Drift Issues, Steering wheel shake

Hi Everyone,

I purchased a 2023 ORP on June 2nd. When I purchased it, I asked that the alignment be checked as during test drive it pulled/drifted to the right without constant contact with steering wheel. Upon leaving with new ORP, dealership told me everything checked out good. Few days later I took a long 4 hour drive and the drift/pull was very noticeable. I contacted dealership same day and requested another alignment check. They couldn't get me in until end of month. So I took it to a local tire shop, They did a alignment correction, the specs are shown in the picture. Two days later I took another longer drive and 4runner is still pulling/drifting to the right and sometime will even drift left, the steering wheel also now shakes at 60+mph.
I contacted the dealership next day and voiced my frustration as I took possession of the vehicle in good faith and trusted they checked the alignment the day I purchased it. Obviously they did not. Has anyone else had issues with pull/drift on new 23 ORP as well as steering wheel shake? I take the 4runner to the dealership on Monday and will leave it with them a few days for them to diagnose the issue and correct 100% (hopefully)
I came from driving a Chevy Colorado Z71, I anticipated there would be a difference in handling/driving but I did not expect anything like this. It does not seem normal. Driving seems to require constant corrective contact/corrective tension with the steering wheel.

Any input, insight would be greatly appreciate.

 

Your experience is not normal. My 2019 ORP, lifted, modified, trail bashed, rides on 33" M/T. She drives smooth and straight.

At a minimum they should make an immediate alignment. You should also inspect hubs/suspension.etc. that could have been damaged in shipment to the dealer.

 

Another post Covid 4Runner with issues...

Hopefully the dealer will take care of it, definitely not normal.

 

Looks like the alignment that you payed for still left it out of spec on caster. Higher caster numbers should reduce the wandering. The higher the better.

Also, the toe-out is probably not helping. I think setting the toe at zero, or slightly toe-in (within the spec range) is better for stability. And obviously you’d want both wheels to toe the same on each side.

It’s surprising that it was so far out of spec to begin with. Now it’s a bit better, but still off. Make sure to keep the print out sheet as documention of how far off it was from the dealer.

edit: Your print out says “express-align”, probably not a good sign that they take their time lol. If the dealer cant do you right, make sure to take it to a shop that will take their time. It looks like all they did was change the toe…and not that well.

 

I talked to the salesman and emailed him the alignment sheet of what was done. Dealership is reimbursing me for the cost.

I had no idea what to ask for other than a alignment check when I took it to Les Schwab. I told them what it was doing and the tech took it for a drive. What you see on the sheet was the results.

I'm really hopefuly everything gets corrected and as it should be when I drop it off at the dealership Monday. Dealership is 2 hrs away so It's been stressful and frustrating. Joys of living in a remote area

 

According to the 'printout' they gave you, everything wrong seems to be on the driver side. Rear toe on the driver side is horrible. As far as a Toyota dealership doing the alignment, as long as the suspension is stock you should be ok, if the technician has a clue on how to do an alignment. Some, and I'm not saying all dealerships will only do factory spec. aligns, same with some independent shops, some will work with you if you have specifications you would like, such as castor, camber and toe-in. This can be aggravating for sure, hope it works out for you, BTW.. Welcome from Wisconsin! I forgot about the steering wheel shake is more than likely a tire balance issue... lots of us have had the problem.. good luck.

 

Yesterday I picked up the 4runner from the dealership. This is a photo of the new alignment adjustments they did. It is driving straight much better. No shake in steering wheel and no pull to the right. Hopefully it all holds true when taking longer trips. Service Manager said The Master Technician checked over everything etc.

 

Glad they got it for you. Those latest number seem fine.
I've heard 4Runner can be sensitive to alignment and/or tire balance being just right.

I lot of us have had steering wheel wobble at 60mph due to poor tire balance.

 

Last summer I had the spacer lift and 285’s removed. Truck had similar symptoms to your description after the job. They had done the alignment but it just didn’t feel right. Took it back and they adjusted the “toe”, it’s been fine ever since. They got the new tires balanced good the first time.

I only drive the truck 1-2 times a week therefore I sometimes get a little front shimmy between 50-60 which goes away after a couple of miles. Probably my tires have a flat spots from sitting. If my usage is more frequent, I don’t experience the tire shimmy.

 

So it has been almost a week since the dealership has correct the alignment on my 4runner ORP. I can say it drives much better. However, I am intermittently getting a steering wobble at 60+ mph. On Average it happens around 63 mph. The dealership said they could not duplicate the issue while they had it. Because it seems to be intermittent, I am wondering if having a Road Force Balance done would possible help/fix the issue. Anyone have experience with this Steering wheel Wobble at highway speeds? The factory tires on the 4runner are Bridgestone Dueler H/T. The 4runner is stock on everything. I've made no changes.

