1998 TRD ExtraCab 4x4 3.4L w/ AT and 61000 miles.

Bought the truck a couple weeks ago- it had a set of BFG A/T's 31/10.5-15's w/ 80% tread on stock alloys. They were cupped from not being rotated. The truck had a bad shake at the above speeds, so I had'm rotated and balanced. The shake continued even after they'd been balanced twice.

Since I really don't like A/T's, I bought a set of BFG M/T's to replace the A/T's. Had'm road force balanced. The shake is still there...

Took the truck to my alignment/brake shop this morning. The rack bushings are slightly worn, but not enough to require replacement. Alignment was right on. Shocks and struts were OK.

Question

1. The '98 alloys are hub centric and bolt on like old time mag wheels. Anyone had problems w/ shaking due to the factory alloys?

2. If you had problems with the factory alloys, did replacing them cure the problem?

3. The alignment shop sees a lot of problems in general w/ BFG tires. They see several vehicles each week with vibration problems directly related to BFG's. It seems to be worse with Toy's and F-250 SuperDuty's. Anone else have similar problems?

Later

 

the wheels are hub centric?...I read so much about the lug centric toyota wheels I dont know anymore....I havent needed to replace tires yet so i dunno

are you sure its the wheels and not a u joint or something?...I had a u-joint go bad in a ranger and the viberated like hell at around 45 mph....

 

Mark-

Replace those rack busings with poly no matter what. The stockers are crap. You have hub centric wheels too BTW.

When you had them rotated, did the shake move from the steering wheel to the seat, or vice versa?

 

My factory alloys on my '98 4Runner are "lug"-centric. They are the same alloys as the Taco so those should be lug centric as well.

I never got a case of the shakes with my BFG A/T's when I had them nor with my BFG M/T's unless it was a balance, cupping, or shoddy alignment or mounting issue. I'd say, if you can find a good 4x4 shop that has the capacity to mount and balance big tires take them there and see what they say.

 

Yeah, I planned on doing rack bushings w/ poly at some point. They aren't bad yet tho...

31/10.5-15's shouldn't be a problem for them to balance. They've done a good job w/ my 35" MT/R's and w/ the multitude of other tires I've had larger than the 31/10.5's...

Knew I should have stuck with the MT/R's...

 

Ordered a set of Energy Suspenstion rack bushings,
PN 8.10101, from:

Suspenstion Restoration Parts Co.
319-B Motor City Ct.
Modesto, CA. 95356
http://www.suspension.com/

Ask for Bruce.

Cost was $14.00 + shipping

Discount Tire is jack'n me around, so I'll do the bushings to eliminate that as a problem.

 

I had the same problem with my Dunlops. I had them balanced several times on the used Taco I bought. I finally got a good tech at Costco that said they were out of round, and he showed me on the balancer. His take was cheap tires, or the last owner locked up the brakes or overloaded them. I bought a new set of Duellers and they balaced them with the lug nut adapter, and not the cone. Smooth now, no problems. Find someone that has the adapter and try to balance them. If that does'nt work then I would bet your tires are out of round like mine were.

 

Well, I went back to Discount last night.

Had the manager check the road force balance himself...

He replaced one tire, and about 90% of the vibration is gone!

I can live with the rest - I don't expect an M/T to be perfect.

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As a side note, my rims are 100% hub centric.

The holes thru are just that - thru holes. There is no tapered seat, the lugs hold the rim on via a washer. With all six lugs on, the rim can turn ever so slightly on the clearance between the lug and the rim - thats why the lug nut torque values are so critical.

 

the Haweka adapter you are talking about. Gadgets got a nice explanation of the vibes and the proper balancing on his website.

Gadget's vibration page

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Also, the Road Force balance will tell you if your rims are true or not. I have the same problem with my BFG's. They are too out of round to balance properly.