Q: I have a 2007 Toyota Tacoma. The truck has a minor steering wheel shimmy on the freeway when traveling above 65 MPH. What might the problem be?
– Al from Fresno, Califronia
A: Hi, Al. Vibrations felt through the steering wheel at highway speeds are usually caused by wheel and tire problems. So, the first thing I’d check is the balance of the wheels and tires. You’ll also want to look for other wheel and tire issues, such as a bent rim or out-of-round wheel/tire.
If the tires and wheels check out okay, I would take a peek at the wheel bearing assemblies. A worn wheel bearing or bent hub can lead to vibrations.
Check each bearing assembly for play by raising the vehicle, putting your hands at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions on the tire, and rocking the wheel/tire assembly. You can check the hub portion of the bearing assembly for distortion by placing a dial indicator on the flange, then turning the hub.
You can also narrow down the possible causes of the vibration by using a noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) analyzer. Low frequency (5-20 Hz) vibration issues are usually due to wheel/tire problems.
You can learn more about using an NVH analyzer for your smartphone by watching this video:
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