1/10th of the tire in green then it need to be redone or replace the tire or wheel. Now put the lowest road force numbers(hopefull 6 lbs. or less) on the front of your truck with Hub Centric wheels or with the Hub Rings installed(must be hub centric)!
Good Luck & Happy Motoring!!
Another Vibration question
OK, it's official. I'm ready to dump this truck. They did the steering rack TSB and now the truck drives like it has no power steering. The steerin wheel feels like it's locked up. Hunts in the road, and the steering wheel will not self center anymore. Worst thing is the vibration is still there. The wheel doesn't move anymore because it's so tight, but the seats still shake. This is five times in a week and a half. The tech was gone when I picked the truck up, and the service writer was at a loss on what to do. I have to have it tomorrow, or I would have just left it. Last chance is on Monday, then Honda here I come. I'm simply tired of all the problems I've had with american made toyotas.
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