Daniel S. Ross

I am having multiple problems with my 2004 Toyota Tacoma, it has 202,000 miles. The front end vibrates when going over 50-55 mph, the tread on the front tires are wearing to the inside, and my steering wheel shakes\rattles. The rattling and vibration ate getting very annoying, as well as the tires. Any help would be appreciated.

habanero

What is oe and what's been replaced? Anything aftermarket? Steering otherwise feels?

Daniel S. Ross

Its got a lift, about 3 inches of lift, enough to fit 33x12.50s, but other than that its all stock, I just got the truck about 4 months ago

millball

Take her to the allignment shop and see what they tell you.

Daniel S. Ross

The alignment shop will be next, that may explain the uneven wear on the tires, but I don't think they'll know anything about anything else

millball

Theres a fair likelyhood that whatever looseness/ maladjustment is causing your tire wear is also contributing to your front ends bad vibes.

akwheeler

while you're at it have them balance and rotate your tires. most vibrations (especially ones that show up starting around 45 mph) originate with an out of balance wheel and tire. loose parts will amplify this. but your tire wear comes from poor alignment or loose steering/suspension joints.

Hevster1

Try and find a place with a Pin Plate adapter for their balancer. Tacoma wheels are sometimes very hard to balance without these. I don't know your location but if you are near my shop in NJ we do have them. For alignment, be prepared to replace the adjusters as they often seize. You may also have a bad tie rod end, rack bushings, or a host of other issues. It's kind of hard to say without seeing the truck in person.

Daniel S. Ross

I know my CV axle boots are busted, I think I need steering rack bushings because I can trurn the wheel when not moving and the steering rack with rock back and forth, I think my wheel bearings are bad, I'm taking the truck to an alignment shop hopefully tomorrow so they can tell me all that's wrong with it

Nervo19

Have the lower ball joints ever been replaced? There's a known problem with them and they seem to fail at about 200k. I am over due to have mine done too.

Daniel S. Ross

We are going to find out tomorrow, I'm gonna leave work early to go get it diagnosed, I'll update when I know what it is.

Daniel S. Ross

The verdict is lower ball joints, my local shop priced the job at 500, I'm gonna try to do it myself

millball

Don't skimp on em, get them from the dealer.

Many aftermarket joints are known to be weak.

You might check with the Toyota dealer before repair, I believe that there was a recall on these joints.

Google it.

coloyota1023

Hey man, check the control arm bushings also, upper and lowers. I see them on a lot of tacomas and 4runners around this year. They tend to crack and break apart. Then the bushing falls out of the control arm, causing the movement. And yes, also check your rack bushings. They do the same thing. My 04 doesn't have any issues yet. And I'm sitting at 213k. Let me know what you find!

coloyota1023

The uneven tire wear is from suspension components being worn out and broken too. Check those control arm bushings. And there is no point in taking it to an "alignment" shop when there is obvious signs of worn components. Almost all dealerships will do a free multi-point inspection, if you live anywhere near Phoenix I could help you lol. Let me know!

Charchee

Check it all out real good a replace any and all other worn front end parts you find. Slack in any of the components will damage the rest of them. Address those cv axles while you're in there. The more stuff you have removed, the easier they are to yank out.

Listen to Millball and don't skimp on any of those front end parts. A catastrophic failure of any of your front end parts at 70 mph will get you hurt or worse.