Steering Wheel Shimmy at 60mph+

[RND1]

Leaving for HIH7 in 8 days and have had a bunch of work done to the rig in preparation. It seems like anytime I make any change to the vehicles' tires or suspension, I get a steering wheel shimmy at highway speeds.

Last week, I had new OEM suspension installed with OME 865's and BFG A/T KO2's 275/70/18 at my local yota dealer. The stiffer springs appeared to significantly lift the rear creating the stinkbug look. Anyways, I took it on the highway and it drove great with no steering wheel shimmy.

Yesterday, I had a local indie install a new steering rack, outer tie rods, crank the torsion bars 1.5" and do an alignment. They could not get the caster in spec and they said since the truck was now "lifted", that it was not possible to get the caster in spec. He said that no worries, I wouldn't feel a thing as the toe and camber are in spec. I asked them to take it on the highway before I took it home to make sure there was no wheel shimmy and they said they did. Sure enough, I leave and it shakes at 60+.

So, my question is do I focus on a wheel balance issue or an alignment issue? Would really like to get this sorted before my 35 hour drive to CO! Thanks fellas.

 

[geanes]

Does the "shimmy" stop once you get to a certain speed above 60? If it does, I'd think it's a balance issue. Also, check your air pressures. If one tire is off by a few pounds, you'd see this type of shimmy as well. For reference, I run my 285/65/18 TerraGrapplers at 42psi on all 4 corners.

 

[bucfl]

When i added my springs and cranked tbars i took mine to a 4x4 shop for alignment and not my indie. I wanted someone that worked on 4x4's and was familiar with lifted vehicles. I know this does not answer your question, but it may be best you take it to a local offroad shop for a proper alignment and have them get in spec for you.

I also had my rack replaced at an indie and i had no issues after wards. I think the indie shop did not do a good job and would be best to take somewhere familiar with offroad vehicles.

I will add i took it to 4wheelparts. They seem to get a bad rap, but since the day i took mine in for alignment i have no zero issues. So, not sure if there is one near you, but they did an excellent job.

 

[bucfl]

Does the "shimmy" stop once you get to a certain speed above 60? If it does, I'd think it's a balance issue. Also, check your air pressures. If one tire is off by a few pounds, you'd see this type of shimmy as well. For reference, I run my 285/65/18 TerraGrapplers at 42psi on all 4 corners.

Good point. If you feel it in your butt, its a rear wheel issue. Try swapping tires around, if issues follows, you have a balance problem.

 

[RND1]

When i added my springs and cranked tbars i took mine to a 4x4 shop for alignment and not my indie. I wanted someone that worked on 4x4's and was familiar with lifted vehicles. I know this does not answer your question, but it may be best you take it to a local offroad shop for a proper alignment and have them get in spec for you.

Thanks - agree with you here. I ended up taking it back to the indie to see what they could do and all 4 wheels were slightly out of balance so they balanced them again. The shimmy is almost gone, but still there so now I think it's because the caster is out of spec. I'm also running a 1" spacer so not sure if I'm just going to have to live with it. 4x4 specialty shops are like hens teeth around my area, but I'm going to call Cruiser Solutions on Monday to see who they recommend for alignments and take it there.

 

[RND1]

Does the "shimmy" stop once you get to a certain speed above 60? If it does, I'd think it's a balance issue. Also, check your air pressures. If one tire is off by a few pounds, you'd see this type of shimmy as well. For reference, I run my 285/65/18 TerraGrapplers at 42psi on all 4 corners.

Good call on the air pressure - I haven't checked it yet as I just had the BFG K02's installed at my Toyota Dealer a week ago and figured they at least got that right?!

 

[Skidoo]

How was the ride out to HIH and back? Is the issue fixed or still bugging you?

 

[RND1]

How was the ride out to HIH and back? Is the issue fixed or still bugging you?

It wasn't perfect, but about 90% better after the 2nd wheel balance. I need to retorque the spacers to see if that is contributing to the vibration. How was your ride back to Sacramento?

 

[Skidoo]

If it is not your spacers it might be the 1.5 lift is leaving your droop less than 50mm. Without the required down-travel of the suspension, the front wheels floats over slight depressions in the road and can feel real squirrelly especially as the road gets rougher. For offroading you want to be sure you have at LEAST 50mm. I have seen folks fighting for control climbing steeper offroad terrain, gets kind of scary, while folks with required amount of droop cruise it like they are driving the interstate.

I had a good trip back, spent Sunday night in Moab. I have been wanting to get a sunset photo of Marlboro Point there for a few years now but have been too busy the last several times there. Got it this time.

 

[vman07]

unreal pic^^^ mind if I ask what photo hosting site you use? the resolution on the pic is fantastic...

 

[Skidoo]

unreal pic^^^ mind if I ask what photo hosting site you use? the resolution on the pic is fantastic...

Just uploaded it to Mud after doing a little sharpening in Lightroom on my system.