 

How bad is the "wobble" when it does happen?

 

It is definitely noticeable when it happens. as a whole, the 4runner seems much more sensitive to the road, I feel more through my steering wheel than I have in any other vehicle I have owned. (this is my 9th vehicle). I am going to start keeping a running track on when the wobble takes place. Notating outside temp, road condition, tire pressure, how long or how short driving distance was. etc. I hope to get video of it to show the dealership as well. I love the 4runner as a whole, just disappointing that I am having this issue when it only has 1K miles on it. Brand new vehicles should be solid and no issues.

 

I have experience with it, it’s the reason I sold my dream vehicle I waited 3 years to buy. Over the course of almost a year and 7,000 miles multiple trips to the dealer, and 2 other shops I trust more than the dealer that never did me wrong it was not able to be fixed. Numerous balances, regular traditional ones and road forced ones, new tires, nothing changed it. It would shake multiple times in a day, or not do it for a day. Vehicle could be driving smooth and I would take a turn on a ramp on a highway and it would activate the shake. Drove me completely nuts and pissed me off every day I drove it especially when driving to work to pay it off. RIP ‘disaster’ 12/23/21-11/2/22. Was a beautiful suv.

old video what do you know, pretty much at 62-63 mph. Did it from 55-70 ish depending on how much the sun was out for all I know

 

thank you for sharing. I am so sorry that has been your experience. I am wishfully hoping my situation doesn't turn into the one you had. I did a two year lease on the 4runner and if this isn't a fixable problem, I might be "hosed" for 2 years and just have to deal with it which i do not want to do.

 

62 mph this was taken at, I recorded it as much as I could for proof for everytime the dealer couldn’t replicate it

https://youtube.com/shorts/KSc0rLcp4Dk?feature=share

 

Yep that is exactly the same as mine.

What did the dealership say / do after you showed them the video?

 

I would at least be happy it was a lease I didn’t loose my ass on, I lost $4500 on my 4 runner in a year getting rid of it since I purchased it. The end of the fight was when they got the regional rep / master tech whatever they call the guys these days to come to the dealer ship and look my vehicle head to toe and drive it, end of there story was ‘shake and vibrations are normal for a truck based SUV’

 

Wobble seems to be a thing with many 4x4 off road vehicles, like the death wobble of Jeeps. Ill even get a subtle wobble at ~60mph, but its very subtle and nothing to worry about, rarely even notice it (Simalar to Tmiesowics video).

One time I did get a terrible wobble through my steering wheel, but it was after it sitting for days in the rain and heavy breaking for the first time on an exit ramp. Was fine from then forward.

 

that kind of response from a master tech would make me mad. Its only an excuse and not a reason.

 

If that's as bad as it gets, I won't mind. I remember driving a Wrangler on the highway for the first time. It was like wrestling an alligator.

 

Death wobble is a whole new ball game and makes the 4 runner shimmy seem non existent, saw many videos on YouTube of it and finally saw it in person the other week on a over pass after a newer f350 hit a bump in the road and it activated it, that whole truck was shaking visibly from the bed and especially the front axle. The look on the older guys Face looked like he shit his pants. This one is a interesting video.

https://youtu.be/JrNY3TE-9a8

 

Yep exactly, my parents 2019 is fine. When they were in for service they were talking to their sales guy about my 4 runner, he purchased a 2022 and has the same issues and even for working at Toyota they told him it’s normal and to kick rocks

 

This is a bad wobble: https://youtube.com/shorts/ksUlsaAUM5Q?feature=share

 

That is horrible! I would be scared to drive with that kind of wobble

 

Yes, be thankful its nothing like that. It seems that you are getting a slight shimmy at 60mph that many 4x4 have. Just do 70+ or below 60.

 

It’s a video shot from a old iPhone 7, it’s worse in person and very annoying. Got real violent after the first tire rotation and that was the last straw lol. Can’t have a vehicle that makes you mad every time you step in it

 

I had a 2000 grand Cherokee, a 2001 grand Cherokee, both used with 100,000 miles + on them, a 2006 trail blazer, and still currently have a 2001 Tahoe with over 200,000 miles on it. None of those vehicles ever had A shimmy. The grand cherokees were straight front axle as well.

 

I've had a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am GT , 2006 Toyota Tacoma double cab, 2009 Toyota Tacoma double cab TRD Sport, 2011 Toyota Corolla S, 2014 Toyota Camry SE, 2016 Jeep Cherokee Limited, 2019 Chevy Colorado Z71, 2022 Chevy Colorado Z71 midnight black edition. None of those vehicles every had an alignment issue, balance issue or steering wheel wobble issue.

 

The good ol grand am, my first car was a 2000 grand am GT 2 door that was red. Had a lot of fun with that car.

 

mine was 4 door and white. I absolutely loved that car. had 36,000 miles on it and bought it for 12,000.