Why do I feel road imperfections in steering?

I bought my 2011 this spring and it's always drove weird to me. This is the first truck I've owned with a steering rake so I'm not sure if it's normal to feel every bump through the steering. I just find it odd that the steering wheel will jerk around when you hit even small bumps. When going up my driveway slowly the truck seems to steer into the small dip in the road. And at 80+kmh the steering wheel has a funny slow shimmy to it. I had it aligned and balanced at toyota and it didn't make a difference. The truck does have a 2.5" levelling kit and 285s so I'm sure that doesn't help but I feel like it rides like a tractor. My old lowered S10 with low pro tires is a lot smoother than this truck. Is the steering feedback normal? Thanks!

 

What load range tires? What psi in the tires cold?

 

STEERING COLUMN FIX - LOOSE STEERING

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...olumn-fix.html
STEERING RACK BUSHING FIX
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...placement.html
Stiff Steering
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tec...teering-2.html
STEERING WHEEL SHAKE
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...eel-shake.html

 

I believe they are LT rated. Nitto terra grapplers. And the steering doesn't feel loose, I've even had my dad lay under the truck and look for play in the rack but everything seemed tight. Does rear suspension have any effect on this? I've got the TSB leafs, a 1" block and firestone bags so I'm sure that's less than ideal.

 

Forgot to mention I've got LR UCAs as well. I thought that caster was my problem too so I got a set. They are in the middle section.

 

Care to elaborate on that leveling kit. Brand and type of lift you are running makes a big difference.

If you are getting steer from everything in the road it is typically lack of caster as ding mentioned and tire width contributes a little as well.

 

It was on the truck when I bought it. It's got those black steel triangle plates that mount the strut lower. I believe it's just a 2.5". The rear has a small block. 1" I think. When I get my bonus at work it will be going in the garbage lol. I want a real lift. I think I'm gonna go to toyota on the weekend and get someone to go on a drive with me.

 

I try to keep mine at 35 psi which is pretty standard I would think

 

I would bet tires plus being of and a combo of lift is the difference

 

This is the printout.

 

Could be a couple things. The steering column could be loose. Now your caster is in great shape, which is a good thing. Your camber is heavy on positive camber. A little more then I like to see. Ideally you want to be at zero or close to it. So you will be wearing the tires for sure. If you have a spacer lift in the front, that could be the cause of the road feeling.

I know Light Racing does not use poly bushings so you are good there. I would check the column, if that's in good shape then the spacers may be to blame for increase in road feel. You should have little road crown (wander due to imperfections in the road). If you do, you might want to blame the positive camber for that.

 

you have oem springs? my tacoma has always had a little of that, but when i had spacers and then 5100's it was ALOT worse than now after i changed to new springs and struts. i got both the springs and shocks over rated, meaning they were made for any extra 175lbs weight on the front and i only have maybe 75lbs extra from bull bar and lights, etc. right now it rides better than the day i drove it off the lot with 4 miles on it.

when you put spacers and 5100's it changes the whole engineering of the spring. it has a load where it was not designed to.

maybe check your tie rod ends too for ware or loose nut.

o and the tire pressure suggestion is a very good one. i find if my pressure gets too low it makes it alot worse, with oem tires a try to stay about 35-37lbs

 

Any chance it could be a warn steering damper? Just a thought...

 

Stock or aftermarket wheel offset? I went from a perfectly smooth PreRunner that drove like a dream stock, but as soon as I put aftermarket wheels and 265/75/16 tires, the steering wheel shakes began.

I chalked it up to the wheels not being hub centric. Adding hub centric rings helped, but only minimally. Since I drive all day for work in my truck, I will be leaving my new one stock, seeing that it is buttery smooth right now with no steering shake or vibes.

 

Aftermarket. Made by mamba. Not sure if they are lug centric or hub. I'll probably take a wire brush to the mounting surfaces and see if that helps.

 

I'm heading to toyota tomorrow and I'm gonna give them crap about my alignment not being right. I took a look and the tires are wearing bad. Hopefully they can get my camber zero'd. Anything else I should look into?