Jerk in Steering Wheel

My truck is starting to jerk hard to the left when im just about to a complete stop at like a red light for example. It never shakes while at 20mph or higher. Just when i ease on the brakes. Not really sure what it is. I know that it is not the tires. Anyone out there ever had this happened?

 

It happened on my 02 4Runner for a while. I got an alignment (2 actually...Firestone lifetime alignment FTMFW) and it seems to have gone away.

 

Possible Alignment issue.

 

Could it have anything to do with the brakes? Feels like i might be grinding on them a little

 

Can you hear them grinding? If it's the brake pads you can usually hear it grinding. Not just when you're stopping either, but all the time. I'm betting it's your alignment.

 

Well if you hear grinding while applying the brakes then you should change the pads anyway. But like Derek said, I bet it's the alignment.

 

Well i had it aligned last summer when i put my 3" lift and 285/70/17's put on. I just started hearing it recently. It will jerk when i ease on the brakes and when i ease on the accelerator it will shake my whole truck until its into 2nd gear. thats why i thought it might be grinding my brakes.

 

Oh the whole truck shakes? I don't necessarily think it's a brake issue, although it probably wouldn't hurt to change the pads. It sounds like something else is wrong...

 

Is there a vibration on the brake pedal while applying the brakes??

 

Change your brake pads and get an alignment, then see what happens.



How many miles are on your current pads?

 

pulsating would be a better word to describe the brake pedal. I'm having the same problem with my 06, except it pulls to the right.

Alignment is not the problem with braking.

Rotor could be warped or nicked.
Brake line could be kinked/fubar'd on opposite side of pull causing uneven braking.


also, maybe even check the rear end (ubolts and whatnot) and make sure everything in the back is tight. Something could've been knocked loose.

 

not really i don't think. it is just shaking my truck enough to shake the rear view mirrors like i have subs in the back.

 

It was for me.

 

Man you're probably right. I bought the truck used in April 2011 with 91k on it . I think i just rolled over to 101k

 

Yeah check the pads just to be safe. I bought my 4Runner used with 108,000 miles. It still had the original pads.

 

I've never encountered any truck with that problem of my own, and no mechanic has ever told me it's the reason. Everything i've posted has either been my problem, or a possible problem causing my dilema.

 

Get a brake job done, with 101k miles on the truck. The previous owner prob never done one...

 

Yeah it was kind of bizarre. It fixed the problem for me, and it sounded like a similar problem, so I shared my experience.

 

I really appreciate the advice. Not too experienced when it comes to fixing vehicles to 100% but the advice does help me figure out what it is not

 

I mean anything is possible. I have no doubt in your situation or story.

I'm just saying brakes are the MOST common reason.

no problem man. i'm thankful for all the opinions on this site. I had the dreaded steering wheel shake till i went and got a proper alignment. And a lot of the little things I've done to my truck to make it "mine" all came from this site.