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2008 Taco Front Wheel Shimmy with non-stock wheels

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by Bill2008, Apr 10, 2016.

  1. Apr 10, 2016 at 7:46 PM
    #1
    Bill2008

    Bill2008 [OP] Active Member

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    I have a 2008 Tacoma access cab that I purchased with non-stock wheels and tires. The tires are Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventure 265/70R16 and have maybe 3K miles on them. My steering wheel has a shimmy between 45 and 70 MPH. I had the wheels re-balanced and it made a slight improvement but the shimmy is still there. I read a thread the other day (cannot find it again now) on this problem and the solution seems to be "road force balance" on a particular machine with a particular adapter and to check/replace U-joints. I've never owned a rig that is this sensitive to wheel balance and it is like an oscillation starts up in the steering and it comes and goes with cornering and speed changes. Brakes are smooth and the oscillation will remain until about 45 MPH or slower. Likewise speeds over 70 do not have the shimmy...

    These tires and wheels are wider than stock (stock P245/75R16) and I had to replace the lugs with new extended thread lugs just to get over 9 threads into the lug nut... Anyways I would not mind going back to stock wheels and tires but not sure which wheels have the least problem with shimmy? If I advertise my rims and tires for sale, what other trucks will they even fit?


    Thanks, Bill
     
  2. Apr 24, 2016 at 9:08 AM
    #2
    Bill2008

    Bill2008 [OP] Active Member

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    Well I had the tires rotated and rebalanced at Costco because it was close. The shimmy was still there but the amplitude of the steering wheel shake was not as bad but still very annoying. Next I used this link to locate a hunter road force balance machine http://www.hunter.com/gsp9700 and the local Les Schwab tire store had one and claimed to have the Haweka adapter. They said the tires are a bit out of round but the rims were spot on. They also said that one of the tires had a stiffer compound and the tire machine complained about it during the road force balance so they put it on the rear. An hour and a half and $86 later, the truck does not shimmy at 45 MPH, now it takes about 55-60 MPH before it starts in... I just want a rim/tire combination that works as this finicky Tacoma does not like this particular combination...

    Still thinking of finding some stock rims, any suggestions on all-terrain tires that are known to work well on a 2nd gen Tacoma?
     
  3. Apr 24, 2016 at 2:50 PM
    #3
    3coma

    3coma my kid says my truck is "Boss"

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    Sky's the limit. Need to how you drive hwy/offroad , snow, mud that sort of thing. Then lifted or not, size, and lastly your budget. Brace yourself for everyone's opinions.
     
  4. Apr 26, 2016 at 7:51 AM
    #4
    Bill2008

    Bill2008 [OP] Active Member

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    I live down a rocky rough road about a mile but I'd say 95% of my driving is on pavement or gravel with snow and ice in the winter. No mud to speak of, ground is quite porous in my area. The truck is near stock height but I will probably raise the front about 1.75" to match the slight raise of the rear air bags.

    I do tow trailers and use the truck for hauling moderate loads. My other rig (Isuzu Trooper) I run BFGoodrich All-Terrain T-A KO2 usually but they sure are stiff (I think load range D) for such a light rig. These tires are great in the winter for the first two seasons and then you get into the harder tire compound which then doesn't do as well on icy roads. But they wear well and handle the rocky roads just fine. I have also run General Grabber ATs which are similar to the BFG AT TA KOs.

