4runner steering wheel shaking 40 - 60 mph

Hey All,
About 2 months prior to my replacing front end, my upper control are ball joint broke off while driving 20 mph. Wheel fell into broken control arm and locked as I was then skidding to a stop. I then replaced control arm, checked everything out and everything else seamed to be great driving on roads.

I then drove uneasy as my front end started to sway right to left at times on the freeway and a knew knock noise beginning on the right side. I expected another issue to happen soon. I currently have 192000 miles mostly highway with plenty of winter pot hole hits.

So I decided to have dealer rebuild front end that included new Rack and Pinion inner outer tie rods assembly, both cv axles, front hub wheel bearings, upper and lower control arms, sway bar end links and new lug nuts. Also replace K02's with new BFG K03 275/70 R18 onto existing rims.
Sweet Right! New front end like this, I expected a new solid steering. Not exactly..
Within 10 minutes I was back to shop stating the steering wheel vibrated right to left and disappeared at 60 mph.

Following different days back to Toyota dealer shop, each time they said it was repaired... It wasn't.
Shop had taken off my rims and tires and replaced with Toyota rims and tires and the vibration disappeared just to return with my new tires yet existing rims with a return of the same.
One note is... the vibration would be almost non existent after they torque to spec for a few miles then, come back.
Took to a tire shop, they rebalanced tires and showed me how off the dealer balance was.
Drove off from tire shop, just a tiny steering wheel movement in the beginning only to have return to major vibration couple days later or about 175 miles of driving?

- Considering replacing rims yet, these rims are cool and good or are they not good?
- both shops say lugs are good?
- When they replaced Hub bearings, did that change how old rims and lugs?
- I'm at a loss at this point?
Hoping someone here has ideas or a solution...?

 

Sounds to me like you have a bent wheel. Possibly from when the upper ball joint broke and the wheel contacted the UCA. Have you tried rotating the tires front to back? After the wheel balance at the tire shop, I'm thinking you lost the new wheel weights. Check to see if they are all still there. Should be obvious if not. There will be sticky residue left over if the weights are gone.

 

Tires were rotated and rebalanced following Dealer repairs and 3 returned visits. Dealer balance was off on all tires... not even close. Following the new tire shop balance the steering vibration was gone for a short drive then came back roughly 20 miles of driving. Went back to tire shop and they rechecked balance and all was good again... driving off with very little vibration but there. Every time the lugs are tightened to spec. the vibration is very light, then reappeared more and more each drive. I wonder if replacing the front Hub bearing changed what the rims had worn into? At a loss? I'm thinking your opinion of a bent wheel leads me to replacing rims with new. At this point... Rims are all I haven't replaced. I'm holding for any other ideas of possible solutions before I pull the trigger on that expense.

 

Considering the 'return' of vibration after a short trip, have a really good inspection of the brake rotor.

 

It looks like when the dealer put factory wheels on, the vibration disappeared? I’llnsecond the suggestion to put the rear wheels on the front to see if that changes anything. But it sounds like it’s your wheels. Did the shop check them for runout? They might also show damage on the backside.

 

If it was a rotor you would likely feel it in the pedal when braking.

 

Did the aftermarket wheels require the usage of a hub adaptor? If yes, are they still there?

Also, when the lug nuts were replaced, were they replaced with the correct seat-version?

 

if runout is in spec, rims are not damaged and hubcentric.. any chance you have a slipping belt causing intermittent balance issues in tire?

 

OP "About 2 months prior to my replacing front end, my upper control are ball joint broke off while driving 20 mph".
Why? This is freaking scary for me, as I frequently drive at such speed. Is there anything I can do to prevent such disaster?

 

You frequently drive at 20mph?

Ball joint failures happen to old cars with poor maintainance. Best way to avoid this as a vehicle ages is to give the wheels a good tug at the 12 o clock position whenever you have the front end jacked up for tire rotations and such. Also, if you are attentive to noises and how it feels on the road, you’ll get some warning.

The other way for ball joints to fail is to use inappropriate aftermarket parts or an incorrect suspension configuration when lifting the suspension. Some aftermarket UCA brands have horrible ball joint reputations as well, and tend to fail early and often, even when the suspension is otherwise set up well.

 

"You frequently drive at 20mph? "
Costco is 6 miles away from me and posted speed on streets 30 mph, but I am not crazy to speed.