2015 Steering Wheel Vibration - Running out of options :(

If you are getting it up and down, I'm wondering if you don't have a failing/weak strut. It may not have an external leak, maybe an internal bypass and it cannot damp tire oscillations in a certain speed band. That would be a warranty item for you. I once saw a car cruising down the Belt Parkway at highway speed with its front tire oscillating up and down like it was driven by a cam , at least 3 inches of travel vertically. I can only guess that this guy had a blown or missing front shock. He seemed oblivious to it but we stayed far away from him. Who knows how long he drove it until the front end failed.

 

Thanks mate. Hey, at this point, I'm hoping for something that fixes it!

Thanks for the input. Adding to the list!

I will!

 

Is your truck lifted? I had a slight vibration long time ago. Then I went to Champion4x4 to get a road force balance and some guy from shop told that once these Tacomas are lifted, the steering wheel it's going to shake a little bit at highway miles because of the changes on the CV angles. I don't know how much true is in that!

 

Nope. Other than it now having the 4-runner wheels/tires, it's bone stock.

 

These trucks are super sensitive to balance issues. I know you've experienced this on 3 sets of tires, but here's something to try - I have to do this every time a tire shop or mechanic touches my truck.

Lift the truck and secure it (jack stands, etc). Loosen the lug nuts. With a torque wrench, tighten all the lugs (using a star pattern) to 30 pounds. Then to 50. Then 70 then 85 (I go 90, but Toyota recommends 85).

If the wheels are balanced, and I don't doubt they are, this will fix the issue - unless it's a steering rack or suspension issue.

Also worth noting: on new tires I never have issues once they're mounted as described above, but when my tires are worn to around 20% tread I always have some sort of intermittent vibe from them.

 

No vibration in the mirror. When the vibration is bad the mirror shows almost no vibration (the cars behind me show up clearly and not distorted)

This is a good thing to try. I'll see if I can get my friend to help. I don't have the right equipment to do this (I have a torque wrench but not enough jack stands, etc)

 

2 is plenty. You really just need to do the front. If that cures it, you might then notice vibes in the rear.

 

Welp, tried the road force balance. No luck. Will try some of the other things listed here next.

 

I don't know if this is the same but my 2015 2WD has a slight vibration in the steering wheel when I travel 400 series highways at about the same speed as you only when I drive in the fast lane in some locations only. I have ben told this is normal as that part of the highway has a high crown on the highway is steeper for water run-off in the fast lane. It does it only in certain locations and disappears when in the other lanes. It does not bother me as this is probably the nature of the beast and I don't want to play with alignment as my tires are wearing evenly. Hope this helps

 

If you have a old Cellphone or digital video camera, you can mount it to the bottom of the truck and maybe it will record what is causing the vibes.

Fritz

 

Hey thanks for this information.. I did talk to the shop foreman at the dealer and he said "the vibration isn't bad for a tacoma.."

Good idea! We're actually thinking of doing this with a gopro