Intermittent Steering Wheel Wobble on Highway

Hey TW. I can’t seem to find an exact answer for my dilemma so I’m turning to you. Google searches give me too much advice on what this might be in a 94 Volvo wagon.... I am experiencing an intermittent steering wheel wobble at highway speeds 50+. It comes and goes and seems to be much more prominent after going over any bump what so ever, then it seems to smooth out again. I am running 265/70r17 P rated Terra Grapplers on T4R Wheels. I have the Bilstein TRD suspension with Headstrong AAL w/OL in. My alignment is good. I assume it can’t be wheel balance because it is intermittent and rotating the tires does not make it change. I’ve jacked up the front end and everything seems tight. Do you think this is possibly an internal issue like a needle bearing (mine is still stock)? Perhaps my setup is just super sensitive to road imperfections now? Thank you for your time and input.

 

Recently?

A quality shop will determine if there are wear issues going on, which is *almost* what your description sounds like. Well, to me anyway.

Miles on the vehicle?

 

17,000

 

Ok, shouldn't be worn parts.

Do you have the alignment numbers?

 

Yes.

 

Death wobble like old dodge I used to have

 

Do you have aftermarket wheels? If so, do you have the correct lugs? I ran into this issue with my 2nd gen. The acorn style lugs were not extended thread and caused hub seating issues. Also look into road force balancing.

 

I am running Toyota Factory TRD 4 Runner Wheels what everyone says are good to go with no issues.

I am considering getting them re balanced just to totally eliminate that as an option, but I can’t understand how wheel balance could cause intermittent wobble.

 

I have the same issue on my '18 Sport. Dealer didn't notice the wobble when I got them to check it out recently. Stock suspension and tires with hubcentric FN wheels for me...wheels have been balanced twice now and like you, it's intermittent, so I can rule out an unbalanced wheel. I wouldn't say the wobble is violent or even bad, but it's definitely noticeable when it happens (visually watch it shake).

 

When you had the tires balanced were they measured for road force? Tried running the tires at different PSI to eat up the tire hop? Hot or cold affect it at all?

 

Your numbers look a bit low on caster. Higher would be better. Yes, the 'light is green' but that doesn't mean they are optimal numbers.

Any chance you have a pair of wheels/tires you could stick on the front for a test? Borrow even?

Just trying to see about eliminating the tires from the picture. Tread wander/broken belt, etc.

 

Not enough caster. Caster prevents your vehicle from doing the shopping cart wheel wobble thing (a.k.a. death wobble) at higher speeds and can do exactly what you're talking about.

You're not that far under spec but I've seen crazier things. It would explain why it's in intermittent issue as the road surface would impact the wobble.

 

My guess also. Simple undamped harmonic oscillation. Saw it in a car once, started out with a light wobble after a bump and then within seconds it was horrendous. Just need the right frequency to start it.
https://www.moogparts.com/parts/steering/steering-stabilizers.html


Good example read on resonance.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge_(1940)

 

My truck does it as well. One day smooth as glass. Next day steering wheel wobbles at hwy speeds. I had the front diff & drivers side CV axle replaced due to wear. This did not fix it completely. I have done numerous road force balancing of tires, still does it. Alignment is good as did it myself as well. It really makes me think its a harmonic issue. I have thought about adding a bit of preload to the steering rack & see if that helps. It is very frustrating & would love to have it fixed.

My Range Rover Sport had this same issue & finally a TSB was released with a fix. It was a specially weighted steering wheel & a updated steering rack. No more wobble.

 

I lost a front wheel bearing on my 1st gen after it wobbled like that for awhile, mechanics at two good shops didnt catch it either.

 

So it was a bad wheel bearing in your case that was causing the wobble? Or the wobble caused your wheel bearing to go bad early...do you know what was causing the wobble?

 

My first guess would be balancing. Like some have already said, if you hit a bump it can get it to start the wobble and either the balance or maybe the caster can take over from there.

 

Bad wheel bearing - it wobbled first as it was getting weaker then failed altogether. Something in it’s design kept it from wiggling when tested by hand on the rack, but with the weight of the truck on it it caused the truck to intermittently wobble after hitting a bump at speed. Also, how is your front tire alignment wear? Any signs of cupping or uneven tire wear?

 

I had it on my 15 Tacoma for a while after switching to LT type tire. Slight change in alignment fixed it. I think there are some magic combinations in the alignment ranges plus tires that can cause or fix the wobble.

For tires, I think it's the way they track slight grooves in the pavement or something. My 4Runner sometimes does it on KO2s but not stock tires. I plan to tweak alignment soon even though it's "in spec".

Try different tire pressures too maybe. Go up or down by 4 or 5 psi on all of them and see if it changes?

 

Thanks for clarifying. Front tire wear is good...no cupping or anything, although I only have about 5K miles on the truck. I plan to get my shop to do an alignment check soon, just to rule out that possibility.