J Kimmel
Hard Core 4+
Longer than stock front shackles will do it
Adventures in 4Runner'ing
- Thread starter DouglasVB
- Start date
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
It's a SASed 1986 truck so definitely not stock
The truck didn't behave like this before I took it out to Yankee Hill on Saturday though. I think something has changed somewhere in the front suspension.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
If you're sure it wasn't present before then maybe check tie rods, trunnion bearings, knuckle arms, spring u-bolts, etc for looseness. Also death wobble can be masked with a steering damper so maybe yours started leaking (perhaps being warmer the oil isn't damping as much?) or got smashed?It's a SASed 1986 truck so definitely not stock
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
I'm pretty sure... I'll verify with Townsend. I'll go back and check the trunnion bearings. Need to find that place in my manual again on how to do that...
No evidence of the steering damper being smashed or leaking. I do have a brand new one that I could swap in. I'll see about going ahead and doing that tonight.
No evidence of the steering damper being smashed or leaking. I do have a brand new one that I could swap in. I'll see about going ahead and doing that tonight.
J Kimmel
Hard Core 4+
I figured that. My 93 was not a stock solid axle either but I used stock length shackles and hangers.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
I'll take some measurements when I get home from work tonight of the suspension and post it. The springs are definitely higher than stock was. The spring hangers weren't french welded so the truck is definitely lifted. Plus it's running on 35" tires.
I know it wasn't doing this wobble thing before I took it 4x4ing on Saturday. That really makes me think I did something like throw a wheel weight or loosen something up I haven't checked yet (those bearings that Dave mentioned, for instance).
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
That preload (the knuckle trunnion bearings) is set with shims, so if the knuckle studs are tight then the bearings can only have gone bad. That's not really likely with mild wheeling.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
I'm going to try rotating the tires when I get home to see if that solves the issue. On my previous mini truck, that solved the wobble I got at highway speeds. Quick and easy stuff first, right? 
kurtnkegger
Rising Sun Member
Have someone turn your steering wheel back and forth, and look to see if there is any excessive play in any of the TRE's. I would bet on one of those failing first.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
I'll see if
is willing to climb up into the drivers seat tonight to give me a hand. We bought her a step stool so she can get up into the passenger side 
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
Everything is nice and tight in the steering on the 4runner. Moving the wheel back and forth, the response is crisp. No delay or anything like that. I still haven't measured the front shackles because I forgot last night.
I did rotate the tires but I haven't had time to take it for a spin. Hopefully this morning is the morning before I need to get to work.
I'm still seeing some coolant leaking from the truck. It seems to be coming from around the radiator cap area still. Not a lot. I'm not seeing any bubbling in the overflow tank so I don't think it's a head gasket issue (although could be a really early one). The radiator cap is a Toyota OEM now. I've adjusted the hood up as high as I can and I don't think it's hitting anymore but it could be a little over bumps? When I open the radiator when it's cold, there isn't a pressure release or anything but there is a fair amount of air inside. I have pressurized the system and not found any leaks. It's a bit of a mystery. Is there anything else I should check? Leakdown test on the engine maybe?
I did rotate the tires but I haven't had time to take it for a spin. Hopefully this morning is the morning before I need to get to work.
I'm still seeing some coolant leaking from the truck. It seems to be coming from around the radiator cap area still. Not a lot. I'm not seeing any bubbling in the overflow tank so I don't think it's a head gasket issue (although could be a really early one). The radiator cap is a Toyota OEM now. I've adjusted the hood up as high as I can and I don't think it's hitting anymore but it could be a little over bumps? When I open the radiator when it's cold, there isn't a pressure release or anything but there is a fair amount of air inside. I have pressurized the system and not found any leaks. It's a bit of a mystery. Is there anything else I should check? Leakdown test on the engine maybe?
ToyodaTocco
Hard Core 4+
The cut and turn has not been done on the front axle. The trunnion bearings would be my guess also. Those tires were a huge pain in the butt to balance. Actually, I never could get them to balance correctly, Alex had to take a goodyear store to have it done.
Try this for your coolant leak....Take a little bit of grease and smear it on the radiator cap especially on the edges. Drive the truck and if the grease transfers to the the hood then you know it's still hitting.
Try this for your coolant leak....Take a little bit of grease and smear it on the radiator cap especially on the edges. Drive the truck and if the grease transfers to the the hood then you know it's still hitting.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
I drove the truck in to work today with the rotated tires. No wobble going over bumps! Looks like it must be a tire balance issue? I'll test it more on the way home going on a bumpier route.
I'll try the grease trick tonight when I get home. Hopefully it's still the hood and not the head gasket starting to go. I'm thinking I should do a cylinder pressure test and examine the plugs tonight as well.
