Tundra tire wear issue

[Leaping Deer]

I'm starting to think Toyota quality has gone down hill to the point where I'm ready to trade this thing for an American truck.

The truck is a 2008 Tundra Double cab 4x4 TRD with the 5.7. Now around 27k I complained about the truck having a rough ride. The dealer did a TSB for bed bounce which required a replacement of the rear body mounts. Around that time the front diff was rebuilt. Neither of these two issues fixed the problem and the dealer told me that it was probably due to the fact that my tires were a little cupped in the front. Now I had been rotating around every 10k but the tires were in fact cupped so I figured that was it. By 33k I had enough of it so I purchased a new set of tires, Bridgestone Revo 2, which had great reviews. They balanced and alligned it at that time. Didn't fix the rough ride and after 3k they started to cup again. Firestone replaced them underwarranty although they didn't feel it was the tires. Realligned it. The Toyota dealer said they didn't have a rack that could align it so had me go to another Toyota deal so there was a record of a factory alignment. Now 3k later and the tires cupped again. The dealer can't find anything wrong with it although when I looked I saw the upper ball joints on both sides had caked grease and dirt on them. The dealer inspected the ball joints at my request and they said it was road grime and the ball joints seemed tight. The dealer now suggests that I turn my rotors because I have a minor brake plusation but they don't think it will correct the problem.

I'm at the end of my witts with this truck. Anyone have any other suggestions? I'm going to try to take it to another dealer to get a second opinion. I picked up the Toyota Platnum extended service warranty knowing this truck wasn't quite up to snuff. I'm really ready to sell this POS.

 

[Wrench]

All pick ups have bed bounce. Some worse than others. It's because of the unladen bed. Put 2-300lb in the bed and it will ride significantly better. Remember the Tundra is a heavy duty half ton that is made to haul stuff. Driving it around empty doesn’t always result in a good ride, especially on bumpy roads.

 

[Wrench]

What are you running for air pressure? And how are your shocks?

 

[landtank]

take the truck to a townfair tire shop and have them align it and request the paperwork when done.

The service is like 69.00 and I've had great luck with these guys. They don't replace parts so they will only let you know if there is an issue and give you a free alignment when those issues are resolved.

 

[Leaping Deer]

Chris i've had this truck for 4 years, 2.5 without issue. I have owned about 10 other trucks including the 45 with 10 leaves in the rear spring pack so I'm not new on how rough a truck rides. The struts look good in the front although I expect they might be the problem. Its kind of like a vibration but the tires have been balanced multiple times. Tire pressure is 38 all around. Running higher pressure based on the dealers recomendation.

A visual inspection only the ball joints look like they are leaking grease. I have found other threads where people are having tread wear issues on these trucks but nobody seems to have a resolution.

Rick, I have printouts from Firestone, Boch Toyota and Town Fair and all appear to be in spec. I won't go to Town Fair again because when I got back to my truck my GPS was missing. The denied they took it. I called the police but nothing ever came of it. But that's another story.

 

[landtank]

I did front end alignments for a while and it's not uncommon for people to not know how to properly inspect them. There is obviously something going wrong and even though the truck can be adjusted on the rack to be in spec it doesn't hold under driving conditions.

I'll leave the GPS story alone.

 

[Wildman]

take the truck to a townfair tire shop and have them align it and request the paperwork when done.

The service is like 69.00 and I've had great luck with these guys. They don't replace parts so they will only let you know if there is an issue and give you a free alignment when those issues are resolved.

Stay away from Town Fair. I would go to a local shop WAY before the town fair junkies.

If they ball joints are 'leaking' grease they were over-greased at some point and the boot has popped off the joint. I would be suspect of the struts if they are the only thing in the front end that has not been changed.

Or you could just trade it in on an F350 power stroke and never look back

 

[landtank]

Stay away from Town Fair. I would go to a local shop WAY before the town fair junkies.

If they ball joints are 'leaking' grease they were over-greased at some point and the boot has popped off the joint. I would be suspect of the struts if they are the only thing in the front end that has not been changed.

Or you could just trade it in on an F350 power stroke and never look back

without any zirks how would the ball joints get over greased?

 

[Stinkyfinger]

I have had my 08 tundra for a year now and other then them replacing a rear diff bearing when I first got it, I have had know problems.
Cupping is usually a sign of the shocks going, but 38psi with no weight in it is way to high a pressure. I think mine are around 26-30psi max.
My truck came with more of a street tire then an all terrian, so it rides a little nicer I would assume, but I still get the bed bounce. Even thought it's a 1/2 pickup it can carry almost a ton, so those springs are stiff. But load it up with a 1000lbs in the back and it rides like a caddie
There is a after market spring kit (can remember the name) but it softens the ride out a lot and still lets you haul the max weight.
But try lowering the pressure down especially in the rear and see if that helps, if you haul or tow something really heavy though, you will have to increase the tire pressure for that day.
Oh and from what I hear from others who own the "american trucks" some do ride better but the quaility is a lot worse.