    Thanks, Bill
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2016
  5. Apr 26, 2016 at 7:57 AM
    #5
    BORNWILDGUY

    BORNWILDGUY Well-Known Member

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    FULLY LOADED WITH THE TECH PACKAGE, LEATHER, JBL, LED HEADLIGHTS, MOONROOF, EXTANG FULL TILT COVER, NFAB SIDE STEPS, OEM ROOF RACK, TRD PRO TAILS, WHITE RAPTOR LIGHTS, 15% TINT ALL THE WAY AROUND, BILSTEIN 6112'S W 650# SPRINGS AND 1/4 SPACER, ICON LEAF SPRINGS W 5125 REAR SHOCKS, 18 x 9 -12 Weld Racing Ledge 6 wheels w 275/65r18 Toyo AT III tires
    whopper likes this.
  6. Apr 26, 2016 at 8:04 AM
    #6
    Bill2008

    Bill2008 [OP] Active Member

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    There is maybe 0.025" of clearance between the hub and the hub covers which fit tightly on the wheel hub. So basically no room left for a hub-centric ring. Now the rear end is a different story, the hub diameter is different and there is about 0.050". The wheels all turn true on the tire machine but the tires do not.

    Thanks, Bill
     
  7. Apr 26, 2016 at 9:10 PM
    #7
    Bill2008

    Bill2008 [OP] Active Member

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    I located some 2015 OEM Tacoma sport rims with near new BFG AT T/A KO tires for a decent price. These are 17" rims vs the 2008 16" rims. The seller claims they don't rub on a 2007 Tacoma. I have stock front suspension on my 2008, does this sound like a good combination? The goal is no rub and no shimmy!

    Stock Tires 245/75R16
    30.5” Diameter
    9.65” Width
    7.25” Sidewall
    95.7” Circumference

    My Current Tires 265/70R16 (These rub on tight turns with an incline using aftermarket rims)
    30.6” Diameter
    10.43” Width
    7.30” Sidewall
    96.1” Circumference

    2015 Tacoma Tires 265/70R17 (BFG AT T/A KOs)
    31.6” Diameter
    10.43” Width
    7.30” Sidewall
    99.2” Circumference

    Thanks, Bill
     
  8. May 5, 2016 at 1:00 PM
    #8
    Bill2008

    Bill2008 [OP] Active Member

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    I purchased the 17" Tacoma sport wheels with the BFG 265/70R17 AT T/A KO tires. They actually clear the fender wells during a turn by a 1/2" more than the aftermarket rim set up. I had a local tire shop install my tire pressure sensors and do a good dynamic (side-to-side) balance job and I'll be darned, the wheel shimmy is now gone. They didn't have the fanciest tire balance machine, but the guy running it knows what he is doing. The road force balance job I had done earlier with the aftermarket rims was a total waste of money. IMHO it is better to find a shop that knows how to use the dynamic balance equipment well vs someone with the fanciest machine available and not enough experience.

    On another note, the 2008 tire pressure sensors do not seem to fit the 2015 Tacoma sport wheels. They had to rotate the sensors 180 degrees to get them to seal. This places the sensor body towards the center of the rim and a tire machine is very likely going to shear it off next time they get dismounted. Anybody know of a good solution for this?

    -Bill
     
  9. Aug 7, 2016 at 6:30 PM
    #9
    tacoma guy

    tacoma guy Well-Known Member

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    Bilstein 5100's on all four corners. Front set @ 0 with OME 883x coils. Alcon leaf springs. Viper Alarm. Wet Okole seat covers. WeatherTech Floor liners front and back. Oem Toyota chrome exhaust tip. ARE Shell. America Outlaw Wheels.
    OP to answer your question I would call a good deal and ask them if the sensors are different. I ran into the same problem with shimming in the steering wheel after going from stock TRD off road wheels to after market wheels . I also had them balanced meny of times and even had a road force balance done with no luck . I finally had enough so I put my stock rims back on and had some Michaline A T 2 Mounted and all is good . Smooth as glass.
     
  10. Sep 4, 2016 at 3:32 PM
    #10
    Bill2008

    Bill2008 [OP] Active Member

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    Thanks TG, the 2015 sport wheels are still in balance though there is a slight shimmy in the morning but it disappears after a few miles and the tires warm up. Could be all the gravel stuck in my tread which fly's out after hitting 60-65! :thumbsup: I'll give the dealer a call and see what they say. I wonder if the tire sensors transmit actual pressure to be read by the ECM or if it is just a go no-go signal only?
     

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