Crazy Steering vibration over 50 mph when braking

The beast (2017 4RUNNER SR5) got 330k miles on her and runs like she is still new. I have changed out everything on the front end except the upper control arms and caliper (ordered and en route).

Does anyone have any idea what else might be the cause? She doesn't shake when speeding or slowing down under 50 mph. New rotors and brakes have already been installed. Shoutout from Colorado!

 

When you say "changed out everything", does that include front brake disks? Did you use OEM parts?

 

I swapped out the brake pads with
Duralast Gold Ceramic Disc Brake Pad Set and the rotors with Duralast Gold Disc Rotors. The same I have been using since working on the truck. did new shocks, lower control arm also in the last month

 

Damn bro, you're a serious road-warrior. 330,000 / 8yrs = 41,250 miles per year. That's almost 800 miles per week.

You'll hit half a million miles in roughly 4yrs. Keep us posted on this.

 

I've done 412 adventures, 12 states. I love my truck and thanks

 

Often times control arm bushings.

 

interesting. even on new control arms?

 

Are Upper control arms still stock? Maybe those bushing are bad.

But if its only happening under braking, it points to runout being off on a rotor. Maybe bad installation. Check your lug nut torque first to make sure you dont have any loose. If that’s not it, maybe check that the rotors are on a clean hub and mounted perfectly flat.

Sounds like you’re really getting your moneys worth out the 4runner! I love the fact you’re counting each “adventure” lol. I took mine out to colorado last summer and had a blast, such a beautiful landscape. Didn’t want to leave lol. Now I understand why ski bums gotta ski bum in Colorado. Too bad I don’t ski lol.

 

Also the inner tie rod, is a ball and socket mating surface that DEFINITELY goes bad with age. Normally on the offroad/gravel road 4runners they wear out around the 200,000-250,000 mile range. Bigger tires wears them out even quicker.
If the tires are braking, and causing the tires to "wander" along the road surface, a little slack in that ball and socket could make the wheel feel like its pulling or wobbling side to side.
Normally they are diagnosed by a funny "rattle" or vibration in the steering wheel going over rough terrain especially gravel roads, and you can notice a difference in the vibration when you are turning, and not turning. This extra load on the ball and socket during a turn can make it feel tighter, or more loose and vibrate or rattle more or less depending on load. This ball and socket is what is inside the boot on your power steering linkage. These definitely go bad, country driven Toyotas wear these out in the 200,000-250,000 mile range.

 

Did you swap out disks? Warped disks is what often cause vibrations through steering wheel.

 

Thank you for this post. I have a 2017 SR5 with 66,000 miles-but have dealer replaced tranny at 48,000 miles due to defective Flex Lock system for torque converter.
Your mileage gives me confidence in my rig again!

 

Could be LOWER control arm bushings. Inspect them. I went through this on an older Camry; very aggressive shimmy under higher speed braking.

 

It was the tires for me, vibration under braking but what was really weird was it was only sometimes.