I'll try the grease trick tonight when I get home. Hopefully it's still the hood and not the head gasket starting to go. I'm thinking I should do a cylinder pressure test and examine the plugs tonight as well.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
There is no sign of grease transfer from the radiator cap to the hood. I put a heavy coating of marine axle grease on the cap yesterday and have driven the truck about ten miles now including over the normal bumps and whatnot. It leaked some fluid again during that time around the radiator cap.
Could it be the hose heading over to the reservoir bottle? I pressurized that hose and didn't hear any leaks but if it's a really small leak, I might not see it.
Could it be the hose heading over to the reservoir bottle? I pressurized that hose and didn't hear any leaks but if it's a really small leak, I might not see it.
try a hose clamp on the over flow line. can't hurt anything...
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
Report from this weekend:
I drove the 4runner over to Grand Junction and back again this weekend. I'm thinking I might have driveline vibration as part of my problem (high frequency vibration that gets much more intense above 60 MPH as indicated by the speedometer). Also maybe something to do with the engine or transmission (high frequency vibration gets somewhat better when I push the clutch in). I'm also fairly certain the tires are out of balance. Are balancing beads still looked upon favorably? Specifically the airsoft BBs?
The cooling system is still slowly leaking after replacing the overflow hose. It appears to have leaked about a pint of fluid going over to Grand Junction and back again. Still seems to be leaking from around the radiator cap area although I can't find from where.
There is a clear oily fluid that is on the passenger side of the engine compartment and came out onto the shock and shock tower as well. I'd say it was shock oil but where it is inside the engine bay, it couldn't have come from the shock. Doesn't have a smell. Feels a bit like mineral oil.
If I hit a bump in the road just right at between 35 and 40 mph (indicated by speedo), I can get real clear death wobble that stops as soon as I speed up or slow down.
The engine vibrates a LOT when it first starts up and is idling. Maybe I didn't really notice how much before but it's enough to shake the front tires back and forth noticeably (when you're standing in front of it) when the truck is parked and idling.
The right front tire lost about 6 PSI between Friday and today. All of the other tires held their pressures perfectly.
The funny thing is that we didn't even drive the truck off road this weekend. My aunt had us drive her F250, new Tacoma, and ATVs instead.
All in all though the truck ran fine. It's definitely able to keep up with traffic more easily than my old gold truck.
I drove the 4runner over to Grand Junction and back again this weekend. I'm thinking I might have driveline vibration as part of my problem (high frequency vibration that gets much more intense above 60 MPH as indicated by the speedometer). Also maybe something to do with the engine or transmission (high frequency vibration gets somewhat better when I push the clutch in). I'm also fairly certain the tires are out of balance. Are balancing beads still looked upon favorably? Specifically the airsoft BBs?
The cooling system is still slowly leaking after replacing the overflow hose. It appears to have leaked about a pint of fluid going over to Grand Junction and back again. Still seems to be leaking from around the radiator cap area although I can't find from where.
There is a clear oily fluid that is on the passenger side of the engine compartment and came out onto the shock and shock tower as well. I'd say it was shock oil but where it is inside the engine bay, it couldn't have come from the shock. Doesn't have a smell. Feels a bit like mineral oil.
If I hit a bump in the road just right at between 35 and 40 mph (indicated by speedo), I can get real clear death wobble that stops as soon as I speed up or slow down.
The engine vibrates a LOT when it first starts up and is idling. Maybe I didn't really notice how much before but it's enough to shake the front tires back and forth noticeably (when you're standing in front of it) when the truck is parked and idling.
The right front tire lost about 6 PSI between Friday and today. All of the other tires held their pressures perfectly.
The funny thing is that we didn't even drive the truck off road this weekend. My aunt had us drive her F250, new Tacoma, and ATVs instead.
All in all though the truck ran fine. It's definitely able to keep up with traffic more easily than my old gold truck.
HoneyBadger
Rising Sun Member
Dang. And I thought I had a load of crap to deal with...
Sorry to hear about all that. Really sucks...
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
It's always something At least it runs and drives? I'm hoping that most of the vibrations will be taken care of with better balanced tires. Still no idea about the leaking coolant or the new mysterious clear oil that has shown up.
At least it runs and drives? I'm hoping that most of the vibrations will be taken care of with better balanced tires. Still no idea about the leaking coolant or the new mysterious clear oil that has shown up.
HoneyBadger
Rising Sun Member
That clear oil stuff could be power steering fluid??
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
I thought about that. Checked the level and it looks good but it might have just started leaking. Could also be a contributor to vibrations if the PS system is having troubles.