Steering wheel shake

Yes to both you and the OP. Around here the road force machines in shops tend to be the dustiest machines in the place. If I specifically request it I have on occasion gotten terrible balance results. Way too many do not understand how to properly operate these and are not being trained. You have to do your homework and check around for someone that is experienced. Plus, for a long time Toyota has been recommending the use of Haweka adapter in combination so look around for someone that has the adapter and also the tire matching equipment and use both.

Balance issues that manifest themselves through the steering wheel, but come-and-go, can often be traced to both front wheels being out of balance and a cancelling effect that occurs going down the road when the wheels reach their harmonic spots and then change because the relative position of the weights between the two wheels change due to constant steering corrections and turning.

 

Try finding a place that has the new Hunter Road Force Elite balancer. It seems to do a better job.

 

Yes, and seems to require much less skill to operate.

 

I had new Duratracs installed yesterday which replaced my original Duratracs that were defective.

The Discount Tire I went to had the new Hunter Road Force Elite balancer with lasers. I was looking at the tech using it and it looked almost fool proof with all of the prompts and warnings on the touchscreen. The laser will mark exactly where to place weights or where to index the tire and wheel to get the lowest road force. The laser also picks up runout on the rim.

However it’s still no good if a tech does not use it properly. I saw another tech balancing tires for another car. There was a warning on the screen of excessive road force and the tech ignored it and still put it back on the car.

 

That's the one with the overhead bar? If so, I've seen it and was pretty impressed.

 

Yes it says Hammer Head on the bar.

 

Get an alignment. No sense wasting your time on everything else if it ends up being an alignment issue in the end. It may not be, but then again you may spend tons of $$ on every other thing possible and find out you spent it for no reason. Just a suggestion.

 

Yesterday I went to the Toyota dealer. Had them rebalance the tires (they even let me in the back to watch the tech and make sure the balancing was done correctly), and it didn’t fix the issue. The alignment looked acceptable on their machine but they corrected it to be perfect anyways. What blew my mind was that when the tech had the truck up on the alignment machine he noticed that there was power steering fluid leaking from the inner boots on the steering rack... I had never seen it before. Of course they priced me up for a new rack and it was around 1160$ for the part and 650$ labour. Could a faulty rack be the cause of my steering wheel shake?

 

I haven't heard of low or leaking power steering fluid causing the the steering wheel to shake. It usually just makes the steering a little stiffer and harder to turn depending on how much fluid is lost.

I had a similar issue a while back and got the wheels rebalanced and it fixed it. I took mine to a wheel/tire specialist to balance the wheels.

 

I have had the same problem for the last 2 years. I replaced the tires and have had them balanced multiple times. The last time the problem was gone until I rotated the tires (I rotate my own tires and am very meticulous about it. I always use the correct tightening sequence and tighten the lug nuts incrementally and with the tires off the ground until they are torqued to spec). Once I rotated them the steering wheel has been shaking off and on again. I have also checked the steering rack bushings for excessive play and didn't see any. I have just been dealing with it. If you find a permanent solution be sure to let us know.

 

Well... I finally found a permanent solution. Turns out my steering rack was completely shot. I had the Toyota dealer install a new ACDelco steering rack from piston ring (who is their aftermarket parts supplier) and new OEM outer tie rod ends. No more shakes in the steering wheel whatsoever. Feels very solid on the road, dare I say it drives like a brand new truck! Good luck to you guys and hopefully your steering wheels steady out soon too

 

Thank you for updating with the solution. So often it seems like these threads go unanswered.

 

Glad you figured it out! Thanks for letting us know too

 

Well... shit. The steering wheel shake is “back” at highway speeds, however now it’s intermittent. I’m really not sure if it’s ever actually gone away since I had the rack replaced because I haven’t been on the highway with it much since the replacement. I went to the dealer last, and they rebalanced numerous times with a road force balancer and haweka adapter to no avail. I then swapped the tires for a new set of Firestone destination LE2’s and had them balance those too, nothing.
I think I’ve narrowed it down to a few possible things.

1. The A1 Cardone CV axles that are brand new in my truck are just shitty and vibrate at high speeds.
2. My upper intermediate steering shaft needs to be replaced
3. My driveshaft U-joints need to be replaced
4. I need the “fluttering steering wheel TSB” which involves installing a new spring in the power steering rack, yet not sure if it would fit in my ACDelco unit (any of you guys know).

Again, the shake is intermittent at highway speeds. It comes and goes and varies in intensity. The dealer has said that they’re out of options and can’t find anything to fix the problem. Thinking of talking to Toyota Corporate about this.
What do you guys think?

 

Absolutely call corporate. They have a reputation to uphold. Just be prepared to prove that you didn't cause the issue.

 

I know this thread has been quiet for a while, but did you ever get this resolved? I have been having these same symptoms since I bought the truck about a year ago. Swapped to Falken Wildpeaks from the stock rugged fails. Same before and after. Had it on a road force machine today and it’s within spec. You ever have any luck?

 

Never did get it fixed. Sold my 05 and bought a 12. Made sure it didn't have any shakes before I bought this one. Wish I could help

 

Good to go! I WILL solve this....

 

Mine has done it since I lifted it about 2.5" . Only thing that seemed to effect mine was toe in. I set it to 0 and it helped it alot

 

Mine quit doing it after I installed the ECGS bushing in the front diff. Never shimmied again for the next 7 years I owned it (12 years in total). I know the new owners, they’re still loving it.
Not saying that’s for certain that’s what’s causing it, just an observation on my part.