Steel to TRD Alloy Wheel Swap

Please help. I have an 09 Tacoma Double Cab long bed 4X4 SR-5. It came with the 16" steel wheels. I bought a set of 17" TRD alloy wheels from a guy that upgraded his 09 immediately after buying to oversize rims and tires. I put them on and then leaned about TPMS! I also notice a significant shimmy starting between 60 and 65 mph. I figured this was a balance issue because the TMPS had been removed and the wheels and tires not rebalanced.

I had new senors installed and the wheels and tires balanced. I still have the shimmy! The wheels and tires are virtually brand new, so it's hard to believe they could have been damaged. Certainly no visiable evidence. I talked to a friend that mentioned the TRD Alloy wheels may have come with hub centric rings and and if so not having them could be causing the problem.


Can anyone anwer this question or give me some idea what's going on. I've come this far I hate to give up and go back to the steel wheels.

Thanks

 

There aren't hub centric rings that come with them. They already are hub centric from the factory.
What tires are on the wheels? Did you have the wheels road force balanced?

 

The tires are the Bridgestone HT's that come stock on the 2009 Tacoma TRD. I did not have them forced balanced.

I'm not familar with that term. Is that the procedure of balancing the tires and wheels on the vehicle? Mine were done on a balance machine off the vehicle.

The shimmy at 60-65 is the same as before they were balanced.

I am hoping you are saying that I should be able to take the wheels and tires off a new 09 Tacoma TRD and put them on my new 09 Tacoma SR-5 and it should work fine. Correct? For clarity I did use the lugnuts off the tacoma with the Alloy wheels, meaning I'm using the lugnuts that came with the wheels.

Thanks for your help

 

Check out this site for info on the road force balance.
http://www.gsp9700.com/

 

Ok, had the wheels and tires road force balanced today. Did not solve the problem. Had a Toyota technician drive it today and he confirmed there is a strong abnormal shimmy. Yet they balanced out fine on the road force balancer. Is there something I'm missing here regarding removing the steel wheels and putting on the TRD Alloy wheels? I used the lug nuts that came with the TRD wheels. I am stumped, it drives perfect with the original steel wheels.

Is something different about the hub or stud length on TRD Vs an SR-5?

Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks

 

Double check the lug torque??

 

Thank you for your response.

I may do that, but three different shops have had them on and off now. I think the odds of them all not getting it torqued is small. I've watched them use a torque wrentch once the truck was on the ground. However, it is a valid point.

I have to think there is something simple and obvious missing. I'm just wondering, are there supposed to be washers with the lugnuts. I know in the past, long ago, my customer wheels always used lug washers. Just wondering if it is possible the guy gave me the lug nuts and kept the washers?

Grasping at staws!

Thanks

 

They should look like these for the TRD shoes.

 

I have a new 09 with the steel wheels and they also have a shimmy above 60 mph. I am going to have them rebalanced next week. I was also thinking of getting the same rims you have. I sure hope this isn't something that is going to be a problem!

Isn't that the reason we bought Toyotas, so we DON'T have these stupid ass little problems!!!!!

 

i think some "in set" lug nuts would do the trick. the lugs that come with the steelies only butt up against the rim rather than filling the hole that the sport rims have

 

The lugnuts I have came with the TRD wheels I bought and look just like the ones in the picture on this thread. The also have the washers, I was hoping that was the problem, but no so lucky!

I am stumped.

 

Thank you everyone for your advise and suggestions. Now for the final solution.

There was about 3 cups of water in each tire! Evidently the person I bought these from either left them outside with the bead broke before air them up and selling them to me. Or they used a large industrial air compressor that was full of water.

Anyway, thank you to Beaverton Toyota in Beaverton, Oregon for a super job. My truck is smooth, drives better with the Alloys and I am "very happy"

What a nightmare!

 

Holy shit...Did NOT see that coming. Glad you got it worked out!!

 

I'm researching, for a swap im doing soon, base steel wheels to aluminum wheels sr5 i believe. Not the ones that looked terraced or stepped, but the 5 spoke ones that fork a bit at the rim end. My question is , will tpms modules simply swap wheel to wheel?

 

No, the Steel Wheels and the Alloy Wheels have a different TPMS. I did read on another thread somebody claimed that some tire dealers can rebuild the Steel Wheel sensor to fit the alloy wheels for a very reasonable cost. They mentioned Les Scwab. They are on the West Coast only. Don't know if it is true.

If not, you will have to buy sensors. I got mine from Carquest for $90.00 each. Ouch! You might search craigslist and ebay.

You will also need different lug nuts. The Lug nuts for the steel wheels can't be used with alloy wheels.

An other note: I was told that if I wanted to keep my steel wheels for use for snow tires I would need to get the computer programed each time I switch. Last night before they figured out my balance problem I put my steel wheels and tires back on the front for a test. The sensor alarm light did not come on, meaning the computer still recognized my steel wheels. Yeah!


Good luck.

 

I would never take your truck back to the place that originally "balanced" your tires. How could they seriously miss water in the tires?

 

You point is valid; however, maybe not fair. I had them intall the new sensors which required breaking the bead but not taking the tire off the rim. When you only push the top of the tire down with the machine, it is likely they couldn't actually see in the tire. Possible! Having sold tires a life time ago, I know it might be possible to miss if you're not expecting to find it. That's why so many people missed it. It is possible that the first shop inadvertently put the water in, but I doubt it as I had the shake before I went there.

Now, if they were very skilled and experienced, they could have known that when they had trouble balancing the tires and wheels ie.. the balance kept changing and that is an indicator that something is in the tires. I've since learned that from another expert.

An older experienced mechanic at the Toyota dealer notice the people there having the same problem and he walked over and said, "you should break the tires off the rims because there is either a bird's nest, a dead mouse or water in the tire! Even then they only did this with the rear tires. The front evidently balanced out on the machine and they assumed they were ok. I left and immediately speed up to 60 mph and had the severe steering wheel shimmy. Went right back and I couldn't believe it when they said, maybe we should have checked the front tires for water!

In the end, I'm just greatful it is solved and works great now after many wasted hours.

 

Les schwab likes to stay on top of stuff. I'm thinking I'll do the steel/winter tire thing too. I suspect each tire rotation requires a reprogram so snoopy ol ECU knows which sensor is where. So add $300 for sensors, $650 for tires i woulda bought in 1-2 years sooner, this just swap rims got spendy lol.

 

Interesting twist. Glad to see things worked out!