 

[Leaping Deer]

On all the Tundra forums they recomend more psi as well as the dealer recommending more PSI. At 30 it was cupping as well. The vibration I was talking about is there no matter what the tire pressure. If I told you what I have had as far as work done to this truck. I can't see how American quality could be much worse. Serp belt tensioner, dash fitment recall, front diff rebuild, front axle seal, bed bounce tsb, brake pedal recal where they actually shaved down the pedal (hack), wheel center caps replaced, radio acting up. This unknow problem they can't seem to fix. Noisy as hell at start up, sounds like a diesel. Chris I used to be a die hard Toyota fan but I'm really starting to doubt their new products.

 

[Stinkyfinger]

Wow it does sounds like you do have a bad truck, or one that was put together on a Monday . I love my truck and I love the way it drives and rides, I have taking some long trips with it and it's awesome.
And I will admit Toyota's quality has gone down in the last few years, but unforantly so has everything else it seems.

Maybe it's time for a lift kit(with new shocks) and some bigger tires. I ended up putting a 3" lift in mine and it firmed up the front and improved the handling.

 

[Wrench]

Sorry to here about your problems. But I don't think a truck made in Mexico or Canada would be much better. I would never give my money to a company that took a bail out and is owned by the government.
But the Tundra is made in America so it is an American truck. Maybe if it was made in Japan it would be better?
Did you actually have the sagging dash issue? And the bed bounce and accelerator pedal were all over blown by the media. It was all propaganda to make Toyota look bad. When your on top people are gunning for you.

 

[Leaping Deer]

I agree on the gas pedal issue but Toyota kind of hacked it. I did have the dash sag and its still not 100% right. I loved this truck for the first 2.5 years then the issues started to creep up. I wish they made these trucks in Japan. The quality probably would have been better. I've been a die hard Toyota fan for a long time but this truck has issues. I'm not going to spend $2500 on a lift and new tires because for all I know it wouldn't even fix the issue. I wish I could get the truck fixed but when the dealer throws up their hands and the Toyota rep won't do anything about it what are my options? I've called the 800 number and all they did was take note of it. I would have expected more of a $35k truck.

 

[Wrench]

As for the hacked pedal Toyota made a new redesigned pedal . They will replace the pedal with a newly designed pedal if you're under warranty. They cost like $30.
Old pedal on the left which you had hacked and new redesigned one on the right. Which is less sensitive as well.

 

[landtank]

on a few 80s that I've serviced cupping was a result of a toe issue. Mike's truck had excessive toe and another had a bad TRE.

The one with a bad TRE was aligned several times but the alignment wouldn't hold on the road and allowed the toe to change.

I think you just need to get someone under there that knows what he's doing.

 

[Leaping Deer]

Wow you make a comment about a Toyota product and you get cruisified here. I'm looking for a solution before I get rid of this truck but I don't want to go broke doing it. Chris I'm out of warranty but the shave down pedal was the only soultion that was given to me under my warranty period. I think that was kind of hack. I almost didn't have them do it but figured I woudl be on the hook if something were to happen to it.

Rick, it may be the alignment. I might take it to Firestone as I have a lift time allignment there for the truck. I'll get the print out from them to see if it keeps comming out of alignment. I think a highschool buddy of mine is really good at allignments. I might need to track him down.

 

[Stinkyfinger]

Its kind of like a vibration but the tires have been balanced multiple times.

Doing a little searching (you got me nervous now about potential issues that I might have down the road ), it seems that people are having wheel bearing issues. If your front bearings are going this could cause vibration, it might add to the cupping problem too.

 

[landtank]

I've been down in North Kingstown and will likely be there tomorrow. It's supposed to be 55* and with a floor jack we could probably find the problem.

 

[thepinktaco]

Wow you make a comment about a Toyota product and you get cruisified here. I'm looking for a solution before I get rid of this truck but I don't want to go broke doing it. Chris I'm out of warranty but the shave down pedal was the only soultion that was given to me under my warranty period. I think that was kind of hack. I almost didn't have them do it but figured I woudl be on the hook if something were to happen to it.

Rick, it may be the alignment. I might take it to Firestone as I have a lift time allignment there for the truck. I'll get the print out from them to see if it keeps comming out of alignment. I think a highschool buddy of mine is really good at allignments. I might need to track him down.

Even if you are out of warranty they will replace the gas pedal, its part of a recall. We have plenty of people that complained when we cut the pedal or added the shim. They have the updated parts that dont need modification.

 

[Leaping Deer]

Cory, thanks. I'll have to have them put a new one in.

Sounds good Rick. Well see yo tonight. Hopefully we can figure out whats wrong with it.

Chris, I thought about the wheel bearings too. Not trying to scare you. Just these trucks are not without their issues.