97 Tacoma front end shimmy....

[73fj]

My dad has a 97 Tacoma, 4x4, V6, 5 speed, extended cab with 100k, I drove it today and the steering wheel has a noticeable wiggle to it. I have no experience with this type of truck, what should I be looking for in the front end when I get underneath it tomorrow? I am pretty sure it is not a driveline issue causing the shake. This truck has never been off roaded, worst it ever saw was some snow and the odd gravel road.

Any help or tips would be appreciated

 

[Duane]

first thought for me is tires and if they are balanced with the rims...
are they steel rims or alloys?

 

[harper68]

check the inner tire rod end coming off the reack and pinion I have replaced several on my 95 seems to be a fairly common problem with these trucks.

 

[73fj]

Toyota alloys, tires are almost brand new and apparently all was good, it used to do it just on the highway, he tells me. Could be a tire, but doesn't feel like one.

 

[73fj]

check the inner tire rod end coming off the reack and pinion I have replaced several on my 95 seems to be a fairly common problem with these trucks.

Roger that.

 

[Duane]

Toyota alloys, tires are almost brand new and apparently all was good, it used to do it just on the highway, he tells me. Could be a tire, but doesn't feel like one.

give this thread a read
https://forum.ih8mud.com/95-gen-toy...ancing-problems-my-99-4runner-alloy-rims.html

 

[73fj]

Thanks, good thread. I could not find anything loose in the front end, although the steady bearing is suspect. On a whim I rotated the tires and 98% of the shake has been eliminated.....wierd. Seems it was a tire, you nailed it.

Thats strange that Kal messed up your balance, they are my go to tire shop here, all depends whose running the equiptment I guess.

 

[Duane]

Yup Kal tire was my place as well.... these alloy rims from these years just seem to be really sensitive..and a challenge to get a good balance on them
I have thought I had brake problems as they are prone to front rotor warpage as well.
At any rate glad to hear this has smoothed out your ride. So one of them you put on the back likely needs a rebalance... look for the one with the most weights on it!

 

[73fj